The testament to five sons
Printed page 118
PDF page 126 · Calmar, 1836
Page 118, passage p118-s001
ing to me, what reflections must I not then make when I cast my eyes upon five sons, four of whom were between 12 and 16 years of age and unusually tall in stature.
lig, hvilka betraktelser skulle jag då ej göra när jag kastade mina ögon på fem söner, af hvilka fyra voro i en ålder från 12 till 16 år, samt ovanligt uppvexte i höjden.
Page 118, passage p118-s002
The time had come when these boys ought to be formed for the benefit of society, and not into idlers.
Tiden var kommen då desse borde danas till samhällets nytta, och ej till dagdrifvare.
Page 118, passage p118-s003
They then had only to choose between the plough and the career of an official; but how were they to enter the latter without knowledge?
De hade då endast att välja emellan plogen och tjenstemannabanan; men huru beträda densamma utan kunskaper?
Page 118, passage p118-s004
How were they to acquire it without money?
Huru inhemta dem utan penningar?
Page 118, passage p118-s005
Truly, with all my powers of thought, and with the best will, I nevertheless remained completely at a loss.
Sannerligen, med all min tankeförmåga förblef jag, med den bästa vilja, ändock fullkomligt rådlös.
Page 118, passage p118-s006
At length, and after my thoughts had led me back and forth along many roads, I came to stand upon fate's untrodden path, where I had taken so many great leaps without breaking my legs.
Omsider, och sedan tankarne fört mig fram och åter på många vägar, blef jag stående på ödets obanade stig, der jag tagit så många stora skutt utan att afbryta benen.
Page 118, passage p118-s007
My enemy of many years had moved away; the holding he had occupied had, through a new purchase at auction, come into another man's hands, and this man made an offer for my holding that was most enticing to me, especially since the bidder was a cash payer; after I had deliberated on this matter with my wife, we resolved to sacrifice ourselves in order to save our children, and the purchase was concluded.
Min mångårige fiende var afflyttad; dess innehafda lägenhet var genom nytt auktionsinrop kommen i annan mans hand, hvilken gjorde ett anbud å min lägenhet, som var på det högsta lockande för mig, i synnerhet emedan bjudaren var en kontant betalare; sedan jag rörande detta ämne öfverlagt med min maka, beslöto vi att uppoffra oss sjelfva för att rädda våra barn, och köpet uppgjordes.
Page 118, passage p118-s008
I was duly paid, and there remained only the auc-
Jag blef ordentligt liqviderad, och det återstod endast auk-