The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-14
SINGING IN THE VILLAGE
By TOLSTOL

fairs He had three sons; the eldest was
living at home, the second was now be-
ing taken, and third (who ike the sec
ond had gone away to work. was con-
tributing dutifully u the support OF the
home. The one who was leaving hau
evidently not sent home much.
He has married a townswoman- His
wife Is not ht for our work He Is a
lOpped-off branch and thinks only Of
keeping himself. To be sure. it's a pity,
but # can't be helped"
While we were talking the lads came
out into the street, and the lamentations
shrieks. laughter. and adjurations recon-
menced. After standing about for some
five minutes. the procession moved on
with songs and accordion accompaniment
I looked at him and $50 at least IL
seemed 10 mel he felt abashed when he
met my gaze, and with a twiteh of his
brows he turned away, and again burst
out with even more spirit than before
When We reached the fifth and last Of
the cottages, the lads entered and I fol-
lowed ,hem. All FIVE of them were made
TO sit round table covered with a cloth
on which were bread and vodka The
host, the man I had been talking 70, who
was now to taks leave Of his married
son, poured out the vodka and handed It
round. The lads hardly drank at all
tat most quarter Of a glass; or even
handed it back after JUST raising IT TO
their lips. The hostess cut some bread
and served slices round 10 eat with the
vodka
While was locking at the lads wOm-
an, dressed in clothes that seemed 10 me
strange and homogeneous. got down from
the top Of the oven. close 70 where
sat She wore a light green dress (siIk,
think with fashionable trimmings, and
high-heeled boots. He~ fair hair was ar
ranged in quite the modern style, like a
large round cap, and she wore big, ring
shaped. gold earrings. Her face was
neither sad nor cheerful. but looked as If
she were offended.
After getting down, she went out into
the passage, Gathering with the heels Of
her new boots and paying no heed 10 the
lads. All about this woman-her cloth
Ing, the offended expression Of her face,
and. above all. her earrings-WaS so for
eign TO the surroundings that could not
understand how she had come 20 be on
the top OF Vastly Orehof's oven. I asked
woman sitting near me who she was.
'Nasilys 1aughter-in-law; she has
been housemaid. was the answer.
The host began Offering vodka a third
uine' Dul the lads reused, rose. said
grace, thanked the hnsts, and went out.
In the street the lamentations recon-
menced at once. The first TO raise her
voice was a very old woman with
bent back She lamented In such a pc
cuharly piteous voice. and walled so. that
the women kept soothing the sObbing.
staggering old creature. and supported
her by her elbows
Who is she?' I inquired
Why, It's his granny; Vasily's moth
er. that is
The old woman burst into hysterical
laughter. and fell into the arms of the
women who supported her, and just then
the procession started again. and again
the accordion ard the merry voices struck
up their tune. At the end Of the village
the procession was Overtaken by the
carts which were to carry the conscripts
to the district Office. The weeping and
wailing stopped The accordion player,
getting more and more elated, bending
his head % one side and resting on one
foot, turned out the toes of the other
and stamped with Il. while his fingers
produced brilliant fortunes. and exactly
az the risht instant the bold, high. merry
tones OF his song, and the seconds OF
Vasily's son, again chimed in. Old and
young, and especially the children who
surrounded the crowd, and 1 with them.