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Updated: June 1, 2025
'Is that you, Owczarz? Slimakowa asked, hardly recognizing the poor wretch in his rags. 'Indeed, it is I, the man answered miserably. 'They said in the village that you had been killed. 'I have been worse off than that; I have been in the hospital. I wish I had been left under the cart, I shouldn't be so hungry now. The gospodyni became thoughtful.
'But he was in the backyard a minute ago. Slimak did not answer, he supported Stasiek's head and stumbled forward. Slimakowa was standing in the passage, shading her eyes and waiting. 'Well, what has he been up to now?... What's this? Has it fallen on Stasiek again? Curse those Swabians and their singing!
'A girl, whispered Zoska, with her eyes fixed on Maciek, 'she is two years old... yes, he can have her, if he likes. 'She'd be a deal of trouble to me, muttered the labourer, 'all the same, it's a pity. 'Take her, repeated Zoska, 'Slimak is rich, you are rich.... 'Oh yes, Maciek is rich, laughed Slimakowa, 'he drinks through six roubles in one Sunday.
'Go away, gospodarz, hurriedly cried the old woman, pushing him towards the door, 'she is getting excited, it isn't good for her. 'Josef! cried Slimakowa, 'come back! Josef, I must speak to you! The peasant hesitated. 'You are doing no good, whispered the schoolmaster, 'she is rambling, she may go to sleep when you are out of sight.
At that moment Slimakowa tapped at the window. 'Josef, come quick, something has happened to the new cow, she's staggering. Slimak let go of Jendrek and ran to the cowshed. The three cows were standing quietly chewing the cud. 'It has passed off, said the woman; 'but I tell you a minute ago she was staggering worse than you did yesterday.
It was in this frame of mind that they sat down, but somehow the dinner was not a success. Slimakowa poured most of the sauerkraut over the table, the gospodarz had no appetite, and Jendrek had forgotten how to hold a spoon, scalded his father's foot with soup and finally fell asleep. His parents followed his example, so Maciek was left to himself again.
'I know, neighbour, said old Sobieska, blinking her eyes; 'they are boring because they have heard that there are toads inside those big stones. 'And what if there are? 'You see, they want to know if it's true. 'But what's that to them? 'I'll be hanged if I know! retorted Sobieska in such a decided tone that Slimakowa considered the matter as settled.
Here was the Soltys, known in the whole parish as a hard man, crying like a child, and Slimak shouting like the bailiff and disobeying his wife. 'Come to the barn, Soltys, said Slimakowa, taking him by one arm while Maciek took the other. He followed like a lamb, but while she was preparing his bed on the straw, he fell upon the threshing-floor and could not be moved by any manner of means.
During the night, at about the hour when the unhappy Maciek was drawing his last breath in the ravines, Slimakowa was seized with violent fits of shivering. Slimak covered her with his sheepskin and it passed off. She got up in the morning, and although she complained of pains, she went about her work. Slimak was depressed.
When everybody else had forgotten Slimakowa, Stasiek, Maciek, and the child, he often remembered them, and also the dog Burek and the cow doomed to the butcher's knife for want of fodder. Silly Zoska died in prison, old Sobieska at the inn. The others with whom my story is concerned, not excepting old Jonah, are alive and well.
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