The behavior of Uli, who was not accustomed to such discord in a house, attracted attention and brought down upon him the bitter mockery and scorn of the men, which was aggravated intolerably by other causes.  On the very first Saturday the milker refused, out of sheer wilfulness, to attend to the manure, but let it go till Sunday morning.  This Uli would not permit; there was absolutely no reason for putting it off, and it would keep them from cleaning up around the house on Saturday, as was customary.  Besides, the commandment said men shouldn’t work on Sunday “thou nor thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant.”  Least of all was it becoming to leave the dirtiest tasks for Sunday.  The milker said, “Sunday fiddlesticks!  What do I care about Sunday?  I won’t do it today.”

Uli’s blood boiled hotly; but he composed himself and said merely, “Well then, I will.”

The master, who had heard the clamor, went into the house, grumbling to himself, “If only Uli wouldn’t insist on bossing and starting new customs; I don’t like that.  Folks have manured on Sunday time out of mind, and were satisfied with it; it would have been good enough for him too.”

CHAPTER XIV

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN THE NEW PLACE

[Uli insists on going to church, but can get no one to accompany him, and all but Freneli ridicule him.  The people at church recognize in Uli the new overseer, and wonder how long he will stay; but to his face they tell him to make what profit he can out of Joggeli.  He comes home to new ridicule but, facing it down, retires to his cold room to read his Bible.  A message is brought from the others to come and join them.  They tell him that each new overseer is expected to treat the others to brandy or wine, and all plan to go to the tavern after supper.  Freneli is surprised that he is going with them, and cautions him to be on his guard.  At the tavern all begin to flatter him at once, but Uli is mindful of what he heard at church and of Freneli’s caution.  One by one the others all leave, except one man; he offers to take Uli a-courting.  Uli half yields, and is led into a dark alley where the others set upon him.  He seizes a cudgel from one of them, lays about him with a will, flings one of them into a court, and vanishes, leaving the discomfited assailants to nurse their wounds and trail along home, after vainly waiting for him to appear.]

CHAPTER XV

ULI GAINS A PLACE IN HOUSE AND FIELD, AND EVEN IN SOME HEARTS

[Uli requests the mistress to be allowed to sit in the house on Sunday afternoons.  Freneli, Joggeli, and especially Elsie are put out, the latter because she is wont to spread out her finery on the table and Uli is in her way.  But Uli wins her over by admiring the finery, and Elsie begins to set her cap for him.  Uli cleans up about the house, and effects many an improvement in yard and field.  This vexes Joggeli, and still more so when Uli forces him to plan the spring work.  Joggeli makes Uli’s life a burden, blows hot and cold, refuses to give orders to the servants, and censures Uli to the others for taking the reins in his hands.]