,libraries47          ,transcriber's    
,notes3      ,every effort has been made
 to replicate this text as faithfully as
     possible1 including any            
non-standard spelling4      ,italic text
 has been marked with underscores4      
,,where ,,love ,,is   ,,there ,,god ,,is
 ,,also    ,,by   ,,lyof ,n4 ,,tolstoi  
,,translated ,,from ,,the ,,russian     
,,by   ,,nathan ,,haskell ,,dole        
,,new ,,york   ,,thomas ,y4 ,,crowell   
,,company   ,,publishers     ,copyright1
 #ahhg1   ,by ,thomas ,y4 ,crowell  ,co4
     ,,where ,,love ,,is ,,there ,,god  
,,is ,,also   ,in the city lived the    
shoemaker1 ,martuin ,avdyeitch4 ,he     
lived in a basement1 in a little room   
with one window4 ,the window looked out 
on the street4 ,through the window he   
used to watch the people passing by2    
although only their feet could be seen1 
yet by the boots1 ,martuin ,avdyeitch   
recognized the people4 ,martuin         
,avdyeitch had lived long in one place1 
and had many acquaintances4 ,few pairs  

of boots in his district had not been in
 his hands once and again4 ,some he     
would half-sole1 some he would patch1   
some he would stitch around1 and        
occasionally he would also put on new   
uppers4 ,and through the window he often
 recognized his work4  ,avdyeitch had   
plenty to do1 because he was a faithful 
workman1 used good material1 did not    
make exorbitant charges1 and kept his   
word4 ,if it was possible for him to    
finish an order by a certain time1 he   
would accept it2 otherwise1 he would not
 deceive you1--he would tell you so     
beforehand4 ,and all knew ,avdyeitch1   
and he was never out of work4           
,avdyeitch had always been a good man2  
but as he grew old1 he began to think   
more about his soul1 and get nearer to  
,god4 ,martuin's wife had died when he  
was still living with his master4 ,his  
wife left him a boy three years old4    
,none of their other children had lived4
 ,all the eldest had died in childhood4 
,martuin at first intended to send his  

little son to his sister in the village1
 but afterward he felt sorry for him2 he
 thought to himself3--  ,it will be hard
 for my ,kapitoshka to live in a strange
 family4 ,i shall keep him with me4     
,and ,avdyeitch left his master1 and    
went into lodgings with his little son4 
,but ,god gave ,avdyeitch no luck with  
his children4 ,as ,kapitoshka grew      
older1 he began to help his father1 and 
would have been a delight to him1 but a 
sickness fell on him1 he went to bed1   
suffered a week1 and died4 ,martuin     
buried his son1 and fell into despair4  
,so deep was this despair that he began 
to complain of ,god4 ,martuin fell into 
such a melancholy state1 that more than 
once he prayed to ,god for death1 and   
reproached ,god because ,he had not     
taken him who was an old man1 instead of
 his beloved only son4 ,avdyeitch also  
ceased to go to church4  ,and once a    
little old man from the same district   
came from ,troitsa7#a7 to see           
,avdyeitch2 for seven years he had been 

wandering about4 ,avdyeitch talked with 
him1 and began to complain about his    
sorrows4    7#a7 ,trinity1 a famous     
monastery1 pilgrimage to which is       
reckoned a   virtue4 ,avdyeitch calls   
this zemlyak-starichok1 ,bozhi          
chelovyek1   ,god's man4--,ed4  ,i have 
no desire to live any longer1 he said1  
,i only wish ,i was dead4 ,that is all  
,i pray ,god for4 ,i am a man without   
anything to hope for now4  ,and the     
little old man said to him3--  ,you     
don't talk right1 ,martuin1 we must not 
judge ,god's doings4 ,the world moves1  
not by our skill1 but by ,god's will4   
,god decreed for your son to die1--for  
you--to live4 ,so it is for the best4   
,and you are in despair1 because you    
wish to live for your own happiness4    
,but what shall one live for8 asked     
,martuin4  ,and the little old man      
said3--  ,we must live for ,god1        
,martuin4 ,he gives you life1 and for   
,his sake you must live4 ,when you begin
 to live for ,him1 you will not grieve  

