Polikushka Page #5

"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.

								

with the whip she started into a trot, and as he rode along he arranged
in his own mind how much he was to receive. With the air of a man
already holding a high position at the court, he looked around him with
an expression of lofty scorn on his face.

As he neared his house he could see before him the one room which
constituted their humble home, and the joiner’s wife next door carrying
her rolls of linen. He saw also the office of the court and his
mistress’s house, where he hoped he would be able presently to prove
that he was an honest, trustworthy man.

He reasoned with himself that any person can be abused by lying
tongues, but when his mistress would see him she would say: “Well done,
Polikey; you have shown that you can be honest. Here are three—it may
be five—perhaps ten—rubles for you;” and also she would order tea for
him, and might treat him to vodka—who knows?

The latter thought gave him great pleasure, as he was feeling very
cold.

Speaking aloud he said: “What a happy holy-day we can have with ten
rubles! Having so much money, I could pay Nikita the four rubles fifty
kopecks which I owe him, and yet have some left to buy shoes for the
children.”

When near the house Polikey began to arrange his clothes, smoothing
down his fur collar, re-tying his sash, and stroking his hair. To do
the latter he had to take off his hat, and when doing so felt in the
lining for the envelope. Quicker and quicker he ran his hand around the
lining, and not finding the money used both hands, first one and then
the other. But the envelope was not to be found.

Polikey was by this time greatly distressed, and his face was white
with fear as he passed his hand through the crown of his old hat.
Polikey stopped the mare and began a diligent search through the wagon
and its contents. Not finding the precious envelope, he felt in all his
pockets—but the money could not be found!

Wildly clutching at his hair, he exclaimed: “Batiushka! What will I
do now? What will become of me?” At the same time he realized that he
was near his neighbors’ house and could be seen by them; so he turned
the mare around, and, pulling his hat down securely upon his head, he
rode quickly back in search of his lost treasure.

CHAPTER VI.

The whole day passed without any one in the village of Pokrovski having
seen anything of Polikey. During the afternoon his mistress inquired
many times as to his whereabouts, and sent Aksiutka frequently to
Akulina, who each time sent back word that Polikey had not yet
returned, saying also that perhaps the merchant had kept him, or that
something had happened to the mare.

His poor wife felt a heavy load upon her heart, and was scarcely able
to do her housework and put everything in order for the next day (which
was to be a holy-day). The children also anxiously awaited their
father’s appearance, and, though for different reasons, could hardly
restrain their impatience. The noblewoman and Akulina were concerned
only in regard to Polikey himself, while the children were interested
most in what he would bring them from the town.

The only news received by the villagers during the day concerning
Polikey was to the effect that neighboring peasants had seen him
running up and down the road and asking every one he met if he or she
had found an envelope.

One of them had seen him also walking by the side of his tired-out
horse. “I thought,” said he, “that the man was drunk, and had not fed
his horse for two days—the animal looked so exhausted.”

Unable to sleep, and with her heart palpitating at every sound, Akulina
lay awake all night vainly awaiting Polikey’s return. When the cock
crowed the third time she was obliged to get up to attend to the fire.
Day was just dawning and the church-bells had begun to ring. Soon all
the children were also up, but there was still no tidings of the
missing husband and father.

In the morning the chill blasts of winter entered their humble home,
and on looking out they saw that the houses, fields, and roads were
thickly covered with snow. The day was clear and cold, as if befitting
the holy-day they were about to celebrate. They were able to see a long
distance from the house, but no one was in sight.

Akulina was busy baking cakes, and had it not been for the joyous
shouts of the children she would not have known that Polikey was coming
up the road, for a few minutes later he came in with a bundle in his
hand and walked quietly to his corner. Akulina noticed that he was very
pale and that his face bore an expression of suffering—as if he would
like to have cried but could not do so. But she did not stop to study
it, but excitedly inquired: “What! Illitch, is everything all right
with you?”

He slowly muttered something, but his wife could not understand what he
said.

“What!” she cried out, “have you been to see our mistress?”

Polikey still sat on the bed in his corner, glaring wildly about him,
and smiling bitterly. He did not reply for a long time, and Akulina
again cried:

“Eh? Illitch! Why don’t you answer me? Why don’t you speak?”

Finally he said: “Akulina, I delivered the money to our mistress; and
oh, how she thanked me!” Then he suddenly looked about him, with an
anxious, startled air, and with a sad smile on his lips. Two things in
the room seemed to engross the most of his attention: the baby in the
cradle, and the rope which was attached to the ladder. Approaching the
cradle, he began with his thin fingers quickly to untie the knot in the
rope by which the two were connected. After untying it he stood for a
few moments looking silently at the baby.

Akulina did not notice this proceeding, and with her cakes on the board
went to place them in a corner.

Polikey quickly hid the rope beneath his coat, and again seated himself
on the bed.

“What is it that troubles you, Illitch?” inquired Akulina. “You are not
yourself.”

“I have not slept,” he answered.

Suddenly a dark shadow crossed the window, and a minute later the girl
Aksiutka quickly entered the room, exclaiming:

“The boyarinia commands you, Polikey Illitch, to come to her this
moment!”

Polikey looked first at Akulina and then at the girl.

“This moment!” he cried. “What more is wanted?”

He spoke the last sentence so softly that Akulina became quieted in her
mind, thinking that perhaps their mistress intended to reward her
husband.

“Say that I will come immediately,” he said.

But Polikey failed to follow the girl, and went instead to another
place.

From the porch of his house there was a ladder reaching to the attic.
Arriving at the foot of the ladder Polikey looked around him, and
seeing no one about, he quickly ascended to the garret.

Meanwhile the girl had reached her mistress’s house.

“What does it mean that Polikey does not come?” said the noblewoman
impatiently. “Where can he be? Why does he not come at once?”

Aksiutka flew again to his house and demanded to see Polikey.

“He went a long time ago,” answered Akulina, and looking around with an
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