Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/133

 themselves about nothing in the whole world. But for me I saw very well how Uncle John ordered song after song, and how he drank and danced more than any one at the hostinets.

In the evening every one poured out of the ale-house-children first of all, after them the music, after the music Uncle John, accompanied by a bevy of gay young men, and last of all the old women. Uncle John, be it understood, would have the musicians accompany him home, a thing which even the richest and wildest young men seldom do except in the morning.

As it was in the evening the whole village was afoot, Uncle John whistled, and the musicians had to accompany his whistling. Before grandfather’s house stood all his guests. Grandfather trembled all over.

“And now play till they hear you in the neighbouring village at Kubista’s”, cried Uncle John, and whistled till they became alarmed about him.

They had to lead grandfather away lest he should forget himself and injure uncle, and they had to humour Uncle John somewhat in order to quiet him. The musicians were well paid with drink-money; these went back to the hostinets and the people after them, but this affair which I am relating just as it happened was already in everybody’s mouth.

They led Uncle John away to bed. And they locked fast his door that grandfather might not discover where his son slept.

ETUSKA, daughter of Kubista, fed poultry. First came the cock and chose himself a few nice morsels, but the best he gave to one hen who was before all dear to him. The other hens clucked and said that she was his wife. But for all that the others were not idle either. They jumped on to Betuska’s hand, her shoulder, and into her lap, and complained to her as their good friend that the cock cheated them of their due by paying attention to only one of them, while after all it was they who laid all the eggs for the egg-basket. Betuska was their judge; she cursed the cock for a reprobate and permitted the hens to take their corn out of her lap.

But these chickens were like children: order them with an affable countenance and something for dainties, and they do not desert you. Provided it kept coming they would most willingly have got Rh