Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/296

Tales from Tolstoi And the King called him, saying, "Dost thou know, oh aged man, where such grain was wont to grow? Hast thou ever grown such grain in thy field, or purchased such grain in thy day?"

The old man was somewhat deaf, but he could hear much better than his son.

"Nay," said he, "I have never sown nor reaped grain like this in my field; nor have I ever bought thereof, for, in my day, money was still unknown, and distilling vats likewise. Every man ate of the corn of his own land, and gave to his neighbour according to his needs. I know not where such corn was grown. Our grain was larger, and yielded more than the grain of to-day; but grain such as this I have never seen. I have heard my father say that in his day the corn was better than it was in mine, and the grain larger and fuller. Send and ask him."

And the King sent for the father of the old, old man. They found the patriarch and brought him to the King. The venerable man came to the King without a crutch. He was light of foot, his eyes sparkled, and he spoke plainly. The King showed the grain to the grandfather. He looked at it, and twirled it round between his fingers.

"What!" cried he, "surely this is never that dear old grain of the olden time?" and he bit off a piece of the grain and briskly chewed it. Tis the very same, indeed!" cried he.

"Tell me now, old grandfather, where and when was this grain wont to grow? Has thou ever sown such grain in thy field, or did folks buy of such grain in thy day?" And the old man answered and said, 246