ThatpoorunfortunateremindsmeofastorywhichIshalltellyou,thememoryofwhichcontinuallypursuesme.Hereitis:
Myfamily,whichcameoriginallyfromHavre,wasnotrich.Wejustmanagedtomakebothendsmeet.Myfatherworkedhard,camehomelatefromtheoffice,andearnedverylittle.Ihadtwosisters.
Mymothersufferedagooddealfromourreducedcircumstances,andsheoftenhadharshwordsforherhusband,veiledandslyreproaches.
Thepoormanthenmadeagesturewhichusedtodistressme.Hewouldpasshisopenhandoverhisforehead,asiftowipeawayperspirationwhichdidnotexist,andhewouldanswernothing.
Ifelthishelplesssuffering.Weeconomizedoneverything,andneverwouldacceptaninvitationtodinner,soasnottohavetoreturnthecourtesy.
Allourprovisionswereboughtatbargainsales.Mysistersmadetheirowngowns,andlongdiscussionswouldariseonthepriceofapieceofbraidworthfifteencentimesayard.Ourmealsusuallyconsistedcfsoupandbeef,preparedwitheverykindofsauce.
EverySunday,dressedinourbest,wewouldtakeourwalkalongthebreakwater.Myfather,inafrockcoat,highhatandkidgloves,wouldofferhisarmtomymother,deckedoutandberibbonedlikeashiponaholiday.
Mysisters,whowerealwaysreadyfirst,wouldawaitthesignalforleaving;butatthelastminutesomeonealwaysfoundaspotonmyfather'sfrockcoat,andithadtobewipedawayquicklywitharagmoistenedwithbenzine.
Myfather,inhisshirtsleeves,hissilkhatonhishead,wouldawaitthecompletionoftheoperation,whilemymother,puttingonherspectacles,andtakingoffherglovesinordernottospoilthem,wouldmakehaste.
Thenwesetoutceremoniously.Mysistersmarchedonahead,arminarm.Theywereofmarriageableageandhadtobedisplayed.
Iwalkedontheleftofmymotherandmyfatheronherright.IrememberthepompousairofmypoorparentsintheseSundaywalks,theirsternexpression,theirstiffwalk.
Theymovedslowly,withaseriousexpression,theirbodiesstraight,theirlegsstiff,asifsomethingofextremeimportancedependedupontheirappearance.
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