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see the bushes yonder？〃 the old man asked； pointing to one side。 〃Beyond
them is an old river…bed； it's called a backwater。 In my father's time the
Pestchanka flowed there； but now look； where have the evil spirits taken it
to？ It changes its course； and； mind you； it will go on changing till such
time as it has dried up altogether。 There used to be marshes and ponds
beyond Kurgasovo； and where are they now？ And what has become of the
streams？ Here in this very wood we used to have a stream flowing； and
such a stream that the peasants used to set creels in it and caught pike；
wild ducks used to spend the winter by it； and nowadays there is no water
in it worth speaking of； even at the spring floods。 Yes； brother； look where
you will； things are bad everywhere。 Everywhere！〃
A silence followed。 Meliton sank into thought； with his eyes fixed on
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one spot。 He wanted to think of some one part of nature as yet untouched
by the all…embracing ruin。 Spots of light glistened on the mist and the
slanting streaks of rain as though on opaque glass； and immediately died
away again it was the rising sun trying to break through the clouds and
peep at the earth。
〃Yes； the forests； too 。 。 。〃 Meliton muttered。
〃The forests； too；〃 the shepherd repeated。 〃They cut them down； and
they catch fire； and they wither away； and no new ones are growing。
Whatever does grow up is cut down at once； one day it shoots up and the
next it has been cut down and so on without end till nothing's left。 I have
kept the herds of the commune ever since the time of Freedom； good man；
before the time of Freedom I was shepherd of the master's herds。 I have
watched them in this very spot； and I can't remember a summer day in all
my life that I have not been here。 And all the time I have been observing
the works of God。 I have looked at them in my time till I know them； and
it is my opinion that all things growing are on the decline。 Whether you
take the rye； or the vegetables； or flowers of any sort； they are all going the
same way。〃
〃But people have grown better；〃 observed the bailiff。
〃In what way better？〃
〃Cleverer。〃
〃Cleverer； maybe； that's true； young man； but what's the use of that？
What earthly good is cleverness to people on the brink of ruin？ One can
perish without cleverness。 What's the good of cleverness to a huntsman if
there is no game？ What I think is that God has given men brains and taken
away their strength。 People have grown weak； exceedingly weak。 Take me；
for instance 。 。 。 I am not worth a halfpenny； I am the humblest peasant in
the whole village； and yet； young man； I have strength。 Mind you； I am in
my seventies； and I tend my herd day in and day out； and keep the night
watch； too； for twenty kopecks； and I don't sleep； and I don't feel the cold；
my son is cleverer than I am； but put him in my place and he would ask for
a raise next day； or would be going to the doctors。 There it is。 I eat nothing
but bread； for 'Give us this day our daily bread；' and my father ate nothing
but bread； and my grandfather； but the peasant nowadays must have tea
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and vodka and white loaves； and must sleep from sunset to dawn； and he
goes to the doctor and pampers himself in all sorts of ways。 And why is it？
He has grown weak； he has not the strength to endure。 If he wants to stay
awake； his eyes close there is no doing anything。〃
〃That's true；〃 Meliton agreed； 〃the peasant is good for nothing
nowadays。〃
〃It's no good hiding what is wrong； we get worse from year to year。
And if you take the gentry into consideration； they've grown feebler even
more than the peasants have。 The gentleman nowadays has mastered
everything； he knows what he ought not to know； and what is the sense of
it？ It makes you feel pitiful to look at him。 。 。 。 He is a thin； puny little
fellow； like some Hungarian or Frenchman； there is no dignity nor air
about him； it's only in name he is a gentleman。 There is no place for him；
poor dear； and nothing for him to do； and there is no making out what he
wants。 Either he sits with a hook catching fish； or he lolls on his back
reading； or trots about among the peasants saying all sorts of th ings to
them； and those that are hungry go in for being clerks。 So he spends his
life in vain。 And he has no notion of doing something real and useful。 The
gentry in old days were half of them generals； but nowadays they are a
poor lot。〃
〃They are badly off nowadays；〃 said Meliton。
〃They are poorer because God has taken away their strength。 You can't
go against God。〃
Meliton stared at a fixed point again。 After thinking a little he heaved a
sigh as staid； reasonable people do sigh； shook his head； and said：
〃And all because of what？ We have sinned greatly； we have forgotten
God 。 。 and it seems that the time has come for all to end。 And； after all；
the world can't last for ever it's time to know when to take leave。〃
The shepherd sighed and； as though wishing to cut short an unpleasant
conversation； he walked away from the birch…tree and began silently
reckoning over the cows。
〃Hey…hey…hey！〃 he shouted。 〃Hey…hey…hey！ Bother you； the plague
take you！ The devil has taken you into the thicket。 Tu…lu…lu！〃
With an angry face he went into the bushes to collect his herd。 Meliton
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got up and sauntered slowly along the edge of the wood。 He looked at the
ground at his feet and pondered； he still wanted to think of something
which had not yet been touched by death。 Patches of light crept upon the
slanting streaks of rain again； they danced on the tops of the trees and died
away among the wet leaves。 Damka found a hedgehog under a bush； and
wanting to attract her master's attention to it； barked and howled。
〃Did you have an eclipse or not？〃 the shepherd called from the bushes。
〃Yes； we had；〃 answered Meliton。
〃Ah！ Folks are complaining all about that there was one。 It shows
there is disorder even in the heavens！ It's not for nothing。 。 。 。 Hey…hey…hey！
Hey！〃
Driving his herd together to the edge of the wood； the shepherd leaned
against the birch…tree； looked up at the sky； without haste took his pipe
from his bosom and began playing。 As before； he played mechanically and
took no more than five or six notes； as though the pipe had come into his
hands for the first time； the sounds floated from it uncertainly； with no
regularity； not blending into a tune； but to Meliton； brooding on the
destruction of the world； there was a sound in it of something very
depressing and revolting which he would much rather not have heard。 The
highest； shrillest notes； which quivered and broke； seemed to be weeping
disconsolately； as though the pipe were sick and frightened； while the
lowest notes for some reason reminded him of the mist； the dejected trees；
the grey sky。 Such music seemed in keeping with the weather； the old man
and his sayings。
Meliton wanted to complain。 He went up to the old man and； looking
at his mournful； mocking face and at the pipe； muttered：
〃And life has grown worse； grandfather。 It is utterly impossible to live。
Bad crops； want。 。 。 。 Cattle plague continually； diseases of all sorts。 。 。 。 We
are crushed by poverty。〃
The bailiff's puffy face turned crimson and took a dejected； womanish
expression。 He twirled his fingers as though seeking words to convey his
vague feeling and went on：
〃Eight children； a wife 。 。 。 and my mother still living； and my whole
salary ten roubles a month and to board myself。 My wife has become a
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Satan from poverty。 。 。 。 I go off drinking myself。 I am a sensible； steady
man； I have education。 I ought to sit at home in peace； but I stray about all
day with my gun like a dog because it is more than I can stand； my home
is hateful to me！〃
Feeling that his tongue was uttering