metimes regard their clergy finds expression--is that
called--

THE TREASURE.[31]

In a certain kingdom there lived an old couple in great poverty.
Sooner or later the old woman died. It was in winter, in severe
and frosty weather. The old man went round to his friends and
neighbors, begging them to help him to dig a grave for the old
woman; but his friends and neighbors, knowing his great poverty,
all flatly refused. The old man went to the pope,[32] (but in that
village they had an awfully grasping pope, one without any
conscience), and says he:--

"Lend a hand, reverend father, to get my old woman buried."

"But have you got any money to pay for the funeral? if
so, friend, pay up beforehand!"

"It's no use hiding anything from you. Not a single copeck
have I at home. But if you'll wait a little, I'll earn some, and
then I'll pay you with interest--on my word I'll pay you!"

The pope wouldn't so much as listen to the old man.

"If you haven't any money, don't you dare to come here,"
says he.

"What's to be done?" thinks the old man. "I'll go to the
graveyard, dig a grave as I best can, and bury the old woman
myself." So he took an axe and a shovel, and went to the graveyard.
When he got there he began to prepare a grave. He
chopped away the frozen ground on the top with the axe, and
then he took to the shovel. He dug and dug, and at last he dug
out a metal pot. Looking into it he saw that it was stuffed full
of ducats that shone like fire. The old man was immensely delighted,
and cried, "Glory be to Thee, O Lord! I shall have
wherewithal both to bury my old woman, and to perform the
rites of remembrance."

He did not go on digging the grave any longer, but took the
pot of gold and carried it home. Well, we all know what money
will do--everything went as smooth as oil! In a trice there
were found good folks to dig the grave and fashion the coffin.
The old man sent his daughter-in-law to purchase meat and
drink and different kind of relishes--everything there ought to
be at memorial feasts--and he himself took a ducat in his hand
and hobbled back again to the pope's. The moment he reached
the door, out flew the pope at him.

"You were distinctly told, you old lout, that you were not to
come here without money; and now you've slunk back again."

"Don't be angry, batyushka,"[33] said the old man imploringly.
"Here's gold