登陆注册
5233000000064

第64章 CHAPTER XII.(6)

"What is it he will not do? He does not do anything worse than what you are constantly doing!"This conversation enraged Ivan, and he shouted: "Well, what did he do? He beat a woman nearly to death, and even now he threatens to burn my house! Must I bow to him for all this?"The old man sighed deeply as he said: "You, Ivan, are strong and free to go wherever you please, while I have been lying for years on the oven. You think that you know everything and that I do not know anything. No! you are still a child, and as such you cannot see that a kind of madness controls your actions and blinds your sight. The sins of others are ever before you, while you resolutely keep your own behind your back. I know that what Gavryl did was wrong, but if he alone should do wrong there would be no evil in the world. Do you think that all the evil in the world is the work of one man alone? No! it requires two persons to work much evil in the world. You see only the bad in Gavryl's character, but you are blind to the evil that is in your own nature. If he alone were bad and you good, then there would be no wrong."The old man, after a pause, continued: "Who tore Gavryl's beard?

Who destroyed his heaps of rye? Who dragged him into court?--and yet you try to put all the blame on his shoulders. You are behaving very badly yourself, and for that reason you are wrong.

I did not act in such a manner, and certainly I never taught you to do so. I lived in peace with Gavryl's father all the time we were neighbors. We were always the best of friends. If he was without flour his wife would come to me and say, 'Diadia Frol [Grandfather], we need flour.' I would then say: 'My good woman, go to the warehouse and take as much as you want.' If he had no one to care for his horses I would say, 'Go, Ivanushka [diminutive of Ivan], and help him to care for them.' If Irequired anything I would go to him and say, 'Grandfather Gordey, I need this or that,' and he would always reply, 'Take just whatever you want.' By this means we passed an easy and peaceful life. But what is your life compared with it? As the soldiers fought at Plevna, so are you and Gavryl fighting all the time, only that your battles are far more disgraceful than that fought at Plevna."The old man went on: "And you call this living! and what a sin it all is! You are a peasant, and the head of the house; therefore, the responsibility of the trouble rests with you. What an example you set your wife and children by constantly quarrelling with your neighbor! Only a short time since your little boy, Taraska, was cursing his aunt Arina, and his mother only laughed at it, saying, 'What a bright child he is!' Is that right? You are to blame for all this. You should think of the salvation of your soul. Is that the way to do it? You say one unkind word to me and I will reply with two. You will give me one slap in the face, and I will retaliate with two slaps. No, my son; Christ did not teach us foolish people to act in such a way. If any one should say an unkind word to you it is better not to answer at all; but if you do reply do it kindly, and his conscience will accuse him, and he will regret his unkindness to you. This is the way Christ taught us to live. He tells us that if a person smite us on the one cheek we should offer unto him the other.

That is Christ's command to us, and we should follow it. You should therefore subdue your pride. Am I not right?"Ivan remained silent, but his father's words had sunk deep into his heart.

The old man coughed and continued: "Do you think Christ thought us wicked? Did he not die that we might be saved? Now you think only of this earthly life. Are you better or worse for thinking alone of it? Are you better or worse for having begun that Plevna battle? Think of your expense at court and the time lost in going back and forth, and what have you gained? Your sons have reached manhood, and are able now to work for you. You are therefore at liberty to enjoy life and be happy. With the assistance of your children you could reach a high state of prosperity. But now your property instead of increasing is gradually growing less, and why? It is the result of your pride.

When it becomes necessary for you and your boys to go to the field to work, your enemy instead summons you to appear at court or before some kind of judicial person. If you do not plow at the proper time and sow at the proper time mother earth will not yield up her products, and you and your children will be left destitute. Why did your oats fail this year? When did you sow them? Were you not quarrelling with your neighbor instead of attending to your work? You have just now returned from the town, where you have been the means of having your neighbor humiliated. You have succeeded in getting him sentenced, but in the end the punishment will fall on your own shoulders. Oh! my child, it would be better for you to attend to your work on the farm and train your boys to become good farmers and honest men.

If any one offend you forgive him for Christ's sake, and then prosperity will smile on your work and a light and happy feeling will fill your heart."Ivan still remained silent.

The old father in a pleading voice continued: "Take an old man's advice. Go and harness your horse, drive back to the court, and withdraw all these complaints against your neighbor. To-morrow go to him, offer to make peace in Christ's name, and invite him to your house. It will be a holy day (the birth of the Virgin Mary). Get out the samovar and have some vodki, and over both forgive and forget each other's sins, promising not to transgress in the future, and advise your women and children to do the same."Ivan heaved a deep sigh but felt easier in his heart, as he thought: "The old man speaks the truth;" yet he was in doubt as to how he would put his father's advice into practice.