over anything1 and all will seem easy to
 you4  ,martuin kept silent for a       
moment1 and then said1 ,but how can one 
live for ,god8  ,and the little old man 
said3--  ,christ has taught us how to   
live for ,god4 ,you know how to read8   
,buy a ,testament1 and read it2 there   
you will learn how to live for ,god4    
,everything is explained there4  ,and   
these words kindled a fire in           
,avdyeitch's heart4 ,and he went that   
very same day1 bought a ,new ,testament 
in large print1 and began to read4  ,at 
first ,avdyeitch intended to read only  
on holidays2 but as he began to read1 it
 so cheered his soul that he used to    
read every day4 ,at times he would      
become so absorbed in reading1 that all 
the kerosene in the lamp would burn out1
 and still he could not tear himself    
away4 ,and so ,avdyeitch used to read   
every evening4  ,and the more he read1  
the clearer he understood what ,god     
wanted of him1 and how one should live  
for ,god2 and his heart kept growing    

easier and easier4 ,formerly1 when he   
lay down to sleep1 he used to sigh and  
groan1 and always thought of his        
,kapitoshka2 and now his only           
exclamation was3--  ,glory to ,thee6    
glory to ,thee1 ,lord6 ,thy will be     
done4  ,and from that time ,avdyeitch's 
whole life was changed4 ,in other days  
he1 too1 used to drop into a            
public-house7#b7 as a holiday amusement1
 to drink a cup of tea2 and he was not  
averse to a little brandy1 either4 ,he  
would take a drink with some            
acquaintance1 and leave the saloon1 not 
intoxicated1 exactly1 yet in a happy    
frame of mind1 and inclined to talk     
nonsense1 and shout1 and use abusive    
language at a person4 ,now he left off  
that sort of thing4 ,his life became    
quiet and joyful4 ,in the morning he    
would sit down to work1 finish his      
allotted task1 then take the little lamp
 from the hook1 put it on the table1 get
 his book from the shelf1 open it1 and  
sit down to read4 ,and the more he read1

 the more he understood1 and the        
brighter and happier it grew in his     
heart4    7#b7 ,traktir4  ,once it      
happened that ,martuin read till late   
into the night4 ,he was reading the     
,gospel of ,luke4 ,he was reading over  
the sixth chapter2 and he was reading   
the verses3--  ,and unto him that       
smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also
 the other2 and him that taketh away thy
 cloak forbid not to take thy coat also4
 ,give to every man that asketh of thee2
 and of him that taketh away thy goods  
ask them not again4 ,and as ye would    
that men should do to you1 do ye also to
 them likewise4  ,he read farther also  
those verses1 where ,god speaks3  ,and  
why call ye me1 ,lord1 ,lord1 and do not
 the things which ,i say8 ,whosoever    
cometh to me1 and heareth my sayings1   
and doeth them1 ,i will shew you to whom
 he is like3 he is like a man which     
built an house1 and digged deep1 and    
laid the foundation on a rock3 and when 
the flood arose1 the stream beat        

vehemently upon that house1 and could   
not shake it2 for it was founded upon a 
rock4 ,but he that heareth1 and doeth   
not1 is like a man that without a       
foundation built an house upon the      
earth2 against which the stream did beat
 vehemently1 and immediately it fell2   
and the ruin of that house was great4   
,avdyeitch read these words1 and joy    
filled his soul4 ,he took off his       
spectacles1 put them down on the book1  
leaned his elbows on the table1 and     
became lost in thought4 ,and he began to
 measure his life by these words4 ,and  
he thought to himself3--  ,is my house  
built on the rock1 or on the sand8 ',tis
 well if on the rock4 ,it is so easy    
when you are alone by yourself2 it seems
 as if you had done everything as ,god  
commands2 but when you forget yourself1 
you sin again4 ,yet ,i shall still      
struggle on4 ,it is very good4 ,help me1
 ,lord6  ,thus ran his thoughts2 he     
wanted to go to bed1 but he felt loath  
to tear himself away from the book4 ,and

