er Afanasy, the younger Ioann. They dwelt on a
hill not far from the town, and subsisted on what people gave
them. Every day the brothers spent in work. They did not toil
at their own work, but at the work of the poor. Wherever there
were men overwhelmed with work, wherever there were sick
people, orphans and widows, thither went the brothers, and
there they toiled and nursed the people, accepting no
remuneration. In this wise did the brothers pass the whole week
apart, and met only on Saturday evening in their abode. Only on
Sunday did they remain at home, praying and chatting together.
And the angel of the Lord descended to them and blessed them.
On Monday they parted and each went his way. Thus the two
brothers lived for many years, and every week the angel of the
Lord came down and blessed them.

One Monday as the brothers were starting out to work, and had
already separated, going in different directions, Afanasy felt
sorry to part with his beloved brother, and halted and glanced
back. Ioann was walking, with head bowed, in his own direction,
and did not look back. But all of a sudden, Ioann also halted,
and as though catching sight of something, began to gaze
intently in that direction, shading his eyes with his hand.
Then he approached what he had espied there, suddenly leaped to
one side, and without looking behind him fled down the hill and
up the hill, away from the spot, as though a fierce wild beast
were pursuing him. Afanasy was amazed and went back to the
place in order to find out what had so frightened his brother.
As he came near he beheld something gleaming in the sunlight.
He approached closer. On the grass, as though poured out of a
measure, lay a heap of gold.... And Afanasy was the more
amazed, both at the gold, and at his brother's leap.

"What was he frightened at, and what did he flee from?" said
Afanasy to himself. "There is no sin in gold, the sin is in
man. One can do evil with gold, but one can also do good with
it. How many orphans and widows can be fed, how many naked men
clothed, how many poor and sick healed with this gold. We now
serve people, but our service is small, according to the
smallness of our strength, but with this gold we can serve
people more." Afanasy reasoned thus with himself, and wished