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behaving very badly yourself； and for that reason you are wrong。
I did not act in such a manner； and certainly I never taught you
to do so。 I lived in peace with Gavryl's father all the time we
were neighbors。 We were always the best of friends。 If he was
without flour his wife would come to me and say； 'Diadia Frol
＇Grandfather＇； we need flour。' I would then say： 'My good woman；
go to the warehouse and take as much as you want。' If he had no
one to care for his horses I would say； 'Go； Ivanushka
＇diminutive of Ivan＇； and help him to care for them。' If I
required anything I would go to him and say； 'Grandfather Gordey；
I need this or that；' and he would always reply； 'Take just
whatever you want。' By this means we passed an easy and peaceful
life。 But what is your life compared with it？ As the soldiers
fought at Plevna； so are you and Gavryl fighting all the time；
only that your battles are far more disgraceful than that fought
at Plevna。〃
The old man went on： 〃And you call this living！ and what a sin it
all is！ You are a peasant； and the head of the house； therefore；
the responsibility of the trouble rests with you。 What an
example you set your wife and children by constantly quarrelling
with your neighbor！ Only a short time since your little boy；
Taraska； was cursing his aunt Arina； and his mother only laughed
at it； saying； 'What a bright child he is！' Is that right？ You
are to blame for all this。 You should think of the salvation of
your soul。 Is that the way to do it？ You say one unkind word to
me and I will reply with two。 You will give me one slap in the
face； and I will retaliate with two slaps。 No； my son； Christ
did not teach us foolish people to act in such a way。 If any one
should say an unkind word to you it is better not to answer at
all； but if you do reply do it kindly； and his conscience will
accuse him； and he will regret his unkindness to you。 This is
the way Christ taught us to live。 He tells us that if a person
smite us on the one cheek we should offer unto him the other。
That is Christ's command to us； and we should follow it。 You
should therefore subdue your pride。 Am I not right？〃
Ivan remained silent； but his father's words had sunk deep into
his heart。
The old man coughed and continued： 〃Do you think Christ thought
us wicked？ Did he not die that we might be saved？ Now you think
only of this earthly life。 Are you better or worse for thinking
alone of it？ Are you better or worse for having begun that
Plevna battle？ Think of your expense at court and the time lost
in going back and forth； and what have you gained？ Your sons
have reached manhood； and are able now to work for you。 You are
therefore at liberty to enjoy life and be happy。 With the
assistance of your children you could reach a high state of
prosperity。 But now your property instead of increasing is
gradually growing less； and why？ It is the result of your pride。
When it becomes necessary for you and your boys to go to the
field to work； your enemy instead summons you to appear at court
or before some kind of judicial person。 If you do not plow at the
proper time and sow at the proper time mother earth will not
yield up her products； and you and your children will be left
destitute。 Why did your oats fail this year？ When did you sow
them？ Were you not quarrelling with your neighbor instead of
attending to your work？ You have just now returned from the
town； where you have been the means of having your neighbor
humiliated。 You have succeeded in getting him sentenced； but in
the end the punishment will fall on your own shoulders。 Oh！ my
child； it would be better for you to attend to your work on the
farm and train your boys to become good farmers and honest men。
If any one offend you forgive him for Christ's sake； and then
prosperity will smile on your work and a light and happy feeling
will fill your heart。〃
Ivan still remained silent。
The old father in a pleading voice continued： 〃Take an old man's
advice。 Go and harness your horse； drive back to the court； and
withdraw all these complaints against your neighbor。 To…morrow
go to him； offer to make peace in Christ's name； and invite him
to your house。 It will be a holy day （the birth of the Virgin
Mary）。 Get out the samovar and have some vodki； and over both
forgive and forget each other's sins； promising not to transgress
in the future； and advise your women and children to do the
same。〃
Ivan heaved a deep sigh but felt easier in his heart； as he
thought： 〃The old man speaks the truth；〃 yet he was in doubt as
to how he would put his father's advice into practice。
The old man； surmising his uncertainty； said to Ivan： 〃Go；
Ivanushka； do not delay。 Extinguish the fire in the beginning；
before it grows large； for then it may be impossible。〃
Ivan's father wished to say more to him； but was prevented by the
arrival of the women； who came into the room chattering like so
many magpies。 They had already heard of Gavryl's sentence； and
of how he threatened to set fire to Ivan's house。 They found out
all about it； and in telling it to their neighbors added their
own versions of the story； with the usual exaggeration。 Meeting
in the pasture…ground； they proceeded to quarrel with Gavryl's
women。 They related how the latter's daughter…in…law had
threatened to secure the influence of the manager of a certain
noble's estate in behalf of his friend Gavryl； also that the
school…teacher was writing a petition to the Czar himself against
Ivan； explaining in detail his theft of the perchbolt and partial
destruction of Gavryl's gardendeclaring that half of Ivan's
land was to be given to them。
Ivan listened calmly to their stories； but his anger was soon
aroused once more； when he abandoned his intention of making
peace with Gavryl。
As Ivan was always busy about the household； he did not stop to
speak to the wrangling women； but immediately left the room；
directing his steps toward the barn。 Before getting through with
his work the sun had set and the boys had returned from their
plowing。 Ivan met them and asked about their work； helping them
to put things in order and leaving the broken horse…collar aside
to be repaired。 He intended to perform some other duties； but it
became too dark and he was obliged to leave them till the next
day。 He fed the cattle； however； and opened the gate that
Taraska might take his horses to pasture for the night； after
which he closed it again and went into the house for his supper。
By this time he had forgotten all about Gavryl and what his
father had said to him。 Yet； just as he touched the door…knob；
he heard sounds of quarrelling proceeding from his neighbor's
house。
〃What do I want with that devil？〃 shouted Gavryl to some one。
〃He deserves to be killed！〃
Ivan stopped and listened for a moment； when he shook his head
threateningly and enter