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Yonge, Charlotte Mary, 1823-1901

"Stories by English Authors: Africa (Selected by Scribners)"

My
friend Gregorio is not happy now that he is struggling in my grasp."
As for Gregorio, he wandered away toward the harbour, kicking savagely
at the refuse scattered along the pavement. He did not know how to set
about earning the requisite sum. It was no good applying to the hotels
or tourist agencies, for there were few visitors in the city and
dragomen were therefore not needed.
His friends were too poor to help him, and the consul was unable to do
much for him, there were so many poor Greeks who wanted help. Meanwhile
there was no food at home and no drink; even the necessaries of life
were lacking.
On arriving at his home he found his wife and child huddled in a corner
crying for food. They ran toward him as he entered, but the hope in
their faces quickly faded at the sight of him.
"It's no good," Gregorio growled; "Amos refuses to advance a piastre and
says I must pay all I owe in three days."
"It is impossible to sleep when one is hungry," said Gregorio that night
to his wife, who lay awake, weeping, beside him.


III--OF FAILURE AND A RESOLVE
Gregorio's dreams, when he did sleep, were none of the pleasantest,
and when he woke up, from time to time, he heard his wife weeping.


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