 he began to read farther in the seventh
 chapter4 ,he read about the centurion1 
he read about the widow's son1 he read  
about the answer given to ,john's       
disciples1 and finally he came to that  
place where the rich ,pharisee desired  
the ,lord to sit at meat with him2 and  
he read how the woman that was a sinner 
anointed ,his feet1 and washed them with
 her tears1 and how ,he forgave her4 ,he
 reached the forty-fourth verse1 and    
began to read3--  ,and he turned to the 
woman1 and said unto ,simon1 ,seest thou
 this woman8 ,i entered into thine      
house1 thou gavest me no water for my   
feet3 but she hath washed my feet with  
tears1 and wiped them with the hairs of 
her head4 ,thou gavest me no kiss3 but  
this woman since the time ,i came in    
hath not ceased to kiss my feet4 ,my    
head with oil thou didst not anoint3 but
 this woman hath anointed my feet with  
ointment4  ,he finished reading these   
verses1 and thought to himself3--  ,thou
 gavest me no water for my feet1 thou   

gavest me no kiss4 ,my head with oil    
thou didst not anoint4  ,and again      
,avdyeitch took off his spectacles1 put 
them down on the book1 and again he     
became lost in thought4  ,it seems that 
,pharisee must have been such a man as  
,i am4 ,i1 too1 apparently have thought 
only of myself1--how ,i might have my   
tea1 be warm and comfortable1 but never 
to think about my guest4 ,he thought    
about himself1 but there was not the    
least care taken of the guest4 ,and who 
was his guest8 ,the ,lord ,himself4 ,if 
,he had come to me1 should ,i have done 
the same way8  ,avdyeitch rested his    
head upon both his arms1 and did not    
notice that he fell asleep4  ,martuin6  
suddenly seemed to sound in his ears4   
,martuin started from his sleep3--  ,who
 is here8  ,he turned around1 glanced   
toward the door--no one4  ,again he fell
 into a doze4 ,suddenly1 he plainly     
heard3--  ,martuin6 ,ah1 ,martuin6 look 
to-morrow on the street4 ,i am coming4  
,martuin awoke1 rose from the chair1    

began to rub his eyes4 ,he himself could
 not tell whether he heard those words  
in his dream1 or in reality4 ,he turned 
down his lamp1 and went to bed4  ,at    
daybreak next morning1 ,avdyeitch rose1 
made his prayer to ,god1 lighted the    
stove1 put on the shchi7#c7 and the     
kasha17#d7 put the water in the samovar1
 put on his apron1 and sat down by the  
window to work4    7#c7 ,cabbage-soup4  
7#d7 ,gruel4  ,and while he was working1
 he kept thinking about all that had    
happened the day before4 ,it seemed to  
him at one moment that it was a dream1  
and now he had really heard a voice4    
,well1 he said to himself1 such things  
have been4  ,martuin was sitting by the 
window1 and looking out more than he was
 working4 ,when anyone passed by in     
boots which he did not know1 he would   
bend down1 look out of the window1 in   
order to see1 not only the feet1 but    
also the face4  ,the dvornik7#e7 passed 
by in new felt boots17#f7 the           
water-carrier passed by2 then there came

