Three Arshins of Land.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 14

Three Arshins of Land.

During tho period ensuing between tho years 1883 and 1905, Tolstoy wrote many popular talos for tho peasants of Russia. Told in a direct and simple stylo in plain mujik languago,' inexpensively bound ill paper covers and selling for ono copek—one half cont.—and with no restrictions from copyright, they wero circulated by tho million. This is one of these stories. ■Its moral aim is easily disoorniblo and is universally applicable. Pakhom's neighbour was a lady who owned a. little estate. She had ono hundred and twenty dessyatins. For a long time she had never harmed tho peasants in any way, living in peace with them. But lately she had installed a retired ■soldier as superintendent and ho worried tho peasants with fines. No matter | how careful Pakhom was, a horse would linvatie his neighbour's oatfield, or bis jcott would stray into hor garden or the [calvee into the pasture. There was a 1 fine for everything. i Pakhom paid, growled, beat his family, jand in tho course of tho summer laid' lup much sin upon his soul because of ftlxe superintendent. He found relief only Iby keeping his cattlo in the yard. He (begrudged the fodder,. but lio was thus spared much anxiety. In the winter the rumour spread that )hiß neighbour meant to dispose of hor (land and that tho superintendent thought >of buying it. When the peasants heard 1 this they were greatly troubled. ! If the superintendent becomos the masker, they judged, there will be no end (to the fines. 1 They importuned the lady to sell the t land to the community and not to tho j superintendent. As they promised to | pay more than tho. latter, siho agreed. | Tho peasants held a meeting, then met jagain,. but came to. no understanding. The Devil sowed dissensions. Finally [they decided that each should buy land >according to' his means, and the owner I consented. again. 1 When Pakhom heard that a neighbourling .peasant had bought twenty dessyatins "of the land, with time extension to pay one-half of tho purchase price, ho became envious. "They'll soli tho whole land, and I'll go empty-handed." Ho consulted with his wife. "Tho peasants aro buving land. Wo must pet ten dessyatins,' ho Faid. They considered how to arrange jthe matter. | They had saved a hundred rubles. They •Fold a foal, one-half of their beehives, [hired tho son out as a labourer, and [thus succeeded in scraping one-half of f the money together. Pakhom looked over tract of land of 'fifteen dessyatins, with a grove, and negotiated with his neighbour. He contracted for the fifteen dessyatins nnd paid his earnest money. Then they drove to the. city and made out tho deed. He paid one half of the money and agreed to pay ;the rest in two years. Pakhoin now had land. .. . ■ He borrowed money from his brother-in-law, bought seed, arid sowed the purs'chased land. Everything came up beautifully. Insido of a year ho was able to pay off his debts to the neighbour and to his brother-in-law. Pakhom was now a landowner in his own right. ' He cultivated his own ground, cut his own liny, drove his cattle to his own pasturage. 'Ho was overjoyed. Tho grass had another look, different kinds of flowers seemed to bloom on it. Once upon n tirao this land had looked to liini tho samo as any other, but now it wn.s 11 specially blessed piecb of God's earth. Pakhom was enjoying life. Everything- , would' be"well now if: the peasants only left his. fields alone, if they did not let their cattle graze on his meadows. He admonished them in a. friendly fashion. ,'But they did . not desist "from driving their cows on his land, and at night 'the strangers' horses invaded his grain. Pakhoin chased them and for a time did not lay it up against the peasants. Finally, Jiowevor, lie lost patiencc and- made a complaint to tho court. He knew very well, though, that necessity forced the peasants tn do this, not love of wrongdoing. 'Still, he thought, he would have to teach them a lesson, or they would grnze his land lwro. A good lesson might. be useful. With the help of tho court he taught them' more than 0110 lesson; more than 0110 peasant was fined. Aud so it happened that the peasants wero in no amioblc mood towards him and wero eager to play tricks 011 hiiu. He was soon at loggerheads with nil his neighbours. His land had grown, but tho confines of the community scorned iill too narrow now. One day, as ho was seated nt home, a travelling peasant asked for a lodging. Pakhctn kept him over iiiclit, gave him plenty of meat and drink, inquired where Jie.canie from. and talked...of this and that. The peasant related .that ho was