the witch and other stories(女巫)-第53节
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was reflected in the samovar。 The old man crumpled up his cap and said
after a moment's thought：
〃You give it me back。〃
The swarthy elder looked quite black； and was like a magician； he
turned round to Osip and said sternly and rapidly：
〃It all depends on the rural captain。 On the twenty…sixth instant you
can state the grounds for your dissatisfaction before the administrative
session； verbally or in writing。〃
Osip did not understand a word； but he was satisfied with that and
went home。
Ten days later the police inspector came again； stayed an hour and
went away。 During those days the weather had changed to cold and windy；
the river had been frozen for some time past； but still there was no snow；
and people found it difficult to get about。 On the eve of a holiday some of
the neighbours came in to Osip's to sit and have a talk。 They did not light
the lamp； as it would have been a sin to work； but talked in the darkness。
There were some items of news； all rather unpleasant。 In two or three
households hens had been taken for the arrears； and had been sent to the
district police station； and there they had died because no one had fed
them； they had taken sheep； and while they were being driven away tied to
one another； shifted into another cart at each village； one of them had died。
And now they were discussing the question； who was to blame？
〃The Zemstvo；〃 said Osip。 〃Who else？〃
〃Of course it is the Zemstvo。〃
The Zemstvo was blamed for everything for the arrears； and for the
oppressions； and for the failure of the crops； though no one of them knew
what was meant by the Zemstvo。 And this dated from the time when well…
to…do peasants who had factories； shops； and inns of their own were
members of the Zemstvos； were dissatisfied with them； and took to
swearing at the Zemstvos in their factories and inns。
They talked of God's not sending the snow； they had to bring in wood
for fuel； and there was no driving nor walking in the frozen ruts。 In old
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days fifteen to twenty years ago conversation was much more interesting
in Zhukovo。 In those days every old man looked as though he were
treasuring some secret； as though he knew something and was expecting
something。 They used to talk about an edict in golden letters； about the
division of lands； about new land； about treasures； they hinted at
something。 Now the people of Zhukovo had no mystery at all； their whole
life was bare and open in the sight of all； and they could talk of nothing
but poverty； food； there being no snow yet。 。 。 。
There was a pause。 Then they thought again of the hens； of the sheep；
and began discussing whose fault it was。
〃The Zemstvo；〃 said Osip wearily。 〃Who else？〃
VIII
The parish church was nearly five miles away at Kosogorovo； and the
peasants only attended it when they had to do so for baptisms； weddings；
or funerals； they went to the services at the church across the river。 On
holidays in fine weather the girls dressed up in their best and went in a
crowd together to church； and it was a cheering sight to see them in their
red； yellow； and green dresses cross the meadow； in bad weather they all
stayed at home。 They went for the sacrament to the parish church。 From
each of those who did not manage in Lent to go to confession in readiness
for the sacrament the parish priest； going the round of the huts with the
cross at Easter； took fifteen kopecks。
The old father did not believe in God； for he hardly ever thought about
Him； he recognized the supernatural； but considered it was entirely the
women's concern； and when religion or miracles were discussed before
him； or a question were put to him； he would say reluctantly； scratching
himself：
〃Who can tell！〃
Granny believed； but her faith was somewhat hazy； everything was
mixed up in her memory； and she could scarcely begin to think of sins； of
death； of the salvation of the soul； before poverty and her daily cares took
possession of her mind； and she instantly forgot what she was thinking
about。 She did not remember the prayers； and usually in the evenings；
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before lying down to sleep； she would stand before the ikons and whisper：
〃Holy Mother of Kazan； Holy Mother of Smolensk； Holy Mother of
Troerutchitsy。 。 。〃
Marya and Fyokla crossed themselves； fasted； and took the sacrament
every year； but understood nothing。 The children were not taught their
prayers； nothing was told them about God； and no moral principles were
instilled into them； they were only forbidden to eat meat or milk in Lent。
In the other families it was much the same： there were few who believed；
few who understood。 At the same time everyone loved the Holy Scripture；
loved it with a tender； reverent love； but they had no Bible； there was no
one to read it and explain it； and because Olga sometimes read them the
gospel； they respected her； and they all addressed her and Sasha as though
they were superior to themselves。
For church holidays and services Olga often went to neighbouring
villages； and to the district town； in which there were two monasteries and
twenty…seven churches。 She was dreamy； and when she was on these
pilgrimages she quite forgot her family； and only when she got home again
suddenly made the joyful discovery that she had a husband and daughter；
and then would say； smiling and radiant：
〃God has sent me blessings！〃
What went on in the village worried her and seemed to her revolting。
On Elijah's Day they drank； at the Assumption they drank； at the
Ascension they drank。 The Feast of the Intercession was the parish holiday
for Zhukovo； and the peasants used to drink then for three days； they
squandered on drink fifty roubles of money belonging to the Mir； and then
collected more for vodka from all the households。 On the first day of the
feast the Tchikildyeevs killed a sheep and ate of it in the morning； at
dinner…time； and in the evening； they ate it ravenously； and the children
got up at night to eat more。 Kiryak was fearfully drunk for three whole
days； he drank up everything； even his boots and cap； and beat Marya so
terribly that they had to pour water over her。 And then they were all
ashamed and sick。
However； even in Zhukovo； in this 〃Slaveytown；〃 there was once an
outburst of genuine religious enthusiasm。 It was in August； when
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throughout the district they carried from village to village the Holy Mother；
the giver of life。 It was still and overcast on the day when they expected
_Her_ at Zhukovo。 The girls set off in the morning to meet the ikon； in
their bright holiday dresses； and brought Her towards the evening； in
procession with the cross and with singing； while the bells pealed in the
church across the river。 An immense crowd of villagers and strangers
flooded the street； there was noise； dust； a great crush。 。 。 。 And the old
father and Granny and Kiryak all stretched out their hands to the ikon；
looked eagerly at it and said； weeping：
〃Defender！ Mother！ Defender！〃
All seemed suddenly to realize that there was not an empty void
between earth and heaven； that the rich and the powerful had not taken
possession of everything； that there was still a refuge from injury； from
slavish bondage； from crushing； unendurable poverty； from the terrible
vodka。
〃Defender！ Mother！〃 sobbed Marya。 〃Mother！〃
But the thanksgiving service ended and the ikon was carried away； and
everything went on as before； and again there was a sound of coarse
drunken oaths from the tavern。
