Page:The land of many names (1926).pdf/24

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My word, yes! Everybody here’s cursing and looking out for somewhere to go to. And those who can’t are downright miserable. Just think of all the suicides!



Blessed Virgin! Only the day before yesterday there was another of ’em hanged himself; he was quite a young fellow and left a letter behind him. “Forgive me,” he wrote in it; “I shall be better off. No more happiness will bloom for me here. I am departing for more beautiful regions.”



Good gracious! But how nicely he put the letter together. Why, even Mr. Pieris couldn’t have done it so nice. “No more happiness will bloom for me here. I am departing for more beautiful regions”



No, indeed. Well, he has a good time of it; he just writes poems and has no worries. And here am I, not knowing whether I’m standing on my head or my heels.

[Noise of an opened shutter.



O Lord! O Lord! it’s beginning again.



No, thank Heaven, that was only a shutter.



Holy Saviour! what a fright I had again!