Page:The land of many names (1926).pdf/55

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
THE LAND OF MANY NAMES
51

thing. I am still without anything of my own; I still possess nothing.

First Man:

Well, what is there here? What have we here? Here is nothing but bare misery.

The Stripling:

Here? Here is only drudgery and beggary. Just look at me. Why, I shall never get on like this. I want to do something big.

First Man:

And you’re right. What sort of a life is this here? Always hunting after a. wretched crust of bread and always having nothing. Except our bare hands——

The Stripling:

That’s just what I say. There’s nothing more to be done here. It’s not worth spitting on. But there? There it’s different. There is a new land. It can never be used up. There’s plenty of everything and nobody’s been there yet. Nothing’s been touched there yet. All you have to do is to make a grab——

First Man:

That’s it. Just properly stretch out your hand——

The Stripling:

But I’ll set about it with my sleeves properly rolled up.

The Man with the Spade:

The lad’s got pluck.