And he always greeted Jonah with one of two set phrases: "Ah, you haf come, haf you?
I vas choost going to advertise for a man." This meant that work was plentiful.

When trade was slack, he would shake his head sadly as if he were standing over the grave of his last sixpence, and say: "Ah, it vas no use; dere is not enough work to fill one mouth." Jonah always listened to either speech with utter indifference, took off his coat, put on his leather apron, and set to work silently and swiftly like a man in anger.
Although he always grumbled, Paasch was quite satisfied.

He had too much work for one, and not enough for two.

So Jonah, who was a good workman, and content to make three or four days in a week, suited him exactly.

Besides, Jonah had started with him as an errand-boy at five shillings a week, years ago, and was used to his odd ways.
Hans Paasch was born in Bavaria, in the town of Hassloch.