Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/218

Tales from Tolstoi courteously to all, doing his best to please them, rejoicing always. One thing Elisyei could not do. He would have liked to leave off snuffing, and had left his snuff-box at home, but time hung heavily on his hands. On the way he now and then met a man who gave him snuff. And now and then he fell behind his comrade so as not to lead him into temptation, and snuffed on the sly.

Efim Tarasuich went along, firm in his good resolve to do no wrong, and speak no evil word. But care for things at home would not get out of his head. He kept thinking of everything that was going on at home. Had he forgotten to tell his son something, and had his son done what he had told him? If on his journey he saw them sowing potatoes or carrying loads, he would think: I wonder whether my son is doing such things as I told him He would very much have liked to return home, and directed and done everything himself.

The old men went on for five weeks. Their homemade bast-shoes were worn out, they wanted to buy new ones; and so they came to the khokli. They were far from home, and had to pay for their food and night-lodging; but when they came to the khokli, the people vied with each other in inviting them into their houses. They made them come in, and gave

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