Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/108

 Rh than our own. Besides, begging became a disgrace. We were in debt to almost every one, for we had borrowed money, flour, and bread."

"I have looked everywhere for work," said the man; "but in vain. People are offering their services for their board alone. You may work one day and be idle two. The old woman has frequently taken that girl with her to distant villages to beg, but they never receive very much, for the lack of bread is keenly felt over all this part of the country. However, we have managed thus far to keep body and soul together, in our efforts to struggle along till the time for new crops would arrive. In the spring the people ceased giving bread to beggars, and then illness overtook us, when our condition became very serious indeed. We would have food one day and be obliged to do without it for the next two days. We even started to eat grass, and my old woman became very sick and went to bed. I myself grew quite feeble, having barely sufficient power