Голод
Part I
Ascustomary,IhaltedbeforeeverynewspaperplacardIcameto,toreadtheannouncementsofsituationsvacant,andwasluckyenoughtofindonethatImighttryfor.
AgrocerinGroenlandsleretwantedamaneveryweekforacoupleofhours’book-keeping;remunerationaccordingtoagreement.Inotedmyman’saddress,andprayedtoGodinsilenceforthisplace.Iwoulddemandlessthananyoneelseformywork;sixpencewasample,orperhapsfivepence.Thatwouldnotmatterintheleast.
Ongoinghome,aslipofpaperfrommylandladylayonmytable,inwhichshebeggedmetopaymyrentinadvance,orelsemoveassoonasIcould.Imustnotbeoffended,itwasabsolutelyanecessaryrequest.FriendlilyMrs.Gundersen.
IwroteanapplicationtoChristythegrocer,No.13Groenlandsleret,putitinanenvelope,andtookittothepillaratthecorner.ThenIreturnedtomyroomandsatdownintherocking-chairtothink,whilstthedarknessgrewcloserandcloser.Sittinguplatebegantobedifficultnow.
Iwokeveryearlyinthemorning.ItwasstillquitedarkasIopenedmyeyes,anditwasnottilllongafterthatIheardfivestrokesoftheclockdown-stairs.Iturnedroundtodozeagain,butsleephaddown.Igrewmoreandmorewakeful,andlayandthoughtofathousandthings.
Suddenlyafewgoodsentencesfittedforasketchorstorystrikeme,delicatelinguistichitsofwhichIhaveneverbeforefoundtheequal.
