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was given under twelve roubles。 They got a very
profitable return； and the five acres which were
left to each of their company practically cost them
nothing。 One of the five peasants died； and the
lame tailor received an offer to take his place。
When they began to divide the land； the tailor
gave up drinking vodka； and； being consulted as
to how much land was to be divided； and to whom
it should be given； he proposed to give allotments
to all on equal terms； not taking from the tenants
more than was due for each piece of land out of
the sum paid to the landowner。
〃Why so？〃
〃We are no heathens； I should think；〃 he said。
〃It is all very well for the masters to be unfair；
but we are true Christians。 We must do as God
bids。 Such is the law of Christ。〃
〃Where have you got that law from？
〃It is in the Book； in the Gospels。 just come
to me on Sunday。 I will read you a few passages；
and we will have a talk afterwards。〃
They did not all come to him on Sunday； but
three came； and he began reading to them。
He read five chapters of St。 Matthew's Gospel；
and they talked。 One man only； Ivan Chouev；
accepted the lesson and carried it out completely；
following the rule of Christ in everything from
that day。 His family did the same。 Out of the
arable land he took only what was his due； and
refused to take more。
The lame tailor and Ivan had people calling on
them； and some of these people began to grasp
the meaning of the Gospels； and in consequence
gave up smoking； drinking； swearing； and using
bad language and tried to help one another。
They also ceased to go to church； and took their
ikons to the village priest； saying they did not
want them any more。 The priest was frightened；
and reported what had occurred to the bishop。
The bishop was at a loss what to do。 At last
he resolved to send the archimandrite Missael to
the village； the one who had formerly been Mitia
Smokovnikov's teacher of religion。
XIX
ASKING Father Missael on his arrival to take a
seat； the bishop told him what had happened in
his diocese。
〃It all comes from weakness of spirit and from
ignorance。 You are a learned man； and I rely on
you。 Go to the village； call the parishioners to…
gether； and convince them of their error。〃
〃If your Grace bids me go； and you give me
your blessing； I will do my best；〃 said Father
Missael。 He was very pleased with the task en…
trusted to him。 Every opportunity he could find
to demonstrate the firmness of his faith was a
boon to him。 In trying to convince others he was
chiefly intent on persuading himself that he was
really a firm believer。
〃Do your best。 I am greatly distressed about
my flock；〃 said the bishop； leisurely taking a cup
with his white plump hands from the servant who
brought in the tea。
〃Why is there only one kind of jam？ Bring
another；〃 he said to the servant。 〃I am greatly
distressed；〃 he went on； turning to Father Mis…
sael。
Missael earnestly desired to prove his zeal；
but； being a man of small means； he asked to be
paid for the expenses of his journey； and being
afraid of the rough people who might be ill…dis…
posed towards him； he also asked the bishop to get
him an order from the governor of the province；
so that the local police might help him in case of
need。 The bishop complied with his wishes； and
Missael got his things ready with the help of his
servant and his cook。 They furnished him with
a case full of wine； and a basket with the victuals
he might need in going to such a lonely place。
Fully provided with all he wanted； he started for
the village to which he was commissioned。 He
was pleasantly conscious of the importance of his
mission。 All his doubts as to his own faith passed
away； and he was now fully convinced of its real…
ity。
His thoughts； far from being concerned with
the real foundation of his creedthis was ac…
cepted as an axiomwere occupied with the argu…
ments used against the forms of worship。
XX
THE village priest and his wife received Father
Missael with great honours； and the next day after
he had arrived the parishioners were invited to
assemble in the church。 Missael in a new silk
cassock； with a large cross on his chest； and his
long hair carefully combed； ascended the pulpit；
the priest stood at his side； the deacons and the
choir at a little distance behind him； and the side
entrances were guarded by the police。 The dis…
senters also came in their dirty sheepskin coats。
After the service Missael delivered a sermon；
admonishing the dissenters to return to the bosom
of their mother； the Church； threatening them
with the torments of hell； and promising full for…
giveness to those who would repent。
The dissenters kept silent at first。 Then； be…
ing asked questions； they gave answers。 To the
question why they dissented； they said that their
chief reason was the fact that the Church wor…
shipped gods made of wood； which； far from be…
ing ordained； were condemned by the Scriptures。
When asked by Missael whether they actually
considered the holy ikons to be mere planks of
wood； Chouev answered；
〃Just look at the back of any ikon you choose
and you will see what they are made of。〃
When asked why they turned against the priests；
their answer was that the Scripture says： 〃As you
have received it without fee； so you must give it
to the others； whereas the priests require pay…
ment for the grace they bestow by the sacraments。〃
To all attempts which Missael made to oppose
them by arguments founded on Holy Writ； the
tailor and Ivan Chouev gave calm but very firm
answers； contradicting his assertions by appeal to
the Scriptures； which they knew uncommonly well。
Missael got angry and threatened them with
persecution by the authorities。 Their answer
was： It is said； I have been persecuted and so will
you be。
The discussion came to nothing； and all would
have ended well if Missael had not preached the
next day at mass； denouncing the wicked seducers
of the faithful and saying that they deserved the
worst punishment。 Coming out of the church； the
crowd of peasants began to consult whether it
would not be well to give the infidels a good lesson
for disturbing the minds of the community。 The
same day； just when Missael was enjoying some
salmon and gangfish； dining at the village priest's
in company with the inspector； a violent brawl
arose in the village。 The peasants came in a
crowd to Chouev's cottage； and waited for the
dissenters to come out in order to give them a
thrashing。
The dissenters assembled in the cottage num…
bered about twenty men and women。 Missael's
sermon and the attitude of the orthodox peasants；
together with their threats； aroused in the mind
of the dissenters angry feelings； to which they had
before been strangers。 It was near evening； the
women had to go and milk the cows； and the
peasants were still standing and waiting at the
door。
A boy who stepped out of the door was beaten
and driven back into the house。 The people
within began consulting what was to be done； and
could come to no agreement。 The tailor said；
〃We must bear whatever is done to