Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/149

 142 The old man became very angry at this impertinence and severely punished his son.

In the morning Euthymus went to the village elder to return his passport. As he neared the house of his old comrade Elissey he observed the latter's wife standing in the porch.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "how are you, godfather? How do you do, my dear old friend? Have you enjoyed good health during your journey?"

Euthymus stopped to reply:

"Thank God, I have accomplished my journey successfully. Yet I parted from your old man on the way, though I hear he is now safe at home."

The old lady seemed anxious to continue the conversation, for she was always ready to gossip.

"Yes, my friend," said she; "he returned a long time ago—soon after the holy-day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Oh, how glad and happy we were to see him at home once more! We thanked God for his return, for with-