"In reply to the advertisement in the _Berlinske Tidende_ of
yesterday's date, I beg to offer lodgings in my house. It is a small
parsonage in Jutland, and the Gudenaa is near. There is a towing-path
on the banks, and where such exists the fishing is free, consequently
no difficulty will arise as to permission to fish. The fishing is not
particularly good, and if great anticipations exist on this score, I
must say that they will not, in my opinion, be realized. Small fish on
which the trout feed are abundant, as also the cadis worm and fly, and
the trout do not take readily an artificial bait, either fly or
minnow. I cannot, therefore, say that I think many trout can be
caught. There is also much fishing with small nets. I can, however,
teach Danish to an Englishman, although my knowledge of English is
imperfect; but on the other hand, if the advertiser will teach my two
sons, of sixteen and fourteen years of age, English, I should require
no payment from him. I am a widower, with a daughter and the two sons
already named. I can only add that he would be received kindly, and
treated as a member of my family."
The straightforwardness of this communication had its effect on John
Hardy's open character, and he replied that he would accept the
conditions stipulated, but that he could do so only on a payment of a
monthly sum, which he was advised in Copenhagen was a full
compensation, and rather more than would be expected, for the
accommodation and cost that might be incurred by the Danish Pastor.
The reply from the Jutland parsonage was: "The evident consideration
shown by your answer to my letter should be sufficient, but before you
come here will you kindly give me references in Copenhagen, or, if
that be difficult, in England, where I might make inquiry. I am the
Pastor of the parish where I reside, and it is due to my position that
I should make inquiry before I can admit any one to my house under any
circumstances. I do not wish to ask what is not right or reasonable,
but as I am situated it is a necessity, however advantageous your
coming here might be to me."
This reply impressed John Hardy more than the previous communication,
and he replied with the address of a bank in Copenhagen, with
reference to his own bankers in London, for which John Hardy had to
wait a week in Copenhagen. These replies were to the effect that John
Hardy was a gentleman of position and character in England, and that
any amount that might be incurred by him for expenses in Denmark would
at once be paid by the Danish bank.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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