“Finally, Uli, you get not only thirty crowns, but also many a penny in the way of tips when a cow or a horse is sold, and the like.  Use those when you must have an outing and can’t give up the tavern.  Out of that money you can drink a glass or two at a review, if you like, or put it by against your going into garrison; there’ll be plenty for that.  You’ve drawn a lot of your pay; but if you’ll believe me and follow my advice you can get out of debt this year; and next year you can start laying by.  And if you believe me, I don’t say that I can pay you only thirty crowns.  When a servant attends to his business and doesn’t have his mind set simply on foolishness; when I can intrust something to him and things go the same whether I’m with him or not, so that I don’t have to come home every time in anxiety lest something has gone wrong—­then I won’t haggle over a crown or two.  Think of that, Uli:  the better the habits, the better the name, the better the pay.”

At these words Uli’s mouth opened and his nose lifted, and at last he said that that would be fine, but it probably would never happen; he didn’t think he could stand it.

“Well, try it a month and see how it goes; and don’t think about gadding, drinking, and the tavern, and you can do it all right.”

CHAPTER V

NOW COMES THE DEVIL AND SOWS TARES AMONG THE GOOD SEED

[Uli’s fellow-servants, on his master’s farm and on the neighboring ones, attempt to drag him back into his old ways, chiefly with ridicule and mockery.  At times his resolution fails him, but he masters himself again.  Then a bad-hearted neighbor, who hates Uli’s master, tries to lure him away from his new faith.  He praises Uli to the skies, tells him he is not properly appreciated, and poisons his mind against his master.  Uli grows more and more puffed-up, and is about ready to be caught in the neighbor’s snare; for the latter merely wishes to use him for his own selfish ends.]

CHAPTER VI

HOW THE WEEDS WERE UPROOTED FROM ULI

[A Neighboring village, Brandywine, is to play a championship game of hurnuss (a kind of ball game played in spring and autumn in the canton of Bern), with Uli’s village, Potato Hollow.  There is deep enmity between the two places, and the contest is likely to be bitter.  The losing team must give the winners a full dinner, with plenty of wine.  Uli’s master urges him to refuse the invitation to play on the team; but the malicious neighbor talks him over.  Though the Potato Hollowers use all their skill and cunning, even to cheating the umpire, they lose the game by one point; they must set up the dinner, which ends in a free fight.  A victory in this comforts Potato Hollow somewhat.  But two of the Brandywiners claim damages, and the local players are afraid of severe judgment if it comes to trial,