Short Fiction, Leo Tolstoy [general ebook reader .txt] 📗

my own free will? Misha Then why do you go? Tell them you don’t want to, and stop here. What can they do to you? Gavrila Laughing. What can they do? They will take me by force. Misha Who can take you by force? Gavrila Men who have to obey, and who are exactly in my position. Misha Why will they take you by force if they are in the same position? Gavrila Because of the authorities. They will be ordered to take me, and they will have to do it. Misha But suppose they don’t want to? Gavrila They have to obey. Misha But why? Gavrila Why? Because of the law. Misha What law? Gavrila You are a funny boy. It’s a pleasure to chat with you. But now I had better go and get the samovar ready. It will be for the last time. On Taxes

The Bailiff

Grushka

Bailiff Entering a poor cottage. Nobody is in except Grushka, a little girl of seven. He looks around him. Nobody at home? Grushka Mother has gone to bring home the cow, and Fedka is at work in the master’s yard. Bailiff Well, tell your mother the bailiff called. Tell her I am giving her notice for the third time, and that she must pay her taxes before Sunday without fail, or else I will take her cow. Grushka The cow? Are you a thief? We will not let you take our cow. Bailiff Smiling. What a smart girl, I say! What is your name? Grushka Grushka. Bailiff You are a good girl, Grushka. Now listen. Tell your mother that, although I am not a thief, I will take her cow. Grushka Why will you take our cow if you are not a thief? Bailiff Because what is due must be paid. I shall take the cow for the taxes that are not paid. Grushka What’s that: taxes? Bailiff What a nuisance of a girl! What are taxes? They are money paid by the people by the order of the Tsar. Grushka To whom? Bailiff The Tsar will look after that when the money comes in. Grushka He’s not poor, is he? We are the poor people. The Tsar is rich. Why does he want us to give him money? Bailiff He does not take it for himself. He spends it on us, fools that we are. It all goes to supply our needs⁠—to pay the authorities, the army, the schools. It is for our own good that we pay taxes. Grushka How does it benefit us if our cow is taken away? There’s no good in that. Bailiff You will understand that when you are grown-up. Now, mind you give your mother my message. Grushka I will not repeat all your nonsense to her. You can do whatever you and the Tsar want. And we shall mind our own business. Bailiff What a devil of a girl she will be when she grows up! On Judging

Mitia, a boy of ten

Iliusha, a boy of nine

Sonia, a girl of six

Mitia I told Peter Semenovich we could get used to wearing no clothes at all. And he said, “That is impossible.” Then I told him Michael Ivanovich said that just as we have managed to get our bare faces used to the cold, we could do the same with our whole body. Peter Semenovich said, “Your Michael Ivanovich is a fool.” He laughs. And Michael Ivanovich said to me only yesterday, “Peter Semenovich is talking a lot of nonsense. But, of course,” he added, “there’s no law for fools.” He laughs. Iliusha If I were you I would tell Peter Semenovich, “You abuse Michael Ivanovich, and he does the same to you.” Mitia No; but truly, I wish I knew which of them is the fool. Sonia They both are. Whoever calls another person a fool is a fool himself. Iliusha And you have called them both fools. Then you are one also. Mitia Well, I hate people saying things about each other behind their backs and never openly to their faces. When I am grown-up I shan’t be like that. I shall always say what I think. Iliusha So shall I. Sonia And I shall do just whatever I like. Mitia What do you mean? Sonia Why, I shall say what I think⁠—if I choose. And if I don’t choose, I won’t. Iliusha You’re a big fool, that is what you are. Sonia And you have just said you will never call people names. But of course.⁠ ⁠… On Kindness

The children, Masha and Misha, are building a tent for their dolls in front of the house.

Misha In an angry tone to Masha. No, not this. Bring that stick there. What a blockhead you are! An Old Woman Coming out of the house, crossing herself, and muttering. Jesus Christ reward her! What an angel! She has pity on everyone. The Children cease to play, and look at the old woman. Misha Who is as good as all that? Old Woman Your mother. She has God in her soul. She pities us, the poor. She has given me a skirt⁠—and some tea, and money too. The Queen of Heaven save her! Not like that godless man. “Such a lot of you,” he says, “tramping about here.” And such savage dogs he has! Misha Who is that? Old Woman The man opposite. The wine merchant. A very unkind gentleman, I can tell you. But never mind. I am so thankful to the dear lady. She has given me presents, has relieved me, miserable creature that I am. How could we exist if it were not for such kind people? She weeps. Masha To Misha. How good she is! Old Woman When you are grown up, children, be as kind as she is to the poor. God will reward you. Exit. Misha How wretched she is! Masha I am so glad mother has given her something. Misha Why shouldn’t one give, if one has got plenty of everything oneself? We are not poor, and she is. Masha You remember, John the Baptist said: Whoever has two coats, let him give away one. Misha Oh, when