Short stories, German -- Translations into English
Consequently, as a high-sounding name cost no more than a simple one,
Kalimann chose the most imposing he could find, and, his country's hero
in mind, called himself Sandor Hunyadi. This historic title revived, as
it were, his latent patriotism, and, digging his gun and cartridge-box
from their hiding-place in the garden where he had carefully buried
them after the capitulation of Vilagos, he proudly hung these trophies
of his prowess over his bed, and rejoiced in the memories of his
martial exploits.
Liberty and religious peace held equal sway. Reciprocal kindliness and
toleration spread light where darkness had been, and scattered the
shadows of prejudice.
Hunyadi, or Kalimann, was regarded in Hort as a freethinker. This was
scarcely just; he was pious, and strictly discharged his religious
observances, emancipating himself at the same time from those
distinctions in dress and customs which he deemed neither in accordance
with Mosaic law nor with his ideas of progress.
He followed the observance of wearing his hat while at synagogue, but
during no other religious ceremony; troubled himself but little
regarding the dietary laws; dressed as his Christian neighbor did; and
strictly prohibited any superstitious practices in his house. He even
permitted his wife to let her hair grow,--a bold innovation.
His appearance was by no means suggestive of the hero. Short, thin, and
insignificant-looking, with hair that frizzled beyond all thought of
disentanglement, a tanned and freckled skin, flaxen moustache, and gray
eyes that blinked continuously, Kalimann had truly no cause for vanity.
Besides, he was excessively near-sighted, and as his large spectacles
were taken from their red case only when he read or worked, it not
unfrequently happened that when he took his walk abroad he would
mistake a tall post for the chief magistrate of the county, and salute
it with his most respectful bow; or, with a composure born of
self-complacency, it would be his misfortune to pass by Madame Barkany,
his best customer, with a vacant stare, under the impression that the
fair apparition was linen hung to bleach in the sun.
Kalimann worked alone with a little apprentice named Hersch, whom he
had indentured far more from charity than necessity, since the worthy
bookbinder felt within him that love for his art which would have
enabled him to bind the entire literature of Europe with no greater aid
than his good right arm. He was a conscientious, faithful workman, and,
as a rule, his entire days were spent in his shop; when necessity
demanded he would toil on late into the night by the light of a tallow
candle, or an ill-smelling lamp.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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