He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason.
Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly:
"Now speak out, and tell why you can't get through your work faster; you
are quick enough when anyone is watching you."
Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had
threatened to beat the boys if they didn't do their work themselves.
Afterwards Stoeffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him
that he would do it every time Sami complained of him.
Sami had replied that he had never complained and didn't want to do so,
but when his father questioned him he could only tell him the truth.
Stoeffi tried to explain to him that it didn't matter whether he told the
truth or not, but here he found Sami more obstinate than he had expected,
and no matter what fearful threats he hurled at him, he always said the
same thing in the end:
"But I shall do it."
This firmness was the result of Sami's sure conviction that the dear Lord
heard and knew everything and that lying was something wicked, which did
not please Him.
So Stoeffi had to find some other way to get off from his work early and
make Sami finish what he left. He found that all three could never dare
abandon their work and leave it for Sami, but one of them might do so
each evening, and he threatened to punish his brothers severely if they
would not agree to this.
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