Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - VII. Sunlight
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134 DAYS IN THE SUN
sometimes I dance. But in the evenings the sun goes
down behind the high houses and it becomes cold down
here. Then I simply go over the street to the coal-
dealer and beg him for five farthings’ worth of wood-
coal; and because I am poor he gives me twice as much
as he would give others. It is the same way at the
grocer’s.”
And what she said was true! I was once in a shop
and observed that the brown-clad beggar by my side
paid only half as much for his eggs as I did.
“Oho!” I said to myself, “they are trying to do me
because I am a foreigner”; and indignantly I demanded
my rights in a voice trembling with the Nordic sense
of justice.
“But those are the regular prices for the poor, sir!”
said the tradesman, seriously.
“Then I demand that I be charged the same prices
as the poor,” I said with determination, not wishing
to be cheated under any circumstances.
The shopkeeper shrugged his shoulders and let me
have my way; and I gathered up my things, faintly
triumphant over my success. The only thing that irri-
tated me was the fact that the shopkeeper showed not
the slightest embarrassment at being thus caught in the
act in the presence of all his customers; and the latter
looked at me as though I were a criminal. I hesitated
in my defiance. Then I saw a poorly dressed man hand
the storekeeper a few coins and exchange a glance with
him, whereupon he left the store. And when I my-
self turned to go, the merchant came up to me, handed
back my money to me and said:
“Please, sir, the eggs shall cost you nothing.” I
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