tinuing,
she at last became angry, and wished she could in some way punish her.

Forgetting her neighbor's unkindness, her thoughts soon turned in
another direction, and glancing at her sleeping children she said to
herself that they might soon be orphans and she herself a soldier's
widow. This thought greatly distressed her, and burying her face in her
hands she seated herself on the bed, where several of her progeny were
fast asleep. Presently a little voice interrupted her meditations by
crying out, "Mamushka [little mother], you are crushing me," and the
child pulled her nightdress from under her mother's arms.

Akulina, with her head still resting on her hands, said: "Perhaps it
would be better if we all should die. I only seem to have brought you
into the world to suffer sorrow and misery."

Unable longer to control her grief, she burst into violent weeping,
which served to increase the amusement of the joiner's wife, who had
not forgotten the morning's squabble, and she laughed loudly at her
neighbor's woe.

CHAPTER III.

About half an hour had passed when the youngest child began to cry and
Akulina arose to feed it. She had by this time ceased to weep, and after
feeding the infant she again fell into her old position, with her face
buried in her hands. She was very pale, but this only increased her
beauty. After a time she raised her head, and staring at the burning
candle she began to question herself as to why she had married, and as
to the reason that the Czar required so many soldiers.

Presently she heard steps outside, and knew that her husband was
returning. She hurriedly wiped away the last traces of her tears as she
arose to let him pass into the centre of the room.

Polikey made his appearance with a look of triumph on his face, threw
his hat on the bed, and hastily removed his coat; but not a word did he
utter.

Akulina, unable to restrain her impatience, asked, "Well, what did she
want with you?"

"Pshaw!" he replied, "it is very well known that Polikushka is
considered the worst man in the village; but when it comes to business
of importance, who is selected then? Why, Polikushka, of course."

"What kind of business?" Akulina timidly inquired.

But Polikey was in no hurry to answer her question. He lighted his pipe
with a very imposing air, and spit several times on the floor before he
replied.

Still retaining his pompous manner, he said, "She has ordered me to
go to a certain mer