[1] Moutard—not -arde; but I can’t give better than this English for it. [↑]
[2] Fate, and the good novelist, thus dismiss poor grandmamma in a passing sentence,—just when we wanted her so much to live a little longer, too! But that is Fors’s way, and Gotthelf knows it. A bad novelist would have made her live to exactly the proper moment, and then die in a most instructive manner, and with pathetic incidents and speeches which would have filled a chapter. [↑]
[3] This paragraph implies, of course, the existence of all modern abuses,—the story dealing only with the world as it is. [↑]
[4] A minute Evangelical fragment—dubitable enough. [↑]
[5] Primarily, because it is untrue. The respect of a child for its parent depends on the parent’s own personal character; and not at all, irrespective of that, on his religious behaviour. Which the practical good sense of the reverend novelist presently admits. [↑]
[6] We keep the metaphor in the phrase, to ‘give a dressing,’ but the short verb is better. [↑]
[8] It was unworthy of Gotthelf to spoil his story by this vulgar theatrical catastrophe; and his object (namely, to exhibit the character of Hansli in riches as well as poverty,) does not justify him; for, to be an example to those in his own position, Hansli should have remained in it. We will, however, take what good we can get: several of the points for the sake of which I have translated the whole story, are in this part of it. [↑]