Stories by Foreign Authors: German — Volume 1 — John Shaqi
Stories by Foreign Authors: German — Volume 1
General
Stories by Foreign Authors: German — Volume 1
Short stories, German -- Translations into English
Saul, who had at a glance recognized Kalimann's calligraphy, said to
himself: "It will go hard with me but I will show the bookbinder that
they know how to write letters at Gyongos, and can also quote from the
classic authors."
He at once wrote Gutel a missive so thickly interlarded with quotations
from the Song of Solomon, from Goethe, Petofi, Heine, and
Chateaubriand, that when Kalimann read the billet-doux to the blushing
girl her head was quite turned.
The bookbinder himself scratched his head and muttered: "This Saul is a
man of letters; his style is vigorous! Who would have thought it?"
The correspondence between Gutel and Mendel, or rather between Kalimann
and Saul, flourished for some time. If Kalimann addressed Mendel as "my
cherished friend," "my turtle dove," Saul on his side would intersperse
throughout his letters such expressions as "your gazelle-like eyes,"
"your fairy form," "your crimson lips," "your voice rivalling the music
of the celestial spheres."
Kalimann's "friendly" letter was followed by those of the tender and
touching variety, and finally Gutel decided upon sacrificing her half
florin and sending one that "would go straight to the heart." To make
assurance doubly sure she supplemented her silver piece by a bottle of
wine. Her amanuensis poured out a glass, emptied it at a draught,
smacked his lips, and began to write. Suddenly, however, he stopped,
and turning to the girl, said: "Do you know, Gutel, that wine of yours
was a happy inspiration, but the great poet Hafiz was not alone
inspired by the spirit of wine, he placed a great virtue upon the
crimson lips of pretty girls."
Gutel was not slow to understand.
"As I have given you a half florin and a bottle of wine," she said, in
a shamefaced way, wiping her mouth with the corner of her apron the
while, "I see no reason why I should not add a touch of my lips as
well." So saying she gave the happy bookbinder a hearty kiss. The
consequence of all this was that the pen flew over the paper, and when
Kalimann read the letter for Gutel's approval the tender-hearted girl
burst into tears of emotion.
As for Mendel, when Saul read him this letter going "straight to the
heart," he could contain himself no longer; rushing from the house he
flew to the factory where he worked, and asked his employer, Mr.
Schonberg, to permit him to quit his service.
"What is the matter with you?" cried Schonberg. "Why do you wish to
leave? Do you want more wages?"
"No, no, Mr. Schonberg, that is not the reason. But--but I can stay no
longer here at Gyongos, I must go to Hort."
"To Hort? What is the reason of that?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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