Growth of the Soil Knut Hamsun (summer books .txt) đ
- Author: Knut Hamsun
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Oh, but to tell the truth it was not so much Brede was selling the place; âtwas the Bank and the storekeeper were selling up Breidablik, though for the sake of appearances they let it be done in Bredeâs name. That way, he thought he was saved from disgrace. And Brede was not altogether dejected when Isak met him; he consoled himself with the thought that he was still Inspector on the telegraph line; that was a regular income, anyway, and in time he would be able to work up to his old position in the place as the Lensmandâs companion and this and that. He was something affected at the change, of course; âtwas not so easy to say goodbye to a place where one had lived and toiled and moiled so many years, and come to care for. But Brede, good man, was never long cast down. âTwas his best point, the charm of him. He had once in his life taken it into his head to be a tiller of the soil, âtwas an inspiration had come to him. True, he had not made a success of it, but he had taken up other plans in the same airy way and got on better; and who could sayâ âperhaps his samples of ore might after all turn out something wonderful in time! And then look at Barbro, he had got her fixed up there at Maaneland, and sheâd not be leaving Axel Ström now, that he could swearâ ââtwas plain indeed for anyone to see.
No, there was nothing to fear as long as he had his health and could work for himself and those that looked to him, said Brede Olsen. And the children were just growing up, and big enough now to go out and make their own way in the world, said he. Helge was gone to the herring fisheries already, and Katrine was going to help at the doctorâs. That left only the two youngestâ âwell, well, there was a third on the way, true, but, anyhowâ ââ âŠ
Isak had more news from the village: the Lensmandâs lady had had a baby. Inger suddenly interested at this: âBoy or girl?â
âWhy, I didnât hear which,â said Isak.
But the Lensmandâs lady had had a child after allâ âafter all the way sheâd spoken at the womenâs club about the increasing birthrate among the poor; better give women the franchise and let them have some say in their own affairs, she said. And now she was caught. Yes, the parsonâs wife had said, âSheâs had some say in lots of thingsâ âbut her own affairs are none the better for it, ha ha ha!â And that was a clever saying that went the round of the village, and there were many that understood what was meantâ âInger no doubt as well; it was only Isak who did not understand.
Isak understood his work, his calling. He was a rich man now, with a big farm, but the heavy cash payments that had come to him by a lucky chance he used but poorly; he put the money aside. The land saved him. If he had lived down in the village, maybe the great world would have affected even him; so much gaiety, so many elegant manners and ways; he would have been buying useless trifles, and wearing a red Sunday shirt on weekdays. Here in the wilds he was sheltered from all immoderation; he lived in clear air, washed himself on Sunday mornings, and took a bath when he went up to the lake. Those thousand Dalerâ âwell, âtwas a gift from Heaven, to be kept intact. What else should he do? His ordinary outgoings were more than covered by the produce of his fields and stock.
Eleseus, of course, knew better; he had advised his father to put the money in the Bank. Well, perhaps that was the best, but Isak had put off doing it for the presentâ âperhaps it would never be done at all. Not that Isak was above taking advice from his son; Eleseus was no fool, as he showed later on. Now, in the haymaking season, he had tried his hand with the scytheâ âbut he was no master hand at that, no. He kept close to Sivert, and had to get him to
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