 up to the window an old soldier of     
,nicholas's time1 in an old pair of     
laced felt boots1 with a shovel in his  
hands4 ,avdyeitch recognized him by his 
felt boots4 ,the old man's name was     
,stepanuitch2 and a neighboring         
merchant1 out of charity1 gave him a    
home with him4 ,he was required to      
assist the dvornik4 ,stepanuitch began  
to shovel away the snow from in front of
 ,avdyeitch's window4 ,avdyeitch glanced
 at him1 and took up his work again4    
7#e7 ,house-porter4    7#f7 ,valenki4   
,pshaw6 ,i must be getting crazy in my  
old age1 said ,avdyeitch1 and laughed at
 himself4 ,stepanuitch is clearing away 
the snow1 and ,i imagine that ,christ is
 coming to see me4 ,i was entirely out  
of my mind1 old dotard that ,i am6      
,avdyeitch sewed about a dozen stitches1
 and then felt impelled to look through 
the window again4 ,he looked out again  
through the window1 and saw that        
,stepanuitch had leaned his shovel      
against the wall1 and was warming       

himself1 and resting4 ,he was an old1   
broken-down man2 evidently he had not   
strength enough even to shovel the snow4
 ,avdyeitch said to himself3--  ,i will 
give him some tea2 by the way1 the      
samovar has only just gone out4         
,avdyeitch laid down his awl1 rose from 
his seat1 put the samovar on the table1 
poured out the tea1 and tapped with his 
finger at the glass4 ,stepanuitch turned
 around1 and came to the window4        
,avdyeitch beckoned to him1 and went to 
open the door4  ,come in1 warm yourself 
a little1 he said4 ,you must be cold4   
,may ,christ reward you for this6 my    
bones ache1 said ,stepanuitch4          
,stepanuitch came in1 and shook off the 
snow1 tried to wipe his feet1 so as not 
to soil the floor1 but staggered4       
,don't trouble to wipe your feet4 ,i    
will clean it up myself2 we are used to 
such things4 ,come in and sit down1 said
 ,avdyeitch4 ,here1 drink a cup of tea4 
,and ,avdyeitch lifted two glasses1 and 
handed one to his guest2 while he       

himself poured his tea into a saucer1   
and began to blow it4  ,stepanuitch     
finished drinking his glass of tea1     
turned the glass upside down17#g7 put   
the half-eaten lump of sugar on it1 and 
began to express his thanks4 ,but it was
 evident he wanted some more4    7#g7   
,to signify he was satisfied2 a custom  
among the ,russians4--,ed4  ,have some  
more1 said ,avdyeitch1 filling both his 
own glass and his guest's4 ,avdyeitch   
drank his tea1 but from time to time    
glanced out into the street4  ,are you  
expecting anyone8 asked his guest4  ,am 
,i expecting anyone8 ,i am ashamed even 
to tell whom ,i expect4 ,i am1 and ,i am
 not1 expecting someone2 but one word   
has kindled a fire in my heart4 ,whether
 it is a dream1 or something else1 ,i do
 not know4 ,don't you see1 brother1 ,i  
was reading yesterday the ,gospel about 
,christ the ,batyushka2 how ,he         
suffered1 how ,he walked on the earth4  
,i suppose you have heard about it8     
,indeed ,i have1 replied ,stepanuitch2  

but we are people in darkness1 we can't 
read4  ,well1 now1 ,i was reading about 
that very thing1--how ,he walked on the 
earth2 ,i read1 you know1 how ,he came  
to the ,pharisee1 and the ,pharisee did 
not treat ,him hospitably4 ,well1 and   
so1 my brother1 ,i was reading          
yesterday1 about this very thing1 and   
was thinking to myself how he did not   
receive ,christ1 the ,batyushka1 with   
honor4 ,suppose1 for example1 ,he should
 come to me1 or anyone else1 ,i said to 
myself1 ,i should not even know how to  
receive ,him4 ,and he gave ,him no      
reception at all4 ,well6 while ,i was   
thus thinking1 ,i fell asleep1 brother1 
and ,i heard someone call me by name4 ,i
 got up2 the voice1 just as if someone  
whispered1 said1 ',be on the watch2 ,i  
shall come to-morrow4' ,and this        
happened twice4 ,well6 would you believe
 it1 it got into my head8 ,i scolded    
myself--and yet ,i am expecting ,him1   
the ,batyushka4  ,stepanuitch shook his 
head1 and said nothing2 he finished     

