ng, and gave it to the stranger. She also brought out a pair of
trousers for him.

"There," said she, "I see you have no shirt. Put this on, and lie down
where you please, in the loft or on the oven."

The stranger took off the coat, put on the shirt, and lay down in the
loft. Matryona put out the candle, took the coat, and climbed to where
her husband lay.

Matryona drew the skirts of the coat over her and lay down, but could
not sleep; she could not get the stranger out of her mind.

When she remembered that he had eaten their last piece of bread and that
there was none for tomorrow, and thought of the shirt and trousers she
had given away, she felt grieved; but when she remembered how he had
smiled, her heart was glad.

Long did Matryona lie awake, and she noticed that Simon also was
awake--he drew the coat towards him.

"Simon!"

"Well?"

"You have had the last of the bread, and I have not put any to rise.
I don't know what we shall do tomorrow. Perhaps I can borrow some of
neighbor Martha."

"If we're alive we shall find something to eat."

The woman lay still awhile, and then said, "He seems a good man, but why
does he not tell us who he is?"

"I suppose he has his reasons."

"Simon!"

"Well?"

"We give; but why does nobody give us anything?"

Simon did not know what to say; so he only said, "Let us stop talking,"
and turned over and went to sleep.

V

In the morning Simon awoke. The children were still asleep; his wife
had gone to the neighbor's to borrow some bread. The stranger alone was
sitting on the bench, dressed in the old shirt and trousers, and looking
upwards. His face was brighter than it had been the day before.

Simon said to him, "Well, friend; the belly wants bread, and the naked
body clothes. One has to work for a living What work do you know?"

"I do not know any."

This surprised Simon, but he said, "Men who want to learn can learn
anything."

"Men work, and I will work also."

"What is your name?"

"Michael."

"Well, Michael, if you don't wish to talk about yourself, that is your
own affair; but you'll have to earn a living for yourself. If you will
work as I tell you, I will give you food and shelter."

"May God reward you! I will learn. Show me what to do."

Simon took yarn, put it round his thumb and began to twist it.

"It is easy enough--see!"

Michael watched him, put some yarn round his own thumb in the same way,
caught the knack, and twisted