About the bird that wasted its nest
About the bird that wasted its nest is a story by the Austrian writer Peter Rosegger .
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Austria in the first decade of the 20th century: The eponymous bird is the mountain farmer's son Karl Waldenbacher from Hochgraith in the Alps. How well he did as a machine operator in the Franzenshütte wood-paper mill - built a hundred years ago under Emperor Franz ! So he writes to his parents. The father Urban Waldenbacher makes bitter reproaches to his runaway only worker in the reply. Karl's brother Thomas has to serve in the military in Ljubljana for another three years . Until then, the Hochgraithhof, which has been owned by the Waldenbacher family for three hundred years, will be in stranger hands. That’s what happens. Karl does not think about returning home, fights in the ranks of the Social Democrats for the eight-hour day . At the height of the class struggle, spits in the face of his employer, the millionaire Herr von Glotter. The stubbornness has consequences. Karl loses his job, goes to Steyr , roams around Austria, hires out as a coal worker, digger and porter, becomes unemployed again and ends up in St. Pölten arrest for mouth robbery . While in custody he received a letter from his sister Susanna, called Susi. The letter, sent months ago, indicates the death and the funeral date of the beloved mother Johanna Waldenbacher.
Susi cannot tolerate Karl's behavior under any circumstances. He didn't send a cruiser. The Waldenbachers had to leave their farm after the sale; live in Niedergraith in the most modest of circumstances. When Karl, released from prison, knew neither in nor out, he marched to Niedergraith. The reception there by the father and sister is more than frosty. The next morning Karl hikes further towards the mountains; reaches the Hochgraithhof. This is managed by that capitalist from Glotter who was ruined by his workforce. The 50-year-old von Glotter does the heavy physical work that arises , supported by his sons Albrecht, Cölestin and the poet Ruprecht. Karl recognizes von Glotter immediately and also knows that he has a son of the old Hochgraith farmer Urban Waldenbacher in front of him. In spite of this, the aristocratic peasant, forgetting the old hostility, employs Charles as a servant.
Karl advanced to Grossmaier on the Hochgraithhof and earned less as the right hand of the farm owner than in the Franzenshütte. Ms. von Glotter, who lives with a sister in Vienna , is arriving and will soon be leaving. Son Albrecht, who has a doctorate, escapes with them. Von Glotter senior fell ill and remained bedridden. Cölestin can finally switch and do as he wants. A spa hotel is being built out of the ground. When Cölestin has run out of business, the "spa director" leaves the farm. Karl thinks that he will be able to buy the farm again one day with the groschen he has saved. It turns out differently. Ruprecht has his eye on Susi. The poet would like to marry the pretty dirndl, but the beautiful one makes one condition: First the groom has to prove himself as a farmer. Ruprecht can't do that; also because Karl throws a club between his legs. After all, Susi sits on the longer lever. She listens to the poet and gives the hated brother Karl a lesson. Mrs. Susanna Glotter will be mistress of the Hochgraithhof.
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- On the bird that wastes its nest , pp. 62–125 in Peter Rosegger: Let's talk about love. L. Staackmann. Leipzig 1910
- About the bird that wasted its nest . Pp. 5-48 in The Book of Novellas. Second volume. By Peter Rosegger ( From the bird that wasted its nest - Felix the Desired - Jung Hanele, the defiant - The enemies - The dairymaid and her friends - Through - The enemy of money - The event in the Schrun - Maria in misery - Up to God ) . L. Staackmann. Leipzig 1915