Page:More Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/163

 The Children Wiser than the Elders of wood as it bobbed up and down on the rivulet. And they ran right into the midst of the muzhiks.

The old woman perceived them, and said to the muzhiks:

"Do ye not fear God that ye wrangle so! Here are all ye muzhiks quarrelling and striving together about these very children, while they themselves have long ago forgotten all about it, and are playing together again in all heartiness and loving kindness. They are wiser than you."

The muzhiks looked at the little girls and they were ashamed. And then the muzhiks began laughing at themselves, and separated, each man going to his own house.

"If ye do not become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." 157