同类推荐
  • 似顺论

    似顺论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 慧觉衣禅师语录

    慧觉衣禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 五代春秋

    五代春秋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说呵雕阿那含经

    佛说呵雕阿那含经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 半崧集简编

    半崧集简编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 校园胖妞逆袭记

    校园胖妞逆袭记

    喂,胖妞,你再吃下去,我可真的不要你了?”莫颜瞅着左手鸡腿右手鸡翅的向葵,哭笑不得。狠狠的咬了一口鸡腿,向葵随意一擦嘴角的油瞪着他:“我才不信!”莫颜轻笑,拿出口袋为她每日准备的纸巾,细心的擦着她嘴角的油渍。“我等你,我不管你要不要我!”冲着大雨之中渐行渐远的车大声嘶吼,向葵一屁股坐在地方,泪水模糊视线。莫颜沉默的合上眼,握紧的手泄露心底的不舍。他会回来,不管多年以后她是否嫁人,她只能是他的!
  • 你吃对维生素了吗?

    你吃对维生素了吗?

    维生素,单从字面意思来解析,它就是“维持生命的营养素”。在人体所需的营养素中,维生素仅占很小的比例,这么不起眼的一个小东西,却是促进生长发育和调节生理功能所必需的一类有机化合物,是调节机体新陈代谢的重要物质,对维护人体健康有着巨大的作用。
  • 新常态改变中国

    新常态改变中国

    中国经济进入新常态,增长速度换挡、结构调整阵痛、前期刺激政策消化的“三期叠加”现象明显,经济趋势从未如今天这般扑朔迷离。针对这一情况,国内最权威的学者,根据自己多年的思考、调研,为我们在下一个时期顺势而为,获取经济红利,用智慧跑赢经济下行压力,给出了极具针对性的分析、建议。
  • 医品狂枭

    医品狂枭

    十九岁的龙紫夕,因私下拍卖了家传手链,招来了杀身之祸。男友的背叛,神秘人的出现,她最终命丧黄泉。临死前她对天立誓:若有来世,她决不再窝囊等死!天若欺她,她破天!人若欺她,她灭人!神挡杀神,佛挡杀佛!只愿能保护好想要守护的人,不再被人随意踩于脚下!◆再世为人,她奇迹般地回到了五年前。一切悲剧还没有发生,她可以重新活过。强大之路就此开启,她的人生将由自己掌握。◆原来,家传手链不简单,附带空间有玄机。不止如此,里面还沉睡着一个强大灵魂?从此,她研习上古医药,手掌银针,成为了一代神医狂枭。从此,赌神,商界大亨,……等等光环先后环绕在了她的周身。从此,她加入了修真者的行列,成为了修真界的奇葩天才。◆片段一:“求求你,饶了我这一次吧!我保证,以后一定潜心修炼,再也不出来害人了!”刚刚还嚣张地扬言要吃了龙紫夕的妖修,转瞬间像小绵羊般浑身颤抖着。“你求错人了。”某男低下头,温柔地望了眼怀中的少女,邪魅一笑道:“她才是那个能决定你命运的人。她要你生你便生,如果她要你死……你就必须乖乖去死!”【本文一对一,男女主身心干净。都市修真,男强女狂,欢迎收藏!】
  • 冷酷总裁薄情妻

    冷酷总裁薄情妻

    这一场真正的利益联姻,就算知道是为了获得欧氏的资金援助,她才不得已嫁给这个冷酷的男人,明明知道他心里有了其他的女人,可是对待他的羞辱,还是会感到痛苦。那么,欧暮承,如你所愿,几年之后,我会和你离婚。
  • 吉川英治短篇故事集

    吉川英治短篇故事集

    本书收录了吉川英治的《酱油佛》、《下头桥的由来》、《侠盗治郎吉》、《大谷刑部》、《脚》和《鬼》。本书像是一幅壮观的浮世绘画卷,故事场景生动,人物刻画鲜明,情节更是跌宕起伏,读者可领略不同时代的风土人情,更可体会武士们的快意恩仇,享受酣畅淋漓的文化体验。尤其故事结尾戛然而止,读者更能张开想象的翅膀,恣意书写自己专属的续篇。
  • 抢爱成婚

    抢爱成婚

    他,金城钻石级阔少,身份尊贵高不可攀,身边女人趋之若鹜,却从不沾染……不知为何他偏偏看中亲弟弟的未婚妻金家三小姐,而且非卿不娶?◆他步步紧逼步步算计,两人各怀目的终于达成结婚协议。这场备受瞩目的世纪婚,人人皆说钟莛钰用情至深爱她成狂终得所愿。然情深背后几多阴谋?!都说金家三小姐冷漠无心。这冷漠背后几多情深?!金楚瑜说,柔弱的女人玩不过钟莛钰!许多年后金楚瑜才知道,这个世界上谁都玩儿不过钟莛钰。◆当真相抽丝剥茧,金楚瑜才知命运多可笑,遭遇钟莛钰后所有事情串联,真相……竟然如此伤人。他瞳仁布满红丝一字一句:“我只是不想你陷得太深,仇恨……你早该放下了。”金楚瑜紧捂胸口:“钟莛钰,我若如你所愿……你也请你答应我一件事!”“你说!”钟莛钰胸腔翻天覆地,只要她愿意……金楚瑜那怕要他的命他也给!“你我人间黄泉永不相见!”◇[精彩抢先看](片段一)钟莛钰:爷纵横情场这么多年,爷看上的女人,还没有得不到的。金楚瑜:纵横了情场这么多年的您什么女人没见过,我既不是国色天香也不是沉鱼落雁,瘦瘦巴巴前不凸后不翘,您费这劲儿非要拆散我的婚约干什么?钟莛钰:爷乐意!金楚瑜:……(片段二)钟莛钰:金楚瑜,我长这么大从没对别的女人走过心,更没走过肾,现在对你不仅走了心还走了肾,你应该感恩戴德才是。金楚瑜:……(片段三)金楚瑜:我们婚姻一开始就只是一场交易,如今也该结束了。钟莛钰:您这算哪门子的交易,当初我要媳妇你要投资,说好了我帮你,你给我媳妇儿,现在金家稳固了你就想把给出去的媳妇儿收回去?!天下好事儿都是你一个人的是吧?!金楚瑜:……
  • 黑历史支配者