oh 'the way from the lower Volra region, where he had been working. Jinny peasants had settled, there. They were received into the community and ten dessyatins wero■ allotted to each. . lienntiful land! It miule Ho heart, feel glad to see it.full of sheaves. A peasant had come there naked and poor, with empty hand-, nnd noiv he hud fifty dessyatins under wheat. Last year ho sold his one eiop of wheat for five tliouennd rubles. "Pakhom listened with delight. Ho thought: .why plague oneself in (.his crowded sect ion, if 0110 can live fine elsewhere? .T will sell my land and property jand from tho proceed-: Iwill buy land foil the lower Volga nnd start a farm. bHci-o in this crowded corner there is nothing k,;'. quarrelling. I will go and ! look things over for myself. When, slimmer came lie started on his journey. He went by boat to Samara on the Volga, then four thousand versts on \foot. "U hen he arrived at his journey's end he found tilings as tliey had been reported to him. Ten dess'vatiiis were allotted lo each person, anil the miijiks .were glad to receive the stranger into the community. If a. man brought money with him he was welcome, and could buy ns much la,ml as he pleased. Threo rubles a dossyatir. was the price for the t best land. When Pakhom had investigated everything, he returned home, sold his land nt a profit, sold his homestead and cattle, took leave from community, and, when the snring came . around, 1 he journeyed with his family in the.new lands. When be reached his destination with his family, I'akhom settled in a large village and registered in the community. Having treated the elders, he received his papers -in good order. He had been taken into the community, and, in addition to the pasturage, land for five souls —fifty dessyatins in all—wero allotted to him. He built a homestead and bought cattle. His allotment was twice ns large as his former holdings. And what fertile land ! He had enough of everything and could keep as many head of cattle as he wished. In tho beginning, whilo ho was building r.nd equipping his homestead, he was well satisfied. Hut after he had lived there a while he began to feel that the new lands were too narrow. The first year Pakhom sowed wheat on his allotted land. It came up bountifully, and this created the desire to have moro land at his disposal. He drove over to the merchant nnd leased some land for a year. The seed yielded a plentiful harvest. Unfortunately the fields were quite far from the village and the gathered grain had to be curried for a distnnco of fifteen versts. Ife saw peasant traders in the neighbourhood owning dairies and amassing wealth. How niuch better wero it, thought I'nkhoni, to buy land instead of losing it, nnd to start dairying. That would give me a well-rounded property, all in one hand. Then' ho rame across a peasant who owned five hundred dessyatins of land, but found himself ruined and was eager to dispose of his property at a low figure. Thev closed a deal. Pakhom was to pny'fifteon hundred rubles, one-half down, one-half Inter. About this time a travelling merchant stopped ot Pakhom's farm lo feed his lmrs(s. They drank tea and spoko of this and that. The merchant told him that he wa.s on his way home from the land of the Bashkirs. Ho had bought land thero, about five thousand dessyatins, ®>id had paid one thousand rubles for

A Story by Leo Tolstoy.

it. Pakhom mado inquiries. The merchant willingly gavo information. "Only ono thing is needful," ho explained, "nnd that id to do norao favour to their Chiof. I distributed raiment aud rugs among tfieui which cost mo a hundred rubles, and I divided a chest of tea between them, and whoever wanted it had his fill of vodka. I got tho dessyatiu land for twenty copeks. Hero is tho deed. Tho land along tho river and even 011 the steppes is wheat-growing land.'" Pakhom mado further inquiries. "You couldn't walk tho land through in a year," reported the merchant. "All this is Bashkir-laud. Tho men aro as simple as sheep; 0110 could buy from .them almost for nothing." And Pakhom thought: "Why should I buy for my thousand rubles five hundred dessyatins of land and hang a debt around my neck, whilo for the samo amount I can acquire, immeasurable property?'" , I'akhom inquired tho way to tho land of tho Bashkirs. As soon as he had seen the merchant off ho mndo ready for tho journoy. He left tho land aud tho homestead in his wife's charge and took only ono of his farmhands along. In a nearby city they bought a chest of tea, other presents, and some vodka, as tho merchant had instructed them. , They rodo and rode. They covered fivo hundred versts and on tho seventh day they eamo