But what about the good
and just God who had distributed His gifts so unevenly? It would be
better, indeed, to live one's life without this unjust God, who had,
moreover, candidly admitted that the "wind blew where it listed"; had
He not himself confessed, in these words, that He did not interfere in
the concerns of man? But failing the church, where should we look for
comfort? And yet, why ask for comfort? Wouldn't it be far better to
strive to make such arrangements that no comfort was needed? Wouldn't
it?
His speculations were interrupted by his eldest daughter who asked him
for a leaf of the lime-tree, which she wanted for a sunshade for her
doll. He stepped on the seat and raised his hand to break off a little
twig, when a constable appeared and rudely ordered him not to touch
the trees. A fresh humiliation. At the same time the constable
requested him not to allow his children to play on the graves, which
was against the regulations.
"We'd better go home," said the distressed father. "How carefully they
guard the interests of the dead, and how indifferent they are to the
interests of the living."
And they returned home.
He sat down and began to work. He had to copy the manuscript of an
academical treatise on over-population.
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