Pelle the Conqueror, Vol 3

head into a bucket of water. While he was scrubbing himself dry, he ran over to the "Family." "Would y

ous smell of coffee. They were tired after the day's work and they didn't feel inclined to dress themselves to go out. One could see

er over while he was d

s stupid to rake

lady in her boudoir, and did not look at him. But Madam Johnsen was

hey walked through the city. "You've been so frightfully busy lately. They say you

gain something by it-if on

oing to eat up the Germans again, as in m

just a little happie

ess with it. But then I met a man who wanted to do the best thing by me, and who believed in himself, too. He got me to believe that the two of us together might manage something lasting. And he was just such a poor bird as I was, with empty hands-but he set to valiantly. Clever in his work he was, too, and he thought we could make ourselves a quiet, happy life, cozy between our four walls, if only we'd work. Happiness-pooh! He wanted to be a master, at all costs-for what can a journeyman earn! And more than once we had scrape

aid, panting. "Any one would think the

a gift after all that misfortune; but he couldn't bear her, because our fancy for a little magnificence was born again in her. She had inherited that from us-poor little thing!-with rags and dirt to set it off. You should just have seen her, as quite a little child, making up the fine folks' wo

when I might have amused myself he'd stolen from me with his talk of the future, and now I sit there turning old soldiers' trousers that fill the room with filth, and when I do two a day I can earn a mark. And Hanne goes about like a sleep-walker. Happiness! Is there a soul in the 'Ark' that didn't beg

ason to set to w

d amuse yourself while you are still young. But don't you take any notice of my complaining-me-an old whimperer, I am-walk

s arm and went tripping youthfully along. "Yes, if it had been in my young days, I would soon have known

get Johnsen to give them

dulous. But no one would succee

ng people; but many women and young girls were present. Among other things a poem was read which dealt with an old respectable blacksmith who was ruined by a strike. "That may b

m and told them about the early years of the movement. When he had finished, he asked if there w

t. Pelle knew most of those present; even the young men had hard faces, on which could be read an obstinate questioning. This homely

ow for unification, and it was passing unused. The women only needed a little rousing, the factory-girls and the married women too, who held back th

hrown on our own resources when we want to get anything. Why do we slink round the point like cats on hot bricks, why all this palaver and preaching? Perhaps we don't yet know what we want? They say we've been slaves f

men; they stamped and shouted. Pelle staggered d

smiling thanks to Pelle. It was gratifying that there was still fire glowing in the young men; although the occasion was unsui

venture too far." She would not let go of him, so he had to sit down again to avoid attracting attention. His cheeks were burning, and he was as

er. "Is it over already?" asked Madam Johnse

g," he said, leading the old woman to a table

t you ought to have a glass

here with an old wife like me and drink coffee! What a crowd of people there are here; it's almost like a holiday!" She sat looking about her with sh

d of you from the president of your Union," he said, giving Pelle his hand.

blushing. "But it really would be

t's always so with the young men. But those who really want to do something must

ple were standing about

haven't made yourself

men were standing, wh

denly they ca

was good, what you said up there, we want to thank you for it!" They stood by for some little while, chatting to Pelle. "It woul

s evening; I have some

ll

said Madam Johnsen.

k there, I can go

spree a bit now that we've at la

s quite turned already. You just be off; that's a thing I haven't said for thi

n's tenement houses. The stairs were roomy, and on the door there was a porcelain p

mrade, mother

Pelle's hand. She held it a momen

in shirt sleeves, and was resting his heavy arms on the table. He read

ould like to say how-d

is hand on his

e asked, rising with difficulty, with one hand pressed on the table. He was tall, his hai

am Stolpe. "Perhaps you think

le crowd of people have entered it,

said Pelle. "But not in your

remains a journeyman all his life long, he has more interest in modifying his position. Do you understand? That's why the organization of the shoemakers has never been of more t

he, father," sai

d'ye-do over again! And here's good luck to your plans, young comrade." H

irst beginning, when there was only one trades unionist in Denmark, namely, himself, down to the present time. He knew all the numbers of the various trades, and was precisely informed as to the development of each individual union. The sons sat silent, thoughtfully listening. When they had someth

plush suite, an octagonal table of walnut wood, with a black inlaid border and twisted wooden feet, and an etagere full of knick-knacks and pieces of china; mostly droll, impudent little things. On the walls hung pictures of trades unions and assemblies and large photographs of workshops; one of a building d

men at his heels. But they kept themselves politely in the background, for a fire went out of him at such

w, is he?" asked P

l we have our coffee now?" Otto winked at Pelle; here

fine day he begins to pour spirit on the flames in order to stop his mouth. I myself had that accursed feeling that I must do something, and little by little I began to drink. But then I discovered the movement, before it existed, I might venture to say; it was in the air like, d'you see. It was as though something was coming, and one sniffed about like a dog in order to catch a glimpse of it. Presently it was, Here it is! There it is! But when one looked into it, there was just a few hungry men bawl

wind in the sai

e. But to whom is that due? God knows,

eathed for nothing else. They were brave, honest people, who quite simply divided mankind into two parts: those who were for and those wh

l on four twisted legs. It was thickly ornamented wi

Stolpe, but she checked herself in a

ger's a thing of the past, but one still has to be careful. That's a vestige of the times when things used to go hardly with us. The police used to be down on all our badges of co

s, when the troops were sent against us with ball cartridge, it waved over the speaker's platform, and held us together. When it flapped over our heads it was as though we were swearing an oath to it. The police understood t

ole place upside down, and dragged him off to the cells without a word of explanation. The children were litt

had already passed them on, they were never very long in one place in those da

e that had burned in the depths of his soul was after all not so extravagant. When he was still running, wild at home, playing the games of childhood or herding the cows, strong men had already been at wo

the chest and is forgot

ill exists. But fix it on a staff, and you will see how the comrades flock about it! O

ck in the chest. "It won't do even now to speak a

est and hide the key, while Frederik went to the door.

tall dark girl with an earnest bearing. She had a veil over her

in the old days. And you're abroad in the streets at this hour of night! And in this weather?" He l

the tiniest nod, but

ll and gracious about h

ithout the slightest ado

sound

mother, unbuttoning her cloa

at once," Ellen replied.

te," grumbled Stolpe. "A

not my goin

, it's sheer slavery,

oesn't make it any better for you to

in our children going out to service in the houses of the

's all the same-father work

another, and then it's over. But this other work is a home; she

a position to k

ame I can't bear it. Besides, you cou

claim the right to dispose of

on Stolpe's forehead; he was purple, and terribly angry. But Ellen looked a

llen. She was quite pale. "Oh,

behind his chair, looking down at them; she rested her arm on his shoulders and idly ruffled his ha

half-past eleven. Pelle rose in conster

have company. There's no danger going with her, for she's a saint." It sounded as though

nking him over as they walked, wondering what sort of a fellow he might be. When he ventured to say something, she answer

, when they stood at her house- door. "

said taciturnly; but she ga

cried Pelle jovially. "But you are forgetting

that were turning him to stone, he though