Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/180

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God is Love.
173

deeply and at last said: "Have you no warm clothing?"

"My dear old friend," the woman answered, "I know this is the season of the year for warm clothing, but I have none. Yesterday I pawned my last shawl for twenty kopecks."

Having finished her meal, the woman went to the bed and took the child in her arms. Martin went to the corner and began hunting for something, and finally found an old coat which he brought out, and handing it to the woman, said: "Take it. It is old and shabby, I know, but it may be of some service to you."

The woman looked at the old man and then at the coat, and she burst into tears. Martin was also greatly affected and turned his head aside so that the woman might not see the expression of his face. Going over to the bed, he stooped down and drew from under it a small box, out of which he took something which he held in his hand as he again seated himself opposite to the woman.