Unproductive--but it helps the town to live.
Every week the little local papers advertise town properties for sale;
every week a list is issued by the authorities of houses to be sold in
liquidation of the unpaid tax. What then? Ah, but mark how many properties
come on the market that way! The barren, rocky valley with its great river
cannot feed this moribund town; a cow now and again is not enough. And so
it is that the properties are given up, the Swiss-pattern houses, the
dwellings and shelters. Out Vestland way, if ever a house in one of the
little towns should chance to come up for sale, it is a great event; the
inhabitants flock together on the quay to talk it over. Here, in our
little town beyond all hope, it occasions no remark when another wearied
hand leaves hold of what it had. My turn now--'twill be another's before
long. And none finds it worth while sorrowing much for that.
* * * * *
Engineer Lassen came to my lodging and said:
"Put on your cap and come with me to the station to fetch a trunk.
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