into the land of tho Bashkirs and found everything just us the merchant had describod. On the rivereido and in the steppes tho Bashkirs livo in kibitkas. They do not plough. They eat no bread. Cows and horses graze on tho steppes. Foals are tied behind the tents and mares aro taken to them twice daily. They mako kumyss out of marc's milk and tho women shako the kumyss to mako cheese. The men drink kumyss and tea, eat mutton, and play tho flute all day long. They aro all fat and merry, and idle tho whole summer through.' Ignorant folk, -they cannot speak Russian, but they wero very friendly. When they caught sight of Pakhom, tho Bashkirs loft their tents and sounded him. An interpreter was at hand, whom I'akhom informed that he had come to buy land. Tho Bashkirs showed their joy and led Pakhom into their good tent. They/ bado him sit down on a fine rug, propped him up with downy cushions and treated him to tea and ku'myss. They also slaughtered a sheep and offered him moat. Pakhoin fetched from his tarantass the chest of tea and other presents and distributed them among the Bashkirs. The Bashkirs were overjoyed. They talked and talked among themselves and finally they ordered the interpreter to speak. "They want ine to tell you," said tho interpreter, "that they have taken a likiug to you. It is our custom to favour the guest in all possible ways and to return gifts for gifts. You havo given us presents, now tell us what do you liko of what we have so that wc may give you presents also." "Most of all I like land," replied Palcliom. "We're • crowded where I am at home and everything is already under the plough. But you have good laud and plenty of it. In all my boru days I liavo' never seen land like yours." The interpreter translated l'akhom's speech. The Bashkirs talked again. Pakhom did not understand their chatter, but lie saw that tlioy were merry and amused. Then they stopped, fixed their eyes on Pakhom and tho interpreter spoko again: • "They waat to tell you that they are obliged to you for your kindness and they will cede you as much land as you want. Only point with your hand and show what land takes your eyo and it shall be yours." The Bashkirs were now talking again and nil at onco it looked as though lliey wero quarrelling. I'akhom. asked wh'v .Iht-r.j.were ; <[uiii'rclling.. Tho - interpreter replied: "Some of them think that tho Chief should be consulted, and that no agreement ought to be made without him,- luit the other!) say it can bo'done without tho Chiof just as well." Whilo the Bashkirs were yet arguing, a man with a hut of fox fti'r entered tho teat. Everybody stopped talking and they all rose. "This is the Chief." I'akhom immediately produced, tho best sleeping robfl and five pounds of tea. The Chief accepted the presents and sat down ill the place of honour. Tho Bashkirs spoke to him. Ho listened, smiled, and addressed I'akborii in Russian. ■ "Well." ho said, "that can bo done. Help yourself, wherever it suits you. There is plenty of laud." "How can I do this, though," thought Pakhom. "Koine official confirmation is necessary. Otherwise they say to-dav, help yourself, but afterwards tliov miiy take it away again." And ho .said: "Thank you for these good words. You liavo plenty cf land, and I need but little. Only 1 must know what land belongs to me. It must be measured and T need some sort of a, confirmation. For God's will rules over life and death. You nro good people, and you give me the hind; but it may happen that your children will take il away again."" The Chief laughed. "Surely this can bo done," hp agreed. "A confirmation so strong that it cannot be mado stronger." Pakhom replied.: "J. heard that a merchant had been here among you. You sold hiiu land and gave him a deed. I should like to have it tho same way." The Chief immediately understood. "This too can be done," 110 exclaimed. "We have a writer. We will drive to tho city and have the seals put 011." "What is your price?" "We have but 0119 price: 0110 thousand rubles a day." Pakhain failed to comprehend what sort of a measure a day would be. "How v many dessyatiiw will that make?" "That wo cannot figure out. For ono day we sell yon ns much land as you can walk a,round in one day. The price of one day is one thousand rubles." Pakhom looked surprised. "Ouo can walk around a lot of land in one day," he said. The Chief smiled. "Everything will be yours, but on ono condition. If in the course of the day you do not return to the place you start from, your money is lost." "Wo will stay right, at the starting point. Our lads will ride behind you. Where you command they will drive in a stake. Choose your circle to suit