Church, and he did not drink. When my father-in-law was at Driebergen, he looked after the house, the safe and everything. One day he received seventeen guilders too much at the Bank, and he took them back. He is now old and rheumatic, and can serve no longer. So now he has nothing, for there is much work with us, and we require young people. Well then, I consider Lucas very virtuous, but does he get rewarded? Does any prince come along to give him diamonds, or any fairy who butters his bread? Not a bit of it! He is poor and remains poor, and this is as it should be. I cannot help him—for we require young people, as we have so much business—but even if I could, what merit could he still claim if in his old age he could suddenly lead an easy life? Then every warehouseman would surely become virtuous, and everyone else too, which cannot be God’s intention, as in that case no special reward would remain for the good hereafter. But on the stage they twist this round. All, all lies!
I also am virtuous, but do I ask a reward for this? When my business flourishes—and it does—when my wife and children are healthy, so that I have no bother with doctor and chemist . . . when year after year I can put by a little sum for my old age . . . when Frits grows up a smart boy, to take my place later on when I retire to Driebergen . . . then, you see, I am quite contented. But all this is a natural effect of the circumstances, and of my looking after the business. For my virtue I claim nothing.
And yet that I am virtuous is plain from my love of truth. This, after my devotion to the faith, is my strongest characteristic. And I wish, reader, you were convinced of it, as it is the excuse for my writing this book.
A second trait of mine, which dominates me as strongly as my love of truth, is a passion for my occupation. Let me state that I am a coffee-broker, Laurier Canal, No. 37. Well then, reader, it is my scrupulous love of truth, and my zeal for my business, that you must thank for the fact that these pages have been written. I will tell you how this has happened. As I am taking leave of you
