Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/260

Tales from Tolstoi no more. I know not how it will be to-morrow. I'll beg a little from our neighbour, Malania."

"We shall live and be satisfied."

The old woman lay back and was silent.

"The man is a good man, that's clear, only why is he so close about himself?"

"Perhaps he has to be?"

"Why?"

"Ah!"

"We give him what we have, but why does nobody give to us?"

Simon knew not what to say. "Leave off talking!" he said. Then he turned him round and went to sleep.

In the morning Simon awoke. The children were asleep, his wife had gone to the neighbours to seek for bread. Only the stranger of the evening before, in the old hose and the shirt, was sitting on the bench and looking upwards. And his face was even brighter than the evening before, and Simon said:

"Look now, dear heart, the belly begs for bread and the naked body for raiment. One must feed and live. What trade do you know?"

"I know nothing."

Simon was amazed, and he said,

"Where there's a will folks can learn anything."

"People work, and I will work too."

"What do they call you?"

"Michael." 210