Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/137

Rh he grow poorer here the harder he worked, when he might live so well elsewhere?

"I'll sell my farm and land, and settle down there with the money, and farm on a big scale. It is a sin to remain alone here in such straits. But I must first of all go thither, and make sure that it is so."

So when the summer-time came he arose and went. He sailed down the Volga by the steamer as far as Samara, and after that he went forty miles on foot. He got to the place. Everything was exactly as he had been told. The muzhiks lived sumptuously there. The village community welcomed every immigrant who came thither, and allotted them ten acres a head. Moreover, everyone who had the money could purchase besides as much land as he liked, yes! the very best possible land at three roubles (6s.) an acre, any amount of it. Pakhom investigated everything, returned home in the autumn, and sold all he had. He sold his land with all its appurtenances; he sold his farm; he sold his cattle; he had his name struck off the roll of the community; waited for the spring, and went with his family to the new settlement.

Pakhom arrived at the new settlement with his family, and had his name inscribed in the roll of the largest village in the local Mir. He feasted the village elders, and produced his papers, which were all in order. They received Pakhom into the 87