drinking his glass of tea1 and put it on
 the side2 but ,avdyeitch picked up the 
glass again1 and filled it once more4   
,drink some more for your good health4  
,you see1 ,i have an idea that1 when the
 ,batyushka went about on this earth1   
,he disdained no one1 and had more to do
 with the simple people4 ,he always went
 to see the simple people4 ,he picked   
out ,his disciples more from among folk 
like such sinners as we are1 from the   
working class4 ,said ,he1 whoever exalts
 himself1 shall be humbled1 and he who  
is humbled shall become exalted4 ,said  
,he1 you call me ,lord1 and1 said ,he1  
,i wash your feet4 ,whoever wishes1 said
 ,he1 to be the first1 the same shall be
 a servant to all4 ,because1 said ,he1  
blessed are the poor1 the humble1 the   
kind1 the generous4  ,and ,stepanuitch  
forgot about his tea2 he was an old man1
 and easily moved to tears4 ,he was     
listening1 and the tears rolled down his
 face4  ,come1 now1 have some more tea1 
said ,avdyeitch2 but ,stepanuitch made  

the sign of the cross1 thanked him1     
turned down his glass1 and arose4       
,thanks to you1 he says1 ,martuin       
,avdyeitch1 for treating me kindly1 and 
satisfying me1 soul and body4  ,you are 
welcome2 come in again2 always glad to  
see a friend1 said ,avdyeitch4          
,stepanuitch departed2 and ,martuin     
poured out the rest of the tea1 drank it
 up1 put away the dishes1 and sat down  
again by the window to work1 to stitch  
on a patch4 ,he kept stitching away1 and
 at the same time looking through the   
window4 ,he was expecting ,christ1 and  
was all the while thinking of ,him and  
,his deeds1 and his head was filled with
 the different speeches of ,christ4     
,two soldiers passed by3 one wore boots 
furnished by the crown1 and the other   
one1 boots that he had made2 then the   
master7#h7 of the next house passed by  
in shining galoshes2 then a baker with a
 basket passed by4 ,all passed by2 and  
now there came also by the window a     
woman in woolen stockings and rustic    

bashmaks on her feet4 ,she passed by the
 window1 and stood still near the       
window-case4    7#h7 ,khozyain4         
,avdyeitch looked up at her from the    
window1 and saw it was a stranger1 a    
woman poorly clad1 and with a child2 she
 was standing by the wall with her back 
to the wind1 trying to wrap up the      
child1 and she had nothing to wrap it up
 in4 ,the woman was dressed in shabby   
summer clothes2 and from behind the     
frame1 ,avdyeitch could hear the child  
crying1 and the woman trying to pacify  
it2 but she was not able to pacify it4  
,avdyeitch got up1 went to the door1    
ascended the steps1 and cried3--  ,my   
good woman4 ,hey6 my good woman67#i7    
7#i7 ,umnitsa aumnitsa6 literally1      
clever one4  ,the woman heard him and   
turned around4  ,why are you standing in
 the cold with the child8 ,come into my 
room1 where it is warm2 you can manage  
it better4 ,here1 this way6  ,the woman 
was astonished4 ,she saw an old1 old man
 in an apron1 with spectacles on his    

