Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/264

 for them. So it had been all his life long. The kalounkar’s grandfather and great grandfathers had received hospitality there from the Loykas’—then how could they refuse him a home there. Surely they would call down the wrath of heaven upon themselves should they venture to dismiss him. The kalounkar (tape pedlar) was himself born there, his present young family was born there, the old Loykas were sponsors in baptism to the old kalounkar, the younger Loykas were sponsors to the wee kalounkars so now there was a family connection. The Loykas would have felt ill’ at ease if at certain particular seasons they had been without kalunkar and without tinkers. Perhaps if their humble friends had not been at their house, the Loykas’ would have sent to search the district for them. At pilgrimage times, at festival times, or about the season of the village gala—they must needs be at the Loykas’ several Sundays before the great event, and several Sundays after it. So that, indeed, there were but few occasions in the year when they were absent.

Besides the kalounkar who sold ribbons, the cloth pedlar walked the district, and he had even his stores at the Loykas’. On Monday he drew forth from his chest various samples, beside cloth, all kinds of kerchiefs and stuffs for dresses, then he waited several days until Sunday drew nigh, or until the vigil of the village gala, and then he shouldered his pack and went. If it rained or if the weather was