It so happened that Polikey went into the office one day when no one was
present but himself, and, seeing the old clock, it seemed to possess
a peculiar fascination for him, and he speedily transferred it to his
person. He carried it to a town not far from the village, where he very
readily found a purchaser.

As if purposely to secure his punishment, it happened that the
storekeeper to whom he sold it proved to be a relative of one of the
court servants, and who, when he visited his friend on the next holiday,
related all about his purchase of the clock.

An investigation was immediately instituted, and all the details of
Polikey's transaction were brought to light and reported to his noble
mistress. He was called into her presence, and, when confronted with the
story of the theft, broke down and confessed all. He fell on his knees
before the noblewoman and plead with her for mercy. The kind-hearted
lady lectured him about God, the salvation of his soul, and his future
life. She talked to him also about the misery and disgrace he brought
upon his family, and altogether so worked upon his feelings that he
cried like a child. In conclusion his kind mistress said: "I will
forgive you this time on the condition that you promise faithfully to
reform, and never again to take what does not belong to you."

Polikey, still weeping, replied: "I will never steal again in all my
life, and if I break my promise may the earth open and swallow me up,
and let my body be burned with red-hot irons!"

Polikey returned to his home, and throwing himself on the oven spent the
entire day weeping and repeating the promise made to his mistress.

From that time on he was not again caught stealing, but his life became
extremely sad, for he was regarded with suspicion by every one and
pointed to as a thief.

When the time came round for securing recruits for the army, all
the peasants singled out Polikey as the first to be taken. The
superintendent was especially anxious to get rid of him, and went to
his mistress to induce her to have him sent away. The kind-hearted and
merciful woman, remembering the peasant's repentance, refused to grant
the superintendent's request, and told him he must take some other man
in his stead.

CHAPTER II.

One evening Polikey was sitting on his bed beside the table, preparing
some medicine for the cattle, when suddenly the door was thrown wide
open, and Aksiutka, a young girl from the court, rushed in. A