    黑历史支配者

    鲜血凝结的权杖在贵族手中辗转。边境的坟墓里传来死灵的低语。不可知之地的魔族蠢蠢欲动。灭国的阴影开始复苏。历史中诡异的变革开始了,王室的死尸复活、千人十字军遭遇吸血鬼团灭、数十年前的堕落法神向某国伸出了手,骷髅出现在人类的沙场。战争、王权、阴谋、酷刑……告死鸦羽翼的影子轻擦枝丫,将哀嚎刻在萧瑟的风里,我在腐朽的王座上睁开眼,看这个世界。群:391639616
  • 弃宠废后

    弃宠废后

    【西楚】“来人!拆皇后头凤,除去凤袍,杖责一百,逐出宫外!公告天下,皇后庄氏无德善妒,今除籍贬为庶民,从此不准再踏入我楚宫一步!”.明眸再睁,她正被人从施刑的长板凳上拉起,这般浑身血迹、狼狈不堪的她被不留情地扔出楚宫,从此成为天下的笑柄---废后、妒妇。【东黎】只一眼,她看着黎国四皇子离墨浩,她无声地笑了…他想要皇位,好!她为他谋划;他想要女人,行!她替他搞定。最终他如愿,龙袍加身之时,她却只留下一袭凤袍,无声离开了纷争的中心…【北周】再次相见,众人才惊觉,花早非花,她亦华丽转身。不仅一跃成为北国一品花蕊夫人,更是北国家喻户晓的第一女太傅,亦不再为谁委曲求全,这样的她光芒绽放,令人欲罢不能,可是一切早已今非昔比……【按出场顺序】楚傲君:庄惠凤,别忘了你是本王的敏孝皇后!即使本王废了你,但只要本王愿意,你这辈子都休想逃出本王的手掌心!离墨浩:凤儿,回到朕的身边吧。你离开后,朕才知道朕曾经错的多么离谱。如今,朕的后位现只为你一人而设,朕许你一世,冠宠六宫!离墨风:我算到了一切,却偏偏算漏了你,苏良凤却不是庄惠凤!周煜:大胆奴才!凤姐姐只会是本太子的太子妃,再让本太子听到你们说凤姐姐是废后或者下堂妇,你们统统休想再见到明天的太阳!!冷厉:女人,我就没见过比你还没心没肺的人,却又总骗的我对你掏心掏肺!杨云书:若她愿意同你走,我杨某绝不阻拦,但如果她不愿意,你便只有从我的尸身上踏过才能带走她!苏陌风:我常在想,如果有一天我死了,我会否像他一般烙进凤儿的心里?在一切爱与救赎,阴谋和利用之后,谁才是她的良人,与她比肩、为她描眉钗头凤?简介无能,亲们一点便知~~本文有点慢热,但是两万字后渐渐升温,后期一定精彩!喜欢的话,亲们一定要收藏噢~~大大PS:本文美男多多,求包养~~~【女强】+【大宠】+【小虐】+【宫斗】+【爽文】另外,本文女主性格较复杂,属于逐渐成长,慢慢绽放型的女强,敢爱敢恨,爱憎分明,还有一点点腹黑。前期可能有些压抑,但是后期一定不让亲们失望!!!话不多说,亲们一定要点进去看看~欢迎亲们点评~~群么么~~推荐下自己的新作——【奴后太倾城】好友热文:沫丝丝:【夫君好粘人】禹生:【总裁的惹火逃妻】
  • 幸存者

    幸存者

    "在“5.12”汶川特大地震中,他被埋在废墟之下长达76小时。他说他是幸运的,可以活下来,可以用写作抚慰受创的心灵,可是,那些失去健康、失去家园、失去亲人的人,忍受着更加巨大的伤痛,更需要我们的关心……于是,他写下了这些文字,为了这段不该忘却的记忆。用血写就的实录以命换来的 真情;献给所有地震遇难者与幸存者的宝贵记忆;这是我们共同的追思,为了不能忘却的纪念。