Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/200

Tales from Tolstoi good, nothing of bad could have come of it Who pulled his beard? Who stole away his hayrick? Who dragged him before the courts? Thou livest amiss, hence the evil! I, my son, used not to live so, nor have I taught thee the like. Did we of the olden time live thus, my father and his father? How did we live! Like neighbours. Did he want meal—his old woman would come: 'Uncle Frol, we want some meal!' 'Dost thou, young woman? then go to the barn and take out as much as thou dost want.' Or there would be no one with him to take out the horses. 'Go thou, Vanyatka, and take out his horses.' And if anything was wanted with me I would go to him. 'Uncle Gordy, we want this or that' 'Take it Uncle Frol.' Thus fared it with us. And thou also wouldst find thy life light and easy if lived thus. But now? Dost thou mind the soldier who told us all about Plevna the other day? There's a worse war going on than this Plevna. Is not life a greater war? and sin? Thou art a muzhik, thou art the head of a household: ask thyself this thing. What dost thou teach thy women-kind and children? To lead a cat-and-dog life! The other day Taraska, and a loafer he is, reviled Aunt Arina, his mother being by, and she only laughed at him. Dost call that a good sign? Ask thyself that question. Turn it over in thy mind. Should these things be? Thou throwest a word at me, I throw thee back two; thou wrongest me, I requite it thee doubly. No, little friend, Christ did not go about the world to teach

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