yourself, only before sunset be back at the spot where you started from. All tho laud that you walk around shall bo yours." Pakhom assented. It was decided to start early in the morning. They conversed for a whilo, drank kumyss anil tea and ate mord mutton. When the night set in Pakhom retired to sleep nnd the' Bashkirs dispersed. Tn the morning they were to meet again in order to journey to the starting point. I'akhom could not fall asleep. He hadhis mind 011 tho land. What manner of things he thought of introducing there! "A whole principality I have before mo! I can easily make fifty versts in 0110 day. Tho days are long now. Fifty versts encompass ten thousand dessyatins. I will have to knuckle down to no one. I'll plough as much us may suit me, the rest I'll itso for a pasturage." Tho wholo night through he was unable to close, his eyes; only towards morning he dozed restlessly. Hardly had ho begun to dozo when he saw a vision. Ho was lying in his kibitka and heard laughter outside. To seo who it was that laughed 110 stepped out of the kibitka aud found the Chief of the Bashkirs. Ho was holding his hand/i lo his sides and fairly shook with laughter. Pakhom approached him in his dream to find out why he -was laughing, but now, instead of tiio Bashkir, lie saw the merchant who had come to his farm and told him of this land. .Tust as he wanted to ask hiin how long lie had been there, he saw that it was nu longer tho merchant but that nutjik who had called 011 him at his old homestead and told him of the lower Volga region. And now again it was 110 longer the mujik but tho Devil himself, with horns nnd hoofs, nnd ho laughed and stared at one, spot. What; is he looking upun? wondered Pakhom; why is ho laughing? Tn his dream ho saw a man lying outstretched, barefoot, clad only in a shirt and a pair of trousers, with his faro turned upward, white as a sheet. As he looked again to see what manner of man it was, he saw clearly that it was he himself. . He awoke with tho horror of it. What dreadful things one soas in a dream! Ha >

looked about. It was commencing io (lawn. Tho people must be roused. It was time to journey to tho starting place. Pakhom arose, waked Ms servant who had been sleeping in the tarautass, harnessed tho horses and went to wake the Baslikirs. "11. is time," ho said, "to travel to the steppe." 'l'ho Bas-hkirs sot tin, assembled, and tho chief eamo among them. .Again they drank tea and wanted to treat I'akhom, but ho urged tlieni to l>e oil'. "If we go, let it bo done at once," lie . remarked. ; - lt is high lime." Tho Bashkirs mado ready, somo of them. . on horseback, others in tarantasses. Pak- . hom, accompanied by his servant, drovo j. in his own cart. They cainc to tho steppo l as tho morning sun was beginning to . crimson tho hky, and driving over to a [ little hillock they gathered together. The chief carnn towards Pakhom and pointed ( with his hand to tho steppes. L ( "All this land that you see," he said, "as far as your eye can reach, is ours. Chooso to suit yourself." l'akhom's eyes shone. In tho distance he saw grass land, smooth as the palm : of his hand, black as poppy seeds. In tho deeper placcs the grass was growing shoulder high. The chief took his fur cap and placed it in the middle of the hill. "This is the landmark. Hero place your gold. Your servant will stay here. Go ' from this point hence and come back again. All the land which you encompass walking is yours." I'akhom took out tho money and kid it on tho cap. Ho took off his coat, keeping tho vest on, took a bag of bread, tied a flat water bottle to his belt, pulled up his top boots and made ready to go. He hesitated for a while which direction to take. Tho view was everywhere enchanting. Finally he said to himself: "I'll go towards tho rising of the sun." He faced tho East and stretched himself waiting for tho sun to appear above tho horizon. There wAs no time to lose. It is better walking in tho cool of tho morning. The riders took up their positions behind him. As soon as the sun was visible, ho set off, followed by tho men on horseback. Ho walked neither briskly nor 6lowly. He had walked about a vcrst without stopping when lie ordered a stake to be driven 111. Once again in motion, he hastened his steps and soon ordered another stako to be-put in. He looked back; the hill was still to bo seen with "the people on it. Looking up at the sun ho figured that ho had walked about five versts. It had grown warm nnd he doffed his vest. Five versts further tho heat beg, 1.1 to trouble him. Another glance at tho sun showed him that it was time for breakfast. "I have already covered a good stretch," ho thought. "Of