Kálmán Mikszáth

“ No king goes to sleep in a more fragrant chamber than they.
Scarcely had they closed their eyes, or perhaps they had not closed them yet at all, because if they had they couldn't have seen, when they observed—at just a short distance from them—a long row of lighted windows.
Safranyik was the first to take notice of this: “Quick—Zahrada, Zajczek! There’s a lighted castle right under our nose. Up—Zahrada! Up Zajczek! I feel an itch that tells me we’ll get good food and drink there.” ”

“ The long coaches with their rows of little windows, fastened together in a long line, looked to them like a village of small and diminutive houses.
In the meantime the invited gentry had assembled. They climbed on to the coaches and the huge, foolish machine began to puff and snort and blow like a wild horse, while the smoke poured forth and spread out across the pleasant fields. A whistle, and the long line of little Polish houses moved with a noise like thunder, and the more they moved, the faster, until it was just like an arrow shot from the bow. ”

“ The wagon with the body, by some accident, was driven to the station for Vienna, and placed in a car attached to that train. So poor Paul Rediki, after his death, traveled the length and breadth of Austria for an entire week.
That is the reason that I insist that it is better to die at home, but it is a good deal better still, not to die at all. ”

“ There is only one man in this part of the country—Franz Nagy— (and he lived a century or more ago!) —who has traveled. Once he went almost to Prague. After that all the people of his name went by the title of “the Prague Nagys.”
If there was one who had been almost to Prague, there were hundreds who had not been as far away as the next village, and among the latter is Paul Rediki. Once, because of an important law suit, upon the result of which all his property depended, he was called to Vienna. But he declared: “Rather would I lose all I have than travel to Vienna.” ”

“ They look about upon their surroundings. They were in the old forgotten graveyard of Crizsnócz, and the three fiddles were hanging upon the grave stones. Beside Safranyik’s head, lay a human skull, instead of the jeweled butterfly cap which the merry little gentlewoman had pulled over his head. Zahrada held in one hand the bone of an arm. ”

“ It’s only safe to praise one’s ancestors—they are the only ones one can be proud of in Hungary.”
Now he began to praise their great, great grand children, closing with the brilliant prophecy:
“I hope the Almighty will be good enough to let them die sooner or later.”
The man at end of the table, deeply affected, nodded his head, and the whole company touched glasses, whereupon he jumped to his feet and bowed and offered his arm to an old lady, who wore white powdered hair, a violet silk dress, led her to Safranyik, and bent and whispered something in his ear. ”

“ On the side of the way where we now are, trees, barns, and storehouses shut out view of the dwelling houses of Crizsnócz, and not one of them had ever been in this locality before.
“I’m as hungry as a dog, friends. We must reach the village soon—and yet, of course, I can’t tell. It may be a long time. I think we better unhitch the horses here where we are and rest a bit.” ”

“ The dead man deserved this honor because he was a reliable man, a man who kept his word even unto death. But they were obliged to get along with only the little bell because the big bell had been ruined in the thunder shower. ”

“ However, it happened after many, many years that old Vienna bestirred herself and moved nearer. The wing-swift railroad had been built. Our great blue mountains were pierced through and through, and the velvet-soft, green meadows were covered with iron ribbons, upon which wheels were to roll.
Paul Rediki was in favor of the railroad, and worked lustily for it. “It will bring money and prosperity to our community,” he declared, “and it will make our harvests of value.”
Too bad that he was not at home when the first flower-decked coaches rolled in ”

“ Now nothing was lacking but the dead man. The master of ceremonies, clothed in full dignity, looked impatiently at his watch. “He must be here very soon.”
Carl Petroczig, who had arranged everything properly for the ceremony, hastened to quiet him.
“He must be here soon. The wagon has already been sent on to the station.” After a brief period of waiting, rattle of wheels was heard, the crowd began to sway to and fro, each one stretched up and tried to look over the one in front. ”

“ THE people of my country do not like to travel. The high, blue mountains that surround them, shut out the world. Besides, what could there be that is different on the other side of the mountains? And the rich people and the influential are of just the same opinion. ”