My memoirs. Volume second. Chapter 12-13.

Kobrin → Outstanding persons

Chapter 12
Grandfather. - Shemet's landowner. - Koshelevo. - Sir Shemet deceives the grandfather. - For me rent the estate. - Departure from Makarovtsev. - I became the real owner. - At the father. - Departure to Koshelevo. - Cares - as firewood. - Contract with men. - Wolves. U-at! - Fear. - Bog. - Regret. - Anton.
The grandfather was very employed at distillery, and all was going to go to the leader Shemet, the owner of many estates in the Pruzhansky County. He lived in thirteen versts from Kaments. The grandfather already rented once at him the estate Babich near Kaments for the son Yosele. It was possible to take from it cheap the estate, and Jews to whom he leased them, it never from there exposed. In total he owned five million pure money stored in the Warsaw bank. Already old person, had he still the young wife and the only daughter of fifteen years.
To conclude contracts he hated, but did not break the word. Was to pay money for rent enough, even not in time - too it did nothing bad. The grandfather therefore wanted to go first of all to him, but could not come off the plant in any way, and I had to sit and wait in Prusk.
Only in two months the grandfather could go to Shemet. That was glad to it as most of landowners, but the grandfather from it learned that all his manors are already occupied. The imenyitsa had one small under Koshelevo's name, with a cultivated area in only 150 acres. Wheat did not grow there as the earth was poor, but there was many grass - the marsh grass growing on bogs. The grass was as well in the wood.
"If you take, then I will give to your grandson for six hundred rubles. It will be able well to provide itself(himself) here: to receive four hundred carts of hay. Peasants will make for it in the field everything that it is necessary for hay. But let nobody knows that you take since peasants have to sow summer and if learn about your rent, then will so badly sow that you not a stiver will not receive. So go home other road, but not through the village of Mikhalka. To Mikhalki it is too close from Koshelev".
This Shemet, to everything, was the big swindler. His word, though was iron, but if he could deceive someone, then did not refuse to itself it. And if someone spoke to it:
"The barin, you deceive me", - he answered:
"As it is not a shame to you to admit that you are a fool. It is possible to deceive only the fool. It is a shame to give to deceive. I speak to you - the fool should not be engaged in affairs".
So he derided people. But when he was grabbed hand and in black and white proved that he here obviously deceives - the old landowner was not confused too and with special pride answered:
"First, you already grew wiser. But from now on - be not deceived".
He deceived the clever grandfather too. He purposely did not order to come back to him the same road that the grandfather did not examine the estate. As if the grandfather saw it, then, of course, would not begin to rent. And that the grandson should be at war constantly with peasants and it to be thrown and lonely in the wood the grandfather did not think at all. But especially here did not get dear grandmother. It of course would not allow such acquisition …
The grandfather gave one hundred cash and received the certificate that he removed Koshelevo's estate for six hundred rubles a year. At the same time the number of years was not celebrated. It is one. The second - in the reference was written that I am obliged to sow fields itself, without transferring them for processing to peasants for what they would give to the owner two thirds of sheaves, keeping a third. This point which usually serves in favor of the owner was imperceptibly withdrawn here that became for me misfortune.
The grandfather asked Shemet why peasants have no pastures at all? After revolt there went the commission and allocated peasants with the earth. Where there is a field, there has to be a pasture and hay. How there can be one - without another?
"I am cleverer than them, - victoriously grinned Shemet. - When the commission to me was, I treated officials with the old wine - and is ready … Wine it is possible to zadurit the head, especially - old. And the commission wrote that I wanted. I made even better - I kept a piece of a meadow, at the village. And this piece of a meadow capable to give up to 50 carts of hay served me as a whip against peasants - it is necessary to expel cows somewhere. Having captured him, I received from this piece on half of ruble … Such manners from them can tear off a skin. Your grandson a person will be - will be able to extort a lot of money from them. Tell it … tell …
The grandfather who by Koshelev did not pass returned to Prusku happy. He considered that he cheap removed for me a good manor at the good landowner.
