Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/117

 110 ing about him, for soon he heard one of them say:

"You see, at first they did not recognize him. They thought he was but a common, ordinary man, for he went there only to ask for a drink of water. Yet he is living there still. He has provided them with almost everything they need. Only to-day with my own eyes I saw him buy a horse and wagon from the inn-keeper. People like him are very scarce in this world, and when such a one is found it is cause for great surprise."

On hearing himself thus praised Elissey abandoned his search for the cow and returned to the inn-keeper, to whom he paid the money for his previous purchase. After harnessing the horse he rode back to the peasant home, alighting on reaching the gate.

On seeing the animal standing by the gate the inmates of the house were much surprised. It was plain that Elissey had bought the horse for them, but they hardly dared to think so.