The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 06: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
General
The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 06: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
German literature -- 19th century -- Translations into English; German literature -- 20th century -- Translations into English
"The house," he said, "consists in reality only of a ground floor. But
upstairs, next to the garret, there is a small room which I occupy in
company with two journeymen."
"A single room for three people?"
"It is divided into two parts," he
answered, "and I have my own bed."
"It is getting late," I said, "and you must be anxious to get home. _Auf
Wiedersehen!_"
At the same time I put my hand in my pocket with the intention of
doubling the trifling amount I had given him before. But he had already
taken up his music-stand with one hand and his violin with the other,
and cried hurriedly, "I humbly ask you to refrain. I have already
received ample remuneration for my playing, and I am not aware of having
earned any other reward." Saying this he made me a rather awkward bow
with an approach to elegant ease, and departed as quickly as his old
legs could carry him.
As I said before, I had lost for this day all desire of participating
further in the festival. Consequently I turned homeward, taking the road
leading to the Leopoldstadt. Tired out from the dust and heat, I entered
one of the many beer-gardens, which, while overcrowded on ordinary days,
had today given up all their customers to the Brigittenau. The stillness
of the place, in contradistinction to the noisy crowd, did me good. I
gave myself up to my thoughts, in which the old musician had a
considerable share. Night had come before I thought at last of going
home. I laid the amount of my bill upon the table and walked toward the
city.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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