Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/175

 168 window he resumed his work. He was stitching on a patch, and as he worked he kept constantly looking out of the window. He continued to think of Christ's sayings and of his marvellous deeds. He was also wondering if Christ would really pay him a visit it.

As he looked through the window two soldiers passed by. The boots of one had been furnished by the Government, while those of the other had been made by Martin himself. Soon the owner of the next house went by, wearing new goloshes. Then came a baker with a large basket, and he, too, passed on. The last to appear in sight of the window was a woman whose woollen stockings were plainly visible through the lacings of her lapti (shoes made of the bark of the linden tree). She went by and stopped at the wall close to the window-sill.

Martin on looking up saw a woman poorly clad and hugging a baby to her breast. She was standing with her back to the wind, endeavoring to protect the child from its biting