nose1 calling her to him4 ,she followed 
him4 ,they descended the steps and      
entered the room2 the old man led the   
woman to his bed4  ,there1 says he1 sit 
down1 my good woman1 nearer to the      
stove2 you can get warm1 and nurse the  
little one4  ,i have no milk for him4 ,i
 myself have not eaten anything since   
morning1 said the woman2 but1           
nevertheless1 she took the baby to her  
breast4  ,avdyeitch shook his head1 went
 to the table1 brought out the bread and
 a dish1 opened the oven door1 poured   
into the dish some cabbage soup1 took   
out the pot with the gruel1 but it was  
not cooked as yet2 so he filled the dish
 with shchi only1 and put it on the     
table4 ,he got the bread1 took the towel
 down from the hook1 and spread it upon 
the table4  ,sit down1 he says1 and eat1
 my good woman2 and ,i will mind the    
little one4 ,you see1 ,i once had       
children of my own2 ,i know how to      
handle them4  ,the woman crossed        
herself1 sat down at the table1 and     

began to eat2 while ,avdyeitch took a   
seat on the bed near the infant4        
,avdyeitch kept smacking and smacking to
 it with his lips2 but it was a poor    
kind of smacking1 for he had no teeth4  
,the little one kept on crying4 ,and it 
occured to ,avdyeitch to threaten the   
little one with his finger2 he waved1   
waved his finger right before the       
child's mouth1 and hastily withdrew it4 
,he did not put it to its mouth1 because
 his finger was black1 and soiled with  
wax4 ,and the little one looked at his  
finger1 and became quiet2 then it began 
to smile1 and ,avdyeitch also was glad4 
,while the woman was eating1 she told   
who she was1 and whither she was going4 
,said she3--  ,i am a soldier's wife4   
,it is now seven months since they sent 
my husband away off1 and no tidings4 ,i 
lived out as cook2 the baby was born2 no
 one cared to keep me with a child4     
,this is the third month that ,i have   
been struggling along without a place4  
,i ate up all ,i had4 ,i wanted to      

engage as a wet-nurse--no one would take
 me--,i am too thin1 they say4 ,i have  
just been to the merchant's wife1 where 
lives a young woman ,i know1 and so they
 promised to take us in4 ,i thought that
 was the end of it4 ,but she told me to 
come next week4 ,and she lives a long   
way off4 ,i got tired out2 and it tired 
him1 too1 my heart's darling4           
,fortunately1 our landlady takes pity on
 us for the sake of ,christ1 and gives  
us a room1 else ,i don't know how ,i    
should manage to get along4  ,avdyeitch 
sighed1 and said3  ,haven't you any warm
 clothes8  ,now is the time1 friend1 to 
wear warm clothes2 but yesterday ,i     
pawned my last shawl for a twenty-kopek 
piece47#aj7    7#aj7 ,dvagrivennui1     
silver1 worth sixteen cents4  ,the woman
 came to the bed1 and took the child2   
and ,avdyeitch rose1 went to the        
partition1 rummaged round1 and succeeded
 in finding an old coat4  ,na6 says he2 
,it is a poor thing1 yet you may turn it
 to some use4  ,the woman looked at the 

coat and looked at the old man2 she took
 the coat1 and burst into tears2 and    
,avdyeitch turned away his head2        
crawling under the bed1 he pushed out a 
little trunk1 rummaged in it1 and sat   
down again opposite the woman4  ,and the
 woman said3--  ,may ,christ bless you1 
little grandfather67#aa7 ,he must have  
sent me to your window4 ,my little baby 
would have frozen to death4 ,when ,i    
started out it was warm1 but now it has 
grown cold4 ,and ,he1 the ,batyushka1   
led you to look through the window and  
take pity on me1 an unfortunate4        
7#aa7 ,diedushka4  ,avdyeitch smiled1   
and said3--  ,indeed1 ,he did that6 ,i  
have been looking through the window1 my
 good woman1 for some wise reason4  ,and
 ,martuin told the soldier's wife his   
dream1 and how he heard the voice1--how 
the ,lord promised to come and see him  
that day4  ,all things are possible1    
said the woman4 ,she rose1 put on the   
coat1 wrapped up her little child in it2
 and1 as she started to take leave1 she 

