MS-TCD-4662

[0743] event of which is undoubtedly ^{unquestionably} the
celebration of the Saviour's birth, in
a stable, while wondering if he would
survive till then.

[0744] Then he would set
forth, carrying ^hugging under his arm, in
their case, the knives lovingly [lovably] ^[lovingly]
whetted in the chimney-corner the night
before, and in his pocket, in a pa
wrapped up in paper, the apron destined
to protect, during the operation while he
worked, [x] his good^{[⁁] Sunday} suit, while he worked.

[0745] And at the thought that he, Big Louis, was on
his way to [xxx] that distant ^farm where
all was in readiness for his coming, and that
in spite of his great age [the] people needed him,
he was still needed, and preferred to younger
he was still [so] needed, and his methods preferred
to those of younger men, then his old heart
leapt in its cage.

[0746] From these expeditions he
went home late in the night, drunk and
exhausted by the long journey on foot and the
road and the emotions of the day. [0747] And
for days he could speak of nothing but the
pig he had despatched, I would say into
the other world if I did not know that pigs
have none but this, to the great affliction
of his family.

[0748] But they did not dare say
anything to him, for they were afraid of him.
[0749] Yes, at an age when most people cringe and
cower, as though to apologize for being still
present, Louis was still feared and in a
position to do exactly as he pleased. [0750] And
even his young wife had abandoned all hope
of bringing him to heel, by means of her cunt,
that trump card of young [w] women.

[0751] For she she knew what he would do if she
refused to open it to him. [0752] And he even
insisted on her making things easy for
him, by means that often appeared to
her exorbitant.

[0753] And at the least sign
of rebellion on her part he would go into the
washhouse and get the ? and come back
and beat her until she saw reason. [0754] All this
by the way. [0755] And to return to the pigs, Louis