The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann
Chapter 70 : HORNIG No; perhaps the worst you do is to send in an account twice to the rich fustian

HORNIG

No; perhaps the worst you do is to send in an account twice to the rich fustian manufacturers, or to help yourself to a plank or two at Dreissiger's when there's building goin' on and the moon happens not to be s.h.i.+nin'.

WIEGAND

[_Turning his back._] Talk to any one you like, but not to me. [_Then suddenly._] Hornig the liar!

HORNIG

Wiegand the coffin-jobber!

WIEGAND

[_To the rest of the company._] He knows charms for bewitching cattle.

HORNIG

If you don't look out, I'll try one of 'em on you.

[_WIEGAND turns pale._

MRS. WELZEL

[_Had gone out; now returns with the TRAVELLER'S coffee; in the act of putting it on the table._] Perhaps you would rather have it in the parlour, sir?

TRAVELLER

Most certainly not! [_With a languis.h.i.+ng look at ANNA._] I could sit here till I die.

_Enter a YOUNG FORESTER and a PEASANT, the latter carrying a whip.

They wish the others_ "Good Morning," _and remain standing at the counter._

PEASANT

Two brandies, if you please.

WELZEL

Good-morning to you, gentlemen.

[_He pours out their beverage; the two touch gla.s.ses, take a mouthful, and then set the gla.s.ses down on the counter._

TRAVELLER

[_To FORESTER._] Come far this morning, sir?

FORESTER

From Steinseiffersdorf--that's a good step.

_Two old WEAVERS enter, and seat themselves beside ANSORGE, BAUMERT, and HORNIG._

TRAVELLER

Excuse me asking, but are you in Count Hochheim's service?

FORESTER

No. I'm in Count Keil's.

TRAVELLER

Yes, yes, of course--that was what I meant. One gets confused here among all the counts and barons and other gentlemen. It would take a giant's memory to remember them all. Why do you carry an axe, if I may ask?

FORESTER

I've just taken this one from a man who was stealing wood.

OLD BAUMERT

Yes, their lords.h.i.+ps are mighty strict with us about a few sticks for the fire.

TRAVELLER

You must allow that if every one were to help himself to what he wanted ...

OLD BAUMERT

By your leave, sir, but there's a difference made here as elsewhere between the big an' the little thieves. There's some here as deals in stolen wood wholesale, and grows rich on it. But if a poor weaver ...

FIRST OLD WEAVER

[_Interrupts BAUMERT._] We're forbid to take a single branch; but their lords.h.i.+ps, they take the very skin off of us--we've a.s.surance money to pay, an' spinning-money, an' charges in kind--we must go here an' go there, an' do so an' so much field work, all w.i.l.l.y-nilly.

ANSORGE

That's just how it is--what the manufacturer leaves us, their lords.h.i.+ps takes from us.

SECOND OLD WEAVER

[_Has taken a seat at the next table._] I've said it to his lords.h.i.+p hisself. By your leave, my lord, says I, it's not possible for me to work on the estate so many days this year. I comes right out with it. For why--my own bit of ground, my lord, it's been next to carried away by the rains. I've to work night and day if I'm to live at all. For oh, what a flood that was...! There I stood an' wrung my hands, an' watched the good soil come pourin' down the hill, into the very house! And all that dear, fine seed!... I could do nothin' but roar an' cry until I couldn't see out o' my eyes for a week. And then I had to start an' wheel eighty heavy barrow-loads of earth up that hill, till my back was all but broken.

PEASANT

[_Roughly._] You weavers here make such an awful outcry. As if we hadn't all to put up with what Heaven sends us. An' if you _are_ badly off just now, whose fault is it but your own? What did you do when trade was good?

Drank an' squandered all you made. If you had saved a bit then, you'd have it to fall back on now when times is bad, and not need to be goin'

stealin' yarn and wood.