Page:Poet Lore, volume 28, 1917.djvu/547



Tonicka.—Just take notice how that bag of wind has turned out! He shouts around here about his courage as long as danger is at a safe distance, but he scarcely feels the first real breath of the storm before he is all in a heap!

Kralenec.—Man is by nature belligerent and untamed. But he deserves a little compassion since he has considered the wishes of his family.

Tonicka.—Compassion! I have none for him. I am a woman and certainly I know what it is to feel for little children. But he consulted only his own wishes, not his family’s. He surely did not act out of consideration for them. There is deception in the pretense.

Kralenec.—And do you know, Tonicko, that it is easier to talk than to meet the hardship that must come to us through our decision? We still have a roof above our heads. But when this door opens for us to leave, and we must find an unknown one to receive us, when it will become necessary to pay higher rent than you now expect, there will then be need of resourcefulness and endurance. It will then appear, who among us has not been found wanting.

Tonicka.—What else may happen? What do you expect?

(Enter, and three miners: , and walks hastily toward his accustomed place.)

Rokos (Speaking with his usual fire).—Vojtech, have they threatened to let you go too?

Kralenec.—Yes, and you?

Rokos.—They have already let me go. And Kotor, Schulze and Trnka are discharged also!

Kralenec.—Schulze also?

Schulze (With his German accent).—Yes, yes, I was not willing to work for lower wages. But I will show them, I will show them.

Rokos.—Those people at the chancery act as though they