Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/110

 Rh the next morning, Elissey went to work about the place as if he had always lived there. He assisted the old woman to knead the bread and then built a fire in the stove, after which he went with the little girl to the neighbors to buy what was necessary—and this indeed meant a great deal, for almost every needful household article was wanting. Not only all the food had been consumed, but almost every article of clothing had been disposed of. This great destitution Elissey undertook to supply with some things he had bought and others that he had made himself. In this way he spent three days with the family.

The boy soon got well, and began to play about the bench, becoming Elissey's constant companion; while the little girl also grew quite cheerful, rendering assistance in many ways. It was her custom to run after Elissey and cry out: "Didoo! Didoosiu!" ("Uncle! My dear uncle!")

The old woman recovered sufficiently to visit