“GOODMAN ION ROATA AND THE UNION OF THE PRINCIPALITIES” by ION CREANGA #2

( continuing from here )

“Well, good people, I venture to say you’ve got it clear now!”

“Clear, master, as clear as daylight”, most of them aswered. “God speed you in these your good courses!”

“Nay, master, I still haven’t got it clear”, goodman roata answered.

“God help us, goodman Ion, but as far as I can see, you are a trifle thick headed; let us go into the garden and I’ll make you see it better. Goodman Ion, do you see that huge boulder, over there, in my courtyard?”

“That do we, master.”

“GOODMAN ION ROATA AND THE UNION OF THE PRINCIPALITIES” by ION CREANGA #1

The author, Ion Creangă (born March 1, 1837 or June 10, 1839 in Humuleşti, Neamţ County — dead December 31, 1889 in Iaşi) was a Romanian writer, storyteller and memoirist. (click here to read about him)

HISTORY AND LEGEND IN ROMANIAN; SHORT STORIES AND TALES

GOODMAN ION ROATA AND THE UNION OF THE PRINCIPALITIES

(translated by Ana Cartianu)

In 1857, when excitement about the Union was at boiling point in Jassy, the liberal boyars of moldavia, such as Costache Hurmuzaki, M. Kogalniceanu and others, deemed it right to summon to the Convention some leading men of the villages, one from each other administrative region, so that they too should have a share in carrying out of this splendid and noble national act.

As soon as the peasants got to Jassy, the boyars each contributed their share and had  them beautifully turned out and dresses alike, in white peasant coats and brand-new fur caps. The peasants could scarcely make out what good fortune had come their way. Then, so the report goes, they handed them over to the care of one of the boyars who was to talk to them and make them understand the purpose for wich they had been summoned to Jassy.

PICTURES FROM ROMANIA