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Updated: May 29, 2025
The farmer brought in the bundle and carried it up to the oldest boy's room, where until now the broad-shouldered Stoeffi had slept in a bed alone. He could take Sami in with him, for he was smaller than the other two; Michael and Uli could stay together as before. Then the woman opened the bundle.
Sami understood the signs which Stoeffi made behind his father's back, that he was to keep silent about the bear, and he was too much afraid of the three boys' fists to say anything about it. He preferred to go straight to bed, for he was too tired to eat. But he couldn't go to sleep.
Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had threatened to beat the boys if they didn't do their work themselves. Afterwards Stoeffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him that he would do it every time Sami complained of him.
Stoeffi had learned that there was one thing Sami could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could not tell a lie. He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason. Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly: "Now speak out, and tell why you can't get through your work faster; you are quick enough when anyone is watching you."
He said he had not. "Then you would be fearfully frightened if you should suddenly see one," continued Stoeffi; "only those who know them are not afraid of them. This evening there is to be one in the village, and, as I am almost through with my piece in the field, you can finish it, so I can go early to see the bear." Sami agreed.
Then the blood rose to Sami's cheeks and the tears came into his eyes and, more courageously than usual towards Stoeffi, he cried: "I don't do that, but you have done it many times!" Then Stoeffi sprang up and seized hold of Sami to throw him down; but in his anger Sami turned quite differently from usual, so that Stoeffi had to call the others to help him.
A great struggle ensued; the blows became more and more violent, first on one side and then on the other. Suddenly the cart was upset. A fearful cracking and crashing sounded, and a great heap of red, brown and white crockery lay on the ground. Dumb with fright, the boys stood and looked at the destruction. Stoeffi was the first to recover himself.
Stoeffi tried to explain to him that it didn't matter whether he told the truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected, and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the same thing in the end: "But I shall do it."
When all four had begun to hoe again, Stoeffi soon exclaimed: "Well, you won't have much more to do now, Sami, but keep your promise, or " Stoeffi doubled up his fist, and Sami understood what that meant. He had hardly gone when Michael said: "See, Sami, there isn't much left of mine, you can do that too; I am going to see the bear." Whereupon Michael ran off.
The boy had to use all his strength, for Stoeffi showed him plainly that he would not take upon himself the larger part of the work. Then when they passed by the field the father indicated to each one the piece he would have to weed that afternoon; for he himself would be obliged to go to the cattle market.
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