Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/115

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108
Two Old Men.

snuff to clear his head. He felt that it was at last necessary that he should depart, yet he had great pity for the poor peasants, and was undecided as to what he would do. Placing the kaftan once more under his head, he again lay down, but the cocks had begun to crow before he fell asleep.

Soon, however, as if some one had suddenly awakened him, he saw himself in his dreams dressed up. He thought he had arisen, and with sack and walking-stick was directing his steps toward the gate, which was opened just wide enough for one person to pass through. But when he made the attempt his sack caught on the gate-post, and in his efforts to release it his leg-wrappers also became entangled and untied. He finally discovered that the latter obstruction was caused by the little girl, who was holding him back and crying out: "Uncle! My dear uncle! Give us bread!" Elissey thought that he next looked toward his feet and beheld the girl holding fast to his leg-wrapper,