Savkawasayoungmanoffive-and-twenty，wellgrownandhandsome，andasstrongasaflint。Hehadthereputationofbeingasensibleandreasonablefellow。Hecouldreadandwrite，andveryrarelydrank，butasaworkmanthisstrongandhealthyyoungmanwasnotworthafarthing。Asluggish，overpoweringslothwasmingledwiththestrengthinhismuscles，whichwerestrongascords。Likeeveryoneelseinhisvillage，helivedinhisownhut，andhadhisshareofland，butneithertilleditnorsowedit，anddidnotworkatanysortoftrade。Hisoldmotherbeggedalmsatpeople’swindowsandhehimselflivedlikeabirdoftheair；hedidnotknowinthemorningwhathewouldeatatmidday。Itwasnotthathewaslackinginwill，orenergy，orfeelingforhismother；itwassimplythathefeltnoinclinationforworkanddidnotrecognizetheadvantageofit。Hiswholefiguresuggestedunruffledserenity，aninnate，almostartisticpassionforlivingcarelessly，neverwithhissleevestuckedup。
WhenSavka’syoung，healthybodyhadaphysicalcravingformuscularwork，theyoungmanabandonedhimselfcompletelyforabriefintervaltosomefreebutnonsensicalpursuit，suchassharpeningskatesnotwantedforanyspecialpurpose，orracingaboutafterthepeasantwomen。Hisfavoriteattitudewasoneofconcentratedimmobility。Hewascapableofstandingforhoursatastretchinthesameplacewithhiseyesfixedonthesamespotwithoutstirring。Henevermovedexceptonimpulse，andthenonlywhenanoccasionpresenteditselfforsomerapidandabruptaction:catchingarunningdogbythetail，pullingoffawoman’skerchief，orjumpingoverabighole。ItneedhardlybesaidthatwithsuchparsimonyofmovementSavkawasaspoorasamouseandlivedworsethananyhomelessoutcast。Astimewenton，I
supposeheaccumulatedarrearsoftaxesand，youngandsturdyashewas，hewassentbythecommunetodoanoldman’sjob——tobewatchmanandscarecrowinthekitchengardens。Howevermuchtheylaughedathimforhisprematuresenilityhedidnotobjecttoit。Thisposition，quietandconvenientformotionlesscontemplation，exactlyfittedhistemperament。
IthappenedIwaswiththisSavkaonefineMayevening。I
rememberIwaslyingonatornanddirtysackclothcoverclosetotheshantyfromwhichcameaheavy，fragrantscentofhay。