Library of the Worlds Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Volume 3 | Page 6

HOME AND THE OLD ONE
From 'On the Heights'
Hansei received various offers for his cottage, and was always
provoked when it was spoken of as a 'tumble-down old shanty.' He
always looked as if he meant to say, "Don't take it ill of me, good old
house: the people only abuse you so that they may get you cheap."
Hansei stood his ground. He would not sell his home for a penny less

than it was worth; and besides that, he owned the fishing-right, which
was also worth something. Grubersepp at last took the house off his
hands, with the design of putting a servant of his, who intended to
marry in the fall, in possession of the place.
All the villagers were kind and friendly to them,--doubly so since they
were about to leave,--and Hansei said:--
"It hurts me to think that I must leave a single enemy behind me, I'd
like to make it up with the innkeeper."
Walpurga agreed with him, and said that she would go along; that she
had really been the cause of the trouble, and that if the innkeeper
wanted to scold any one, he might as well scold her too.
Hansei did not want his wife to go along, but she insisted upon it.
It was in the last evening in August that they went up into the village.
Their hearts beat violently while they drew near to the inn. There was
no light in the room. They groped about the porch, but not a soul was to
be seen. Dachsel and Wachsel, however, were making a heathenish
racket. Hansei called out:
"Is there no one at home?"
"No. There's no one at home," answered a voice from the dark room.
"Well, then tell the host, when he returns, that Hansei and his wife were
here, and that they came to ask him to forgive them if they've done him
any wrong; and to say that they forgive him too, and wish him luck."
"A11 right: I'll tell him," said the voice. The door was again slammed
to, and Dachsel and Wachsel began barking again.
Hansei and Walpurga returned homeward.
"Do you know who that was?" asked Hansei.
"Why, yes: 'twas the innkeeper himself."

"Well, we've done all we could."
They found it sad to part from all the villagers. They listened to the
lovely tones of the bell which they had heard every hour since
childhood. Although their hearts were full, they did not say a word
about the sadness of parting. Hansei at last broke silence:--"Our new
home isn't out of the world: we can often come here."
When they reached the cottage they found that nearly all of the
villagers had assembled in order to bid them farewell, but every one
added, "I'll see you again in the morning."
Grubersepp also came again. He had been proud enough before; but
now he was doubly so, for he had made a man of his neighbor, or at all
events had helped to do so. He did not give way to tender sentiment. He
condensed all his knowledge of life into a few sentences, which he
delivered himself of most bluntly.
"I only want to tell you," said he, "you'll have lots of servants now.
Take my word for it, the best of them are good for nothing; but
something may be made of them for all that. He who would have his
servants mow well, must take the scythe in hand himself. And since
you got your riches so quickly, don't forget the proverb: 'Light come,
light go.' Keep steady, or it'll go ill with you."
He gave him much more good advice, and Hansei accompanied him all
the way back to his house. With a silent pressure of the hand they took
leave of each other.
The house seemed empty, for quite a number of chests and boxes had
been sent in advance by a boat that was already crossing the lake. On
the following morning two teams would be in waiting on the other side.
"So this is the last time that we go to bed in this house," said the mother.
They were all fatigued with work and excitement, and yet none of them
cared to go to bed. At last, however, they could not help doing so,
although they slept but little.

The next morning they were up and about at an early hour. Having
attired themselves in their best clothes, they bundled up the beds and
carried them into the boat. The mother kindled the last fire on the
hearth. The cows were led out and put into the boat, the chickens were
also taken along in a coop, and the dog was constantly running to and
fro.
The hour of parting had come.
The mother uttered