Page:Leskov - The Sentry and other Stories.djvu/249

 Rh the greatest blasphemy on Christ and Christianity, his horse kicked and killed him. His friend, the Christian, saw in this a miracle and was appalled that his friend, the heathen, had departed this life in such a spirit of enmity towards Christ. The Christian in his distress wept bitterly and said: 'It had been better had I never spoken to him about Christ—he would then not have been provoked and would not have answered as he did.' But to his consolation, he was informed spiritually that his friend had been accepted by Christ, because, though the heathen had been provoked, by such insistent talk, he had inwardly reflected about Christ and had called to Him with his last breath.

"And He was in his heart," Kiriak added. "He embraced him and gave him a refuge."

"So I suppose this brings us again to 'in his little bosom.

"Yes, 'in his little bosom.

"Well, Father Kiriak," I said, "this is just your trouble, you rely too much on the 'little bosom.

"Oh, Vladyko, how am I not to rely on it; great mysteries go on there—all blessings come from it: mother's milk that nourishes the little children, and love and faith dwell therein. Believe it, Vladyko, it is so. It is there, it is all there,