thanked ,avdyeitch again4  ,take this1  
for ,christ's sake1 said ,avdyeitch1    
giving her a twenty-kopek piece2 redeem 
your shawl4  ,she made the sign of the  
cross1 and ,avdyeitch made the sign of  
the cross and went with her to the door4
  ,the woman went away4 ,avdyeitch ate  
some shchi1 washed the dishes1 and sat  
down again to work4 ,while he was       
working he still remembered the window2 
when the window grew darker he          
immediately looked out to see who was   
passing by4 ,acquaintances passed by and
 strangers passed by1 and there was     
nothing out of the ordinary4  ,but here 
,avdyeitch saw that an old apple woman  
had stopped in front of his window4 ,she
 carried a basket with apples4 ,only a  
few were left1 as she had evidently sold
 them nearly all out2 and over her      
shoulder she had a bag full of chips4   
,she must have gathered them up in some 
new building1 and was on her way home4  
,one could see that the bag was heavy on
 her shoulder2 she tried to shift it to 

the other shoulder4 ,so she lowered the 
bag on the sidewalk1 stood the basket   
with the apples on a little post1 and   
began to shake down the splinters in the
 bag4 ,and while she was shaking her    
bag1 a little boy in a torn cap came    
along1 picked up an apple from the      
basket1 and was about to make his       
escape2 but the old woman noticed it1   
turned around1 and caught the youngster 
by his sleeve4 ,the little boy began to 
struggle1 tried to tear himself away2   
but the old woman grasped him with both 
hands1 knocked off his cap1 and caught  
him by the hair4  ,the little boy was   
screaming1 the old woman was scolding4  
,avdyeitch lost no time in putting away 
his awl2 he threw it upon the floor1    
sprang to the door1--he even stumbled on
 the stairs1 and dropped his            
spectacles1--and rushed out into the    
street4  ,the old woman was pulling the 
youngster by his hair1 and was scolding 
and threatening to take him to the      
policeman2 the youngster was defending  

himself1 and denying the charge4  ,i did
 not take it1 he said2 ,what are you    
licking me for8 ,let me go6  ,avdyeitch 
tried to separate them4 ,he took the boy
 by his arm1 and said3--  ,let him go1  
babushka2 forgive him1 for ,christ's    
sake4  ,i will forgive him so that he   
won't forget it till the new broom      
grows4 ,i am going to take the little   
villain to the police4  ,avdyeitch began
 to entreat the old woman3--  ,let him  
go1 babushka1 he said1 he will never do 
it again4 ,let him go1 for ,christ's    
sake4  ,the old woman let him loose2 the
 boy started to run1 but ,avdyeitch kept
 him back4  ,ask the babushka's         
forgiveness1 he said1 and don't you ever
 do it again2 ,i saw you take the apple4
  ,the boy burst into tears1 and began  
to ask forgiveness4  ,there now6 that's 
right2 and here's an apple for you4     
,and ,avdyeitch took an apple from the  
basket1 and gave it to the boy4  ,i will
 pay you for it1 babushka1 he said to   
the old woman4  ,you ruin them that way1

 the good-for-nothings1 said the old    
woman4 ,he ought to be treated so that  
he would remember it for a whole week4  
,eh1 babushka1 babushka1 said           
,avdyeitch1 that is right according to  
our judgment1 but not according to      
,god's4 ,if he is to be whipped for an  
apple1 then what ought to be done to us 
for our sins8  ,the old woman was       
silent4  ,and ,avdyeitch told her the   
parable of the master who forgave a     
debtor all that he owed him1 and how the
 debtor went and began to choke one who 
owed him4  ,the old woman listened1 and 
the boy stood listening4  ,god has      
commanded us to forgive1 said           
,avdyeitch1 else we1 too1 may not be    
forgiven4 ,all should be forgiven1 and  
the thoughtless especially4  ,the old   
woman shook her head1 and sighed4       
,that's so1 said she2 but the trouble is
 that they are very much spoiled4  ,then
 we who are older must teach them1 said 
,avdyeitch4  ,that's just what ,i say1  
remarked the old woman4 ,i myself have  

