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Ivan and his son； seeing that their womenfolk were being badly
used； jumped into the midst of the fray； and a fearful fight
followed。
Ivan was the most powerful peasant in all the country round； and
it did not take him long to disperse the crowd； for they flew in
all directions。 During the progress of the fight Ivan tore out a
large quantity of Gavryl's beard。
By this time a large crowd of peasants had collected； and it was
with the greatest difficulty that they persuaded the two families
to stop quarrelling。
This was the beginning。
Gavryl took the portion of his beard which Ivan had torn out；
and； wrapping it in a paper； went to the volostnoye （moujiks'
court） and entered a complaint against Ivan。
Holding up the hair； he said； 〃I did not grow this for that bear
Ivan to tear out！〃
Gavryl's wife went round among the neighbors； telling them that
they must not repeat what she told them； but that she and her
husband were going to get the best of Ivan； and that he was to be
sent to Siberia。
And so the quarrelling went on。
The poor old grandfather； sick with asthma and lying on the brick
oven all the time； tried from the first to dissuade them from
quarrelling； and begged of them to live in peace； but they would
not listen to his good advice。 He said to them： 〃You children
are making a great fuss and much trouble about nothing。 I beg of
you to stop and think of what a little thing has caused all this
trouble。 It has arisen from only one egg。 If our neighbors'
children picked it up； it is all right。 God bless them！ One egg
is of but little value； and without it God will supply sufficient
for all our needs。〃
Ivan's daughter…in…law here interposed and said； 〃But they called
us vile names。〃
The old grandfather again spoke； saying： 〃Well； even if they did
call you bad names； it would have been better to return good for
evil； and by your example show them how to speak better。 Such
conduct on your part would have been best for all concerned。〃 He
continued： 〃Well； you had a fight； you wicked people。 Such
things sometimes happen； but it would be better if you went
afterward and asked forgiveness and buried your grievances out of
sight。 Scatter them to the four winds of heaven； for if you do
not do so it will be the worse for you in the end。〃
The younger members of the family； still obstinate； refused to
profit by the old man's advice； and declared he was not right；
and that he only liked to grumble in his old…fashioned way。
Ivan refused to go to his neighbor； as the grandfather wished；
saying： 〃I did not tear out Gavryl's beard。 He did it himself；
and his son tore my shirt and trousers into shreds。〃
Ivan entered suit against Gavryl。 He first went to the village
justice； and not getting satisfaction from him he carried his
case to the village court。
While the neighbors were wrangling over the affair； each suing
the other； it happened that a perch…bolt from Gavryl's wagon was
lost； and the women of Gavryl's household accused Ivan's son of
stealing it。
They said： 〃We saw him in the night…time pass by our window； on
his way to where the wagon was standing。〃 〃And my kumushka
＇sponsor＇；〃 said one of them； 〃told me that Ivan's son had
offered it for sale at the kabak ＇tavern＇。〃
This accusation caused them again to go into court for a
settlement of their grievances。
While the heads of the families were trying to have their
troubles settled in court； their home quarrels were constant； and
frequently resulted in hand…to…hand encounters。 Even the little
children followed the example of their elders and quarrelled
incessantly。
The women； when they met on the riverbank to do the family
washing； instead of attending to their work passed the time in
abusing each other； and not infrequently they came to blows。
At first the male members of the families were content with
accusing each other of various crimes； such as stealing and like
meannesses。 But the trouble in this mild form did not last long。
They soon resorted to other measures。 They began to appropriate
one another's things without asking permission； while various
articles disappeared from both houses and could not be found。
This was done out of revenge。
This example being set by the men； the women and children also
followed； and life soon became a burden to all who took part in
the strife。
Ivan Scherbakoff and 〃Gavryl the Lame〃 at last laid their trouble
before the mir （village meeting）； in addition to having been in
court and calling on the justice of the peace。 Both of the
latter had grown tired of them and their incessant wrangling。
One time Gavryl would succeed in having Ivan fined； and if he was
not able to pay it he would be locked up in the cold dreary
prison for days。 Then it would be Ivan's turn to get Gavryl
punished in like manner； and the greater the injury the one could
do the other the more delight he took in it。
The success of either in having the other punished only served to
increase their rage against each other； until they were like mad
dogs in their warfare。
If anything went wrong with one of them he immediately accused
his adversary of conspiring to ruin him； and sought revenge
without stopping to inquire into the rights of the case。
When the peasants went into court； and had each other fined and
imprisoned； it did not soften their hearts in the least。 They
would only taunt one another on such occasions； saying： 〃Never
mind； I will repay you for all this。〃
This state of affairs lasted for six years。
Ivan's father； the sick old man； constantly repeated his good
advice。 He would try to arouse their conscience by saying： 〃What
are you doing； my children？ Can you not throw off all these
troubles； pay more attention to your business； and suppress your
anger against your neighbors？ There is no use in your continuing
to live in this way； for the more enraged you become against each
other the worse it is for you。〃
Again was the wise advice of the old man rejected。
At the beginning of the seventh year of the existence of the feud
it happened that a daughter…in…law of Ivan's was present at a
marriage。 At the wedding feast she openly accused Gavryl of
stealing a horse。 Gavryl was intoxicated at the time and was in
no mood to stand the insult； so in retaliation he struck the
woman a terrific blow； which confined her to her bed for more
than a week。 The woman being in delicate health； the worst
results were feared。
Ivan； glad of a fresh opportunity to harass his neighbor； lodged
a formal complaint before the district…attorney； hoping to rid
himself forever of Gavryl by having him sent to Siberia。
On examining the complaint the district…attorney would not
consider it； as by that time the injured woman was walking about
and as well as ever。
Thus again Ivan was disappointed in obtaini