Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/226

Tales from Tolstoi thing was eaten up; there was no food and no clothes. So Elisyei had to supply what was necessary; he gave them something of his own store and something he bought. So Elisyei stayed there one day—he stayed there a second, he stayed there a third The little boy got well again; he began to move along the bench, and came and fondled Elisyei. But the little girl got quite merry, and was able to turn her hand to anything. They all quite haunted Elisyei, and cried "Grandfather, dear old grandfather!" The old woman too was now on her feet again, and was able to go to the neighbour's. The muzhik too was able to grope along by the wall. Only the wife still kept her bed, but she too, on the third day, suddenly awoke and asked for something to eat.

"Well," thought Elisyei, "I never meant to idle about so long, now I'll be off."

On the fourth day the rozgovyeni began, and Elisyei thought to himself, "Well, I'll keep the rozgovyeni with these people. I'll buy them something or other for the feast, and in the evening I'll be off."

Elisyei went again to the village, and bought milk, white flour, and salt. Then there was a great baking and boiling, and in the morning Elisyei went to mass, and then he came and ate flesh with the good people.

176