Walter Pieterse

Walter Pieterse: A Story of Holland is credited to Multatuli. The preface says the man who, forty years ago, became famous as Multatuli (I have borne much), was not only the greatest figure in the modern literature of the Netherlands. Walter, dared by Franz Halleman to cut sacred studies and jump from the top of an arch, does it just because little Franz had questioned his courage. As a penalty, Walter had to copy the prophecies of the prophet Habakkuk twelve times.

Walter is condemned to go to Juffrouw Laps's at once, and expecting some terrible ordeal, he is greatly embarrassed and confused by the show of friendliness with which he is received. The text says children always have a pain in the stomach when they want to bridge over disagreeable duties, and that with a better understanding between the parents and children this disease would be less frequent. A woman addressed as Juffrouw says she dreamed of a butterfly, and that it was dragging off an elephant.