Page:Poet Lore, volume 28, 1917.djvu/521

 about the leaves. The only thing to hope for is the blessing of peace and a decent livelihood.

Kralenec.—Yes, that is a golden truth. I myself am now satisfied because I have a wife, my children, and this little room.

Skarban (To ).—So you see, Godmother, how your Kralenec esteems you.

Tonicka (Wiping away the tears which had sprung to her eyes at the words).—Yes, he just talks that way before you.

(Kralenec laughs.)

Skarban.—Oh, very well. Yet I believe he would tell you the same thing, but even more affectionately.

Tonicka.—Domestic happiness is surely the greatest of happiness, and is above all things. This is what our dead mother used to tell us: “When two people live happily and keep an even temper, you may have an earthly paradise even in the poorest home.”

Skarban.—Yes, when there is with it something to bite into.

Kralenec.—But one can never be quite satisfied. (Laughing.) When I was a small boy, I had an absorbing desire to become something great,—possibly a general,—so I could do something unusual.

Tonicka (Smiling).—You wanted to win a great battle, perhaps, or acquire several millions, so everybody could be happy.

Rokos.—To accomplish something out of the ordinary, That is the dream of every person at least once in a life time. All of us would like to rule, or direct great battles. And yet, to rear one child well, or save some one from poverty,—is that not greater than the conquering of a nation or the over throwing of a king?

Skarban.—Truly, yes.

Kralenec.—When a man comes to his senses, he arrives at that conclusion. But at times the old ambition returns to haunt him.

Rokos.—Like the dizzy sensation of great height.

Tonicka.—But even you have succeeded in accomplishing here what was not an easy or careless undertaking.

Kralenec.—And pray, what was that?

Tonicka.—The school. Didn’t it require plenty of concern, management and effort?

Kralenec.—The school? That is true. But surely, that isn’t anything so great?

Tonicka.—Well, that was enough, considering things as they