“Nevermind，“herepeated。“Yoursisnottheworstofsorrows。
Lifeislong，therewillbegoodandbadtocome，therewillbeeverything。GreatismotherRussia，“hesaid，andlookedroundoneachsideofhim。“IhavebeenalloverRussia，andIhaveseeneverythinginher，andyoumaybelievemywords，mydear。Therewillbegoodandtherewillbebad。IwentasadelegatefrommyvillagetoSiberia，andIhavebeentotheAmurRiverandtheAltaiMountainsandIsettledinSiberia；Iworkedthelandthere，thenIwashomesickformotherRussiaandIcamebacktomynativevillage。WecamebacktoRussiaonfoot；andIrememberwewentonasteamer，andIwasthinasthin，allinrags，barefoot，freezingwithcold，andgnawingacrust，andagentlemanwhowasonthesteamer——thekingdomofheavenbehisifheisdead——lookedatmepitifully，andthetearscameintohiseyes。’Ah，’hesaid，’yourbreadisblack，yourdaysareblack。’AndwhenIgothome，asthesayingis，therewasneithersticknorstall；Ihadawife，butIleftherbehindinSiberia，shewasburiedthere。SoIamlivingasadaylabourer。
AndyetItellyou:sincethenIhavehadgoodaswellasbad。
HereIdonotwanttodie，mydear，Iwouldbegladtoliveanothertwentyyears；sotherehasbeenmoreofthegood。AndgreatisourmotherRussia！“andagainhegazedtoeachsideandlookedround。
“Grandfather，“Lipaasked，“whenanyonedies，howmanydaysdoeshissoulwalktheearth？“