Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 26, 2025
Slimak's cottage is by the roadside, the front door opening on to the road, the back door into the yard; the cowhouse and pigsty are under one roof, the barn, stable, and cart-shed forming the other three sides of the square courtyard. The peasants chaff Slimak for living in exile like a Sibiriak.
The inmates of Slimak's cottage had gathered in the front room; Maciek sat yawning on a corner of the bench, Magda, beside him, nursed the baby, singing to it in a low voice; Slimakowa was vexed that the storm was putting the fire out; Slimak was looking out of the window, thinking of his crops.
'Don't talk like that, groaned Maciek, crawling to Slimak's feet, 'I have saved a few roubles from my wages, and there is my little chest and a bit of sheepskin and my sukmana; take it all, but don't say I robbed you. Your dog has not been more faithful, and they have poisoned him too.
Towards evening a sledge stopped at the gate and the innkeeper Josel entered with a strange expression on his face. Slimak's conscience pricked him. 'The Lord be praised, said Josel. 'In Eternity. A silence ensued. 'You have nothing to ask? said the Jew. 'What should I have to ask? Slimak looked into his eyes and involuntarily grew pale.
The lame man's road led him past Slimak's cottage; tired and miserable he sat down on a stone by the gate and looked longingly into the entrance. The gospodyni was boiling potatoes for the pigs, and the smell was so good, as the little puffs of steam spread along the highroad, that it went into the very pit of Maciek's stomach. He sat there in fascination, unable to move.
'All right, I'll let him have the field, said the squire; 'then there will be an end to the trespassing; besides, he is the most honest man in the village. When Slimak's suspense had become so acute that he had thoughts of returning home without having settled the business, the squire said: 'So you want me to let you have the field by the river? 'If you will be so kind, sir.
Dirty water was flowing from them both. Slimak's lips were livid, his eyes wide open. Jendrek ran towards him, slipped on the boggy hillside, scrambled up and shouted in terror: 'Daddy...Stasiek...what.... 'He's drowned! 'You are mad, cried the boy; 'he's sitting on your arm! He pulled Stasiek by the shirt, and the boy's head fell over his father's shoulder. 'You see! whispered Slimak.
'Just look at him, jeered his wife: 'his sukmana is dirty and wet, he hasn't taken off his boots all night, and he scowls like a brigand. You are more fit for a scarecrow in a flaxfield than for talking to the squire. Change your clothes and go. She returned to the cowshed, and a weight fell off Slimak's mind that the matter had ended there. He had expected to be jeered at till the afternoon.
The cottage-doors were closed, no one was astir, and even if he had shouted aloud, 'Look, gospodarze, the Germans are here! no one would have been alarmed. The string of noisy people now began to file past Slimak's cottage. The tired horses were walking slowly, the cows could scarcely lift their feet, the pigs squeaked and stumbled.
'Do something for them yourself, she said to her brother in French. 'What are they plotting against me? thought Slimak. The squire now came out and joined the group. Slimak began bowing again, Stasiek's eyes filled with tears, even Jendrek lost his self-assurance. The conversation reverted into French, and the democrat warmly supported Slimak's cause.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking