Polikushka Page #2

"Polikushka" is a short story by Leo Tolstoy that explores themes of morality, social justice, and the complexities of human nature. The narrative follows the life of Polikushka, a peasant who struggles with his responsibilities and ethical dilemmas. Through the character of Polikushka, Tolstoy examines the contradictions of society, particularly in relation to the treatment of the poor and the consequences of one's actions. The story is a poignant reflection on compassion, redemption, and the harsh realities of rural life in 19th-century Russia.

								

storekeeper to whom he sold it proved to be a relative of one of the
court servants, and who, when he visited his friend on the next
holiday, related all about his purchase of the clock.

An investigation was immediately instituted, and all the details of
Polikey’s transaction were brought to light and reported to his noble
mistress. He was called into her presence, and, when confronted with
the story of the theft, broke down and confessed all. He fell on his
knees before the noblewoman and plead with her for mercy. The
kind-hearted lady lectured him about God, the salvation of his soul,
and his future life. She talked to him also about the misery and
disgrace he brought upon his family, and altogether so worked upon his
feelings that he cried like a child. In conclusion his kind mistress
said: “I will forgive you this time on the condition that you promise
faithfully to reform, and never again to take what does not belong to
you.”

Polikey, still weeping, replied: “I will never steal again in all my
life, and if I break my promise may the earth open and swallow me up,
and let my body be burned with red-hot irons!”

Polikey returned to his home, and throwing himself on the oven spent
the entire day weeping and repeating the promise made to his mistress.

From that time on he was not again caught stealing, but his life became
extremely sad, for he was regarded with suspicion by every one and
pointed to as a thief.

When the time came round for securing recruits for the army, all the
peasants singled out Polikey as the first to be taken. The
superintendent was especially anxious to get rid of him, and went to
his mistress to induce her to have him sent away. The kind-hearted and
merciful woman, remembering the peasant’s repentance, refused to grant
the superintendent’s request, and told him he must take some other man
in his stead.

CHAPTER II.

One evening Polikey was sitting on his bed beside the table, preparing
some medicine for the cattle, when suddenly the door was thrown wide
open, and Aksiutka, a young girl from the court, rushed in. Almost out
of breath, she said: “My mistress has ordered you, Polikey Illitch
[son of Ilia], to come up to the court at once!”

The girl was standing and still breathing heavily from her late
exertion as she continued: “Egor Mikhailovitch, the superintendent, has
been to see our lady about having you drafted into the army, and,
Polikey Illitch, your name was mentioned among others. Our lady has
sent me to tell you to come up to the court immediately.”

As soon as Aksiutka had delivered her message she left the room in the
same abrupt manner in which she had entered.

Akulina, without saying a word, got up and brought her husband’s boots
to him. They were poor, worn-out things which some soldier had given
him, and his wife did not glance at him as she handed them to him.

“Are you going to change your shirt, Illitch?” she asked, at last.

“No,” replied Polikey.

Akulina did not once look at him all the time he was putting on his
boots and preparing to go to the court. Perhaps, after all, it was
better that she did not do so. His face was very pale and his lips
trembled. He slowly combed his hair and was about to depart without
saying a word, when his wife stopped him to arrange the ribbon on his
shirt, and, after toying a little with his coat, she put his hat on for
him and he left the little home.

Polikey’s next-door neighbors were a joiner and his wife. A thin
partition only separated the two families, and each could hear what the
other said and did. Soon after Polikey’s departure a woman was heard to
say: “Well, Polikey Illitch, so your mistress has sent for you!”

The voice was that of the joiner’s wife on the other side of the
partition. Akulina and the woman had quarrelled that morning about some
trifling thing done by one of Polikey’s children, and it afforded her
the greatest pleasure to learn that her neighbor had been summoned into
the presence of his noble mistress. She looked upon such a circumstance
as a bad omen. She continued talking to herself and said: “Perhaps she
wants to send him to the town to make some purchases for her household.
I did not suppose she would select such a faithful man as you are to
perform such a service for her. If it should prove that she does want
to send you to the next town, just buy me a quarter-pound of tea. Will
you, Polikey Illitch?”

Poor Akulina, on hearing the joiner’s wife talking so unkindly of her
husband, could hardly suppress the tears, and, the tirade continuing,
she at last became angry, and wished she could in some way punish her.

Forgetting her neighbor’s unkindness, her thoughts soon turned in
another direction, and glancing at her sleeping children she said to
herself that they might soon be orphans and she herself a soldier’s
widow. This thought greatly distressed her, and burying her face in her
hands she seated herself on the bed, where several of her progeny were
fast asleep. Presently a little voice interrupted her meditations by
crying out, “Mamushka [little mother], you are crushing me,” and the
child pulled her nightdress from under her mother’s arms.

Akulina, with her head still resting on her hands, said: “Perhaps it
would be better if we all should die. I only seem to have brought you
into the world to suffer sorrow and misery.”

Unable longer to control her grief, she burst into violent weeping,
which served to increase the amusement of the joiner’s wife, who had
not forgotten the morning’s squabble, and she laughed loudly at her
neighbor’s woe.

CHAPTER III.

About half an hour had passed when the youngest child began to cry and
Akulina arose to feed it. She had by this time ceased to weep, and
after feeding the infant she again fell into her old position, with her
face buried in her hands. She was very pale, but this only increased
her beauty. After a time she raised her head, and staring at the
burning candle she began to question herself as to why she had married,
and as to the reason that the Czar required so many soldiers.

Presently she heard steps outside, and knew that her husband was
returning. She hurriedly wiped away the last traces of her tears as she
arose to let him pass into the centre of the room.

Polikey made his appearance with a look of triumph on his face, threw
his hat on the bed, and hastily removed his coat; but not a word did he
utter.

Akulina, unable to restrain her impatience, asked, “Well, what did she
want with you?”

“Pshaw!” he replied, “it is very well known that Polikushka is
considered the worst man in the village; but when it comes to business
of importance, who is selected then? Why, Polikushka, of course.”

“What kind of business?” Akulina timidly inquired.

But Polikey was in no hurry to answer her question. He lighted his pipe
with a very imposing air, and spit several times on the floor before he
replied.

Still retaining his pompous manner, he said, “She has ordered me to go
to a certain merchant in the town and collect a considerable sum of
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