Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/323

Rh "What art thou doing there, mistress?" said he.

"Canst thou not see?" said she. "I am making ready against the feast. I cannot get the table thoroughly washed by any means—it is all dirty. I weary myself in vain."

"But thou shouldst rinse out thy clout," said he, "and then thou wouldst be able to clean thy table."

So she did so, and speedily got the table clean and dry. "I thank thee for thy teaching," said she.

In the morning the godson took leave of the woman, and went on further. He went on and on until he came to a wood, and there he saw some muzhiks trying to bend a hoop. The godson went near to look at them, and there were the muzhiks going round and round, but they could not bend the hoop. And looking more closely the godson perceived that the block on which they were working rushed round with them, so that there was no staying power in it. And the godson looked at them, and said,

"What do ye, my brethren?"

"We would fain bend this hoop," said they; "twice have we brought the ends together, but we weary ourselves in vain—it will not bend."

"But, my brethren, first make fast the block, for now ye go round with it."

And the muzhiks obeyed him, and made fast the block, and then the work was easily done.

The godson passed the night with them, and then went on further. All day and all night he went on, and just before dawn he came up with some cattle 273