he had before. He is
tempted to conceal this profit from the master, and keep it for himself,
but better counsels prevail. Joggeli bids him share the profit with the
milker, and reluctantly pays Uli's expenses out of his own pocket. He
boasts to his wife that he has tested Uli by sending a man to him to buy
the old cows; she upbraids him for this underhandedness. Uli forces
Joggeli to be the first farmer with his haying, but cannot get him to
supply decent tools. The other servants are lazy and slack--the milker
and carter especially so. Although Uli urges and drives him in vain,
Joggeli takes malicious enjoyment in his distress. At last Uli loses all
patience and demands the instant dismissal of the carter and the milker,
his own departure being the alternative. Joggeli is with difficulty
persuaded to take this step; but once taken, the good results are
immediate and permanent. The carter and the milker, at first expecting
to be taken back in a day or two, finally beg for their old places; but
Uli is firm. New men are engaged, with instructions to take their orders
from Uli.]

CHAPTER XVII

HOW FATHER AND SON OPERATE ON A SERVANT

[Things now run like a newly oiled machine; but Joggeli is discontented
and constantly seeks cause for complaint against Uli. He arranges with
the miller to have the latter attempt to bribe Uli, to see what he will
do. Uli dresses down the miller, and the latter, to clear himself,
betrays the instigator of the plan. Uli at once begins to pack up, while
the mistress, informed by the miller, chides her husband. With great
difficulty the latter is induced to beg Uli's pardon and assure him that
the offense will not be repeated. The harvest goes on this year as never
before. Joggeli's son Johannes comes with his wife Trinette and three
children for the harvest festival. Trinette is the same kind of fool as
Elsie; they think of nothing but their finery, their ailments, and their
supposedly fine manners. This annual visit is always a torment. Trinette
plays the grand lady, the children are a constant nuisance, and the
whole house is in an uproar. Johannes takes a fancy to Uli, and offers
him any amount of pay to take a place with him. Freneli overhears the
conversation and tells the mistress, who is enraged with Johannes.
Joggeli bursts out into a tirade against Freneli.]

CHAPTER XVIII

HOW A GOOD MOTHER STRAIGHTENS OUT THE CROOKED, AND TURNS EVIL INTO GOOD

[Joggeli sows i