"True," said the mayor, who added, after a while, "The lists will come now with the speed of a thunderbolt."
"But next do you see to ridding the village of useless people."
"How are you to get rid of them?"
"I tell you that the chief has complained that the people in Barania-Glova are not as they should be. They are always drinking, says he. 'Burak,' says he, 'does not look after the people; so the matter will be ground out on him.'"
"Yes, I know," answered the mayor; "that all is ground out on me. When Rozalka Kovaliha was brought to bed, the court decided to give her twenty-five, so that a second time she should remember. 'Because,' said the court, 'that is not nice for a girl.' Who commanded? Was it I? Not I, but the court. What had I to do with that. Let them all be brought to bed for themselves, if they like. The court directed, and then laid the blame on me."
At this juncture the cow struck the wall with such force that the chancery trembled. The mayor cried out, with a voice full of bitterness,—
"Aa! hei! may all the—"
The secretary, who was sitting at the table, began to look again in the glass.
"Serves you right," said he; "why don't you look out? It will be the same story with this drinking. One mangy sheep will lead a whole flock astray, and he attracts people to the dram-shop."
"Of course, that is well known; but as to drinking, there is need of drink when people have worked in the field."