course, there are four of these to bo covered to-day, still it is too early to turn yet; but I'll lake my boots off/' lie sat down, took oft his boots, and went on. The walking was now easier. "1 can go five vcrots more," he thought, "and then turn to the left." The further he wont, iho more beautiful the land grew. He walked straight ahead. As ho looked •back again, tho hill mis- hardly to iro seen, and the people on it looked like ants. "Now it's time to turn back," he thought. "How hot I am! I feel like having a drink." He took his bottle with water and drank while walking. Then he mado tlmm drive ill another stake and turned to thy left. He walked and walked, the grass was high, the sun beat down with ever-growing fierceness. Weariness set ill. A glauco at the sun showed him that it was mid-day. "1 must real," lie thought. He stopped and ate a little bread. "If I sit down to eat, I'll fall asleep." He stood for a while, caught his breath, and walked on. For a time it was easy. The food had refreshed him and given him new strength. Hnt.it was too oppressively hot and sleep threatened Jo overcome him. Ho felt 'exhausted. "Well," ho thought, "ah hour bf.pain ior an age of joy." In .this second direction , hp walked nearly ten versts. Ho meant then to turn to the left, but lo! the section was so fine—a luxuriant dale. Pity to give it up! What a wonderful place for flax! And again ho walked straight on, appropriated the dale ami in.irked the. placo with a stake. ;\*ow onlv ho made his second turning. Casting his glance at tho starting point he could liardlv disccrn any people on tho hill. ".Must'bo about fifteen versts away. I have mado tho two sides too long, and I must shorten the third. Tli,'High tho property will turn out irregular in this way, what elso can ho done)' I must turn in and walk straight toward the hill. I must hasten and guard against useless turns. I liavo plenty ol laud now." And ho turned and walked straight; toward tho hill. I'akhoni's feet ached. He had worked them almost to a standstill. His knees were giving way Ho felt like taking a rest, but ho dared not. Jle had no time, ho must bo back heforo sunset. Tho sun does not wait. Ho ran on ns though someone were driving him. "Did I not make a mistake? Hid T not try to grab too 11111011? If I onlv get back in time! It is so far off and '[ am all played out. If only all mv trouble and labour be not in vain! 1 must exert myself to tho utmost." He shivered and ran onward in a trot. His feet wero bleeding now. Still he ran. He ra.st oil' his vest, tho boots, the bottle, tho cap. "J was too greedy! I havo ruined all! T cau't get back by sunset!" It was getting worn; all the time. Pear shortens I'.is breath. Ho ran on. Tho shirt, and trousers wero sticking to his body, his mouth was all dried out, his bosom was heaving liko the bellows in a forge, his heart was beating like a hammer, the knees felt as though they were another's and gave under him. Ho hardly thought of the land now; he merely thought what to do so as not to die. from exertion. Yes, he feared to die, but ho could not stop. "I have run so much that if I stop now they will call 1110 a fool." The Bashkirs, he could hear clearly, wero screaming and calling. Their noise added fuel to his burning heart. With tho last effort of his strength he ran. Tho sun was closc to the horizon, but tho hill was quite near now. The Bashkirs wefo beckoning, culling. He Law the fur cap, saw his money in it. saw the chief squatting 011 tho ground with his'hands at his stomach. He remembered his dream. ijEarth there is a-plenty," 110 thought! but will God let me live thereon? \h I havo destroyed myself." And still ho kept 011 running. He looked at the sun. It was large and crimson, touching the earth and beginning to sink. He reached tho foot of tho hilf. Tho suu had gone down. A erv of woo escaped from his lips.' He thought all was lost. But he remembered that the sun must yet be visible from a higher spot. He rushed up tho hill. There was the cap. He stumbled and fell, but renchod the cap with his hands. "Good lad!" exclaimed the chief. "You have gained much land." As Pakhom's servant rushed to his side and tried to lift him, blood was flowiu*from his mouth. He was dead. " The servant lamented. The chief was still squatting on the ground, and now he began laughing loudly and holding his sides. Then he rose to his feet, threw a spado to the servant and said, "Hero, dig!" The Bashkirs all clambered to their feet and drove away. The servant remained alone with the corpse. He dug a grat-o for Pakhom, tho measure of his body from head to foot— threo orshins and 110 more. Thero ho buried I'akhom.