Polikushka Page #3

"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.

								

money.”

“You to collect money?” questioned Akulina.

Polikey only shook his head and smiled significantly, saying:

“‘You,’ the mistress said to me, ‘are a man resting under a grave
suspicion—a man who is considered unsafe to trust in any capacity; but
I have faith in you, and will intrust you with this important business
of mine in preference to any one else.’”

Polikey related all this in a loud voice, so that his neighbor might
hear what he had to say.

“‘You promised me to reform,’ my noble mistress said to me, ‘and I will
be the first to show you how much faith I have in your promise. I want
you to ride into town, and, going to the principal merchant there,
collect a sum of money from him and bring it to me.’ I said to my
mistress: ‘Everything you order shall be done. I will only too gladly
obey your slightest wish.’

“Then my mistress said: ‘Do you understand, Polikey, that your future
lot depends upon the faithful performance of this duty I impose upon
you?’ I replied: ‘Yes, I understand everything, and feel that I will
succeed in performing acceptably any task which you may impose upon me.
I have been accused of every kind of evil deed that it is possible to
charge a man with, but I have never done anything seriously wrong
against you, your honor.’ In this way I talked to our mistress until I
succeeded in convincing her that my repentance was sincere, and she
became greatly softened toward me, saying, ‘If you are successful I
will give you the first place at the court.’”

“And how much money are you to collect?” inquired Akulina.

“Fifteen hundred rubles,” carelessly answered Polikey.

Akulina sadly shook her head as she asked, “When are you to start?”

“She ordered me to leave here to-morrow,” Polikey replied. “‘Take any
horse you please,’ she said. ‘Come to the office, and I will see you
there and wish you God-speed on your journey.’”

“Glory to Thee, O Lord!” said Akulina, as she arose and made the sign
of the cross. “God, I am sure, will bless you, Illitch,” she added, in
a whisper, so that the people on the other side of the partition could
not hear what she said, all the while holding on to his sleeve.
“Illitch,” she cried at last, excitedly, “for God’s sake promise me
that you will not touch a drop of vodka. Take an oath before God, and
kiss the cross, so that I may be sure that you will not break your
promise!”

Polikey replied in most contemptuous tones: “Do you think I will dare
to touch vodka when I shall have such a large sum of money in my care?”

“Akulina, have a clean shirt ready for the morning,” were his parting
words for the night.

So Polikey and his wife went to sleep in a happy frame of mind and full
of bright dreams for the future.

CHAPTER IV.

Very early the next morning, almost before the stars had hidden
themselves from view, there was seen standing before Polikey’s home a
low wagon, the same in which the superintendent himself used to ride;
and harnessed to it was a large-boned, dark-brown mare, called for some
unknown reason by the name of Baraban (drum). Aniutka, Polikey’s
eldest daughter, in spite of the heavy rain and the cold wind which was
blowing, stood outside barefooted and held (not without some fear) the
reins in one hand, while with the other she endeavored to keep her
green and yellow overcoat wound around her body, and also to hold
Polikey’s sheepskin coat.

In the house there were the greatest noise and confusion. The morning
was still so dark that the little daylight there was failed to
penetrate through the broken panes of glass, the window being stuffed
in many places with rags and paper to exclude the cold air.

Akulina ceased from her cooking for a while and helped to get Polikey
ready for the journey. Most of the children were still in bed, very
likely as a protection against the cold, for Akulina had taken away the
big overcoat which usually covered them and had substituted a shawl of
her own. Polikey’s shirt was all ready, nice and clean, but his shoes
badly needed repairing, and this fact caused his devoted wife much
anxiety. She took from her own feet the thick woollen stockings she was
wearing, and gave them to Polikey. She then began to repair his shoes,
patching up the holes so as to protect his feet from dampness.

While this was going on he was sitting on the side of the bed with his
feet dangling over the edge, and trying to turn the sash which confined
his coat at the waist. He was anxious to look as clean as possible, and
he declared his sash looked like a dirty rope.

One of his daughters, enveloped in a sheepskin coat, was sent to a
neighbor’s house to borrow a hat.

Within Polikey’s home the greatest confusion reigned, for the court
servants were constantly arriving with innumerable small orders which
they wished Polikey to execute for them in town. One wanted needles,
another tea, another tobacco, and last came the joiner’s wife, who by
this time had prepared her samovar, and, anxious to make up the quarrel
of the previous day, brought the traveller a cup of tea.

Neighbor Nikita refused the loan of the hat, so the old one had to be
patched up for the occasion. This occupied some time, as there were
many holes in it.

Finally Polikey was all ready, and jumping on the wagon started on his
journey, after first making the sign of the cross.

At the last moment his little boy, Mishka, ran to the door, begging to
be given a short ride; and then his little daughter, Mashka, appeared
on the scene and pleaded that she, too, might have a ride, declaring
that she would be quite warm enough without furs.

Polikey stopped the horse on hearing the children, and Akulina placed
them in the wagon, together with two others belonging to a neighbor—all
anxious to have a short ride.

As Akulina helped the little ones into the wagon she took occasion to
remind Polikey of the solemn promise he had made her not to touch a
drop of vodka during the journey.

Polikey drove the children as far as the blacksmith’s place, where he
let them out of the wagon, telling them they must return home. He then
arranged his clothing, and, setting his hat firmly on his head, started
his horse on a trot.

The two children, Mishka and Mashka, both barefooted, started running
at such a rapid pace that a strange dog from another village, seeing
them flying over the road, dropped his tail between his legs and ran
home squealing.

The weather was very cold, a sharp cutting wind blowing continuously;
but this did not disturb Polikey, whose mind was engrossed with
pleasant thoughts. As he rode through the wintry blasts he kept
repeating to himself: “So I am the man they wanted to send to Siberia,
and whom they threatened to enroll as a soldier—the same man whom every
one abused, and said he was lazy, and who was pointed out as a thief
and given the meanest work on the estate to do! Now I am going to
receive a large sum of money, for which my mistress is sending me
because she trusts me. I am also riding in the same wagon that the
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