Chapter XIV
When we were summoned to breakfast that morning, the leader was the first one up. He hurried through his morning toilet like an eager schoolboy. After he had finished, he urged everybody to more haste. We finally went in to breakfast and found Emil and Jast. The leader went over and sat between them and asked questions throughout the meal. The moment we finished eating he arose from the table and wanted to rush off again to see the house that had grown in fifteen minutes, as he expressed it. He put his hands on Jast’s shoulders and said that if he had two like Emil and his mother what fun he would have going around and growing houses for poor people. Then he said, “But would I not make the landlords in New York look sick? I pay rent to those fellows.” Then Emil said, “Suppose they would not let you grow houses for them?” “Well,” he said, “I would do it anyway and, after I had grown them and they would not use them, I would pick them up bodily and put them in and chain them.” All of us laughed heartily over these things.
As our party was so large, it was thought best not to go in a body to see the little house. It was arranged that we were to go in groups of five or six. The personnel of the first group was to be Emil, the leader, one or two of the ladies, and myself. We started out and Emil’s mother and our hostess joined us. We walked on until we came in sight of the house. The little girl came running out to meet us and threw herself in Emil’s mother’s arms, saying that her brother was strong and fine. As we reached the house, the mother of the child came out, dropped to her knees in front of Emil’s mother and began telling how she adored her. Emil’s mother put out her hands and assisted her to her feet, telling her that she must not kneel to her; that what she had done for her she would do for anyone; that she was not to praise her, but the Great One, for the blessing she had received. The little boy opened the door and the mother motioned us to go in. We followed the ladies in, with our hostess interpreting for us. There was no question that the house was there; it contained four rooms and was very comfortable. It was surrounded on three sides by the most miserable hovels.
We were told that the occupants of the hovels were going to move away, as they thought the house was of the evil one and might destroy them if they stayed.