had seven of them1--only one daughter is
 left4  ,and the old woman began to     
relate where and how she lived with her 
daughter1 and how many grandchildren she
 had4 ,here1 she says1 my strength is   
only so-so1 and yet ,i have to work4 ,i 
pity the youngsters--my                 
grandchildren--but what nice children   
they are6 ,no one gives me such a       
welcome as they do4 ,aksintka won't go  
to anyone but me4 ',babushka1 dear      
babushka1 lovliest4'  ,and the old woman
 grew quite sentimental4  ,of course1 it
 is a childish trick4 ,god be with him1 
said she1 pointing to the boy4  ,the    
woman was just about to lift the bag up 
on her shoulder1 when the boy ran up1   
and said3--  ,let me carry it1 babushka2
 it is on my way4  ,the old woman nodded
 her head1 and put the bag on the boy's 
back4  ,and side by side they passed    
along the street4  ,and the old woman   
even forgot to ask ,avdyeitch to pay for
 the apple4 ,avdyeitch stood motionless1
 and kept gazing after them2 and he     

heard them talking all the time as they 
walked away4 ,after ,avdyeitch saw them 
disappear1 he returned to his room2 he  
found his eye-glasses on the            
stairs1--they were not broken2 he picked
 up his awl1 and sat down to work again4
  ,after working a little while1 it grew
 darker1 so that he could not see to    
sew2 he saw the lamplighter passing by  
to light the street-lamps4  ,it must be 
time to make a light1 he said to        
himself2 so he got his little lamp      
ready1 hung it up1 and he took himself  
again to his work4 ,he had one boot     
already finished2 he turned it around1  
looked at it3 ,well done4 ,he put away  
his tools1 swept off the cuttings1      
cleared off the bristles and ends1 took 
the lamp1 set it on the table1 and took 
down the ,gospels from the shelf4 ,he   
intended to open the book at the very   
place where he had yesterday put a piece
 of leather as a mark1 but it happened  
to open at another place2 and the moment
 ,avdyeitch opened the ,testament1 he   

recollected his last night's dream4 ,and
 as soon as he remembered it1 it seemed 
as if he heard someone stepping about   
behind him4 ,avdyeitch looked around1   
and saw--there1 in the dark corner1 it  
seemed as if people were standing2 he   
was at a loss to know who they were4    
,and a voice whispered in his ear3--    
,martuin--ah1 ,martuin6 did you not     
recognize me8  ,who8 exclaimed          
,avdyeitch4  ,me1 repeated the voice4   
,it was ,i2 and ,stepanuitch stepped    
forth from the dark corner2 he smiled1  
and like a little cloud faded away1 and 
soon vanished4  ,and it was ,i1 said the
 voice4  ,from the dark corner stepped  
forth the woman with her child2 the     
woman smiled1 the child laughed1 and    
they also vanished1  ,and it was ,i1    
continued the voice2 both the old woman 
and the boy with the apple stepped      
forward2 both smiled and vanished4      
,avdyeitch's soul rejoiced2 he crossed  
himself1 put on his spectacles1 and     
began to read the ,evangelists where it 

happened to open4 ,on the upper part of 
the page he read3--  ,for ,i was an     
hungered1 and ye gave me meat2 ,i was   
thirsty1 and ye gave me drink2 ,i was a 
stranger1 and ye took me in4  ,and on   
the lower part of the page he read      
this3--  ,inasmuch as ye have done it   
unto one of the least of these my       
brethren1 ye have done it unto me4--,st4
 ,matthew1 ,chap4 xxv4  ,and ,avdyeitch 
understood that his dream had not       
deceived him2 that the ,saviour really  
called on him that day1 and that he     
really received ,him4