"Having lodged there, Hatskel there will also remain", - the grandfather with pleasure of a hand rubbed. Shemet does not take any extra charges, does not interpose in the matter of the tenant. Everyone works in a manor in itself, Shemet in its party does not even look".
I, too very happy, went home to Makarovtsy at once. As the grandfather - and I. If the grandfather is happy - means, and I am also. I told Rozenblyum that I before Pesakh go to myself to the estate received for rent, and he can give tavern with a dairy farm to another. Also began to prepare for moving to Koshelevo gradually. I could make it to Shavuot. But it was necessary to buy a lot of enough serious things: cows, bulls, horses, a harness and all necessary tools in the estate, - and the earlier to buy, the better. A summer, in the field of full work and if I am engaged in purchases and the device after arrival to Koshelevo, will pass all summer, and fields will remain raw.
Tenants, getting the new estate, usually get over there in the winter, by new year when fields are covered with snow. They gather so far, and at them everything is already ready to Pesakh. But I got over in the summer and had to, living in other estate, to prepare everything here, in advance.
I was again written off with the father, reporting that I will arrive to him to Sand in March, I will buy everything and at it I will leave, and in May I will leave with all personal belongings in Koshelevo.
In Makarovtsakh I sold everything meanwhile and sent to declare in all bet-midrasha in Krinkakh that if someone has to me claims that came as I leave Makarovtsev.
It is clear, this announcement in bet-midrasha was excessive - anybody had to me no claims, not a stiver I owed not nobody and behaved the gas-bag as speak in Lithuania, from the empty vanity which is involuntarily borrowed from the grandfather.
Declared in bet-midrasha, and … nobody was...
So I left Makarovtsa. Some cried, leaving, and more loudly than others - the orlyansky priest. He could not live without me and told that if, God forbid, I need the help and I will address it - he will take off the last shirt from himself.
To me too strongly broke off heart that I leave all the neighbors and kind friends to whom so got used. But there's nothing to be done, if it is necessary to wander. So it is fated.
Then I in the short dress came to the father, and he accepted me warmly. Smiled the usual smile and, apparently, forgave me all my sins. Or perhaps decided that it is better to keep silent and forgive, than to take itself for a ride because of trousers?
My family - the father, the uncle Yosl, the only son Arya-Labe - all helped to buy me accessories, necessary for field works. I at myself put new carts for export of sheaves and manure, bought a plow, harrows and a rake, horses, bulls and cows - everything, everything, all.
Bought gradually on Sundays, and bought in addition the last on noisy Yuryevskaya yarmarke1, taking place in Kamentsa with a big pomp, - and enough!
On the fifteenth of May we left in Koshelevo …
In the Koshelevsky wood, in four versts from the estate, we were captured by fear: empty spaces of bogs and bogs, without the beginning and the end, and four versts we, maybe, trudged two hours. At once became us turned sour on heart.
I saw before the woods - chilly, pleasantly. And here - awful bogs and bogs in which cows have to be grazed. I understood at once that the such pasture does not suit for cows. They will fail in bogs and bogs and will not be able to get out. I already in Makarovtsakh got some idea about work in the wood. But there's nothing to be done? A gone case - it is necessary to be silent.
Somehow reached the estate - and at us absolutely darkened in eyes. Such lonely, unenclosed estate, only holes, stones and poor grass.
Inside, in the estate - the gloomy house, long as the Jewish exile, black, old, thrown, is also necessary to all - melancholy and chilliness. As I learned then, there lived from thirteenth year farm laborers peasants …
And still trouble: a great number of cows are grazed in rye near the estate - orders are good! Shepherds, seeing our arrival, ran up, and we with the wife had to be engaged at once in exile of cows from rye. We drove them into not locked shed and counted: they were ninety two pieces … Closed a door on a latch.
Approximately in half an hour nearly all residents of the village came to the estate - to ask that I returned them cows. All of them did not decide to let out them from not locked shed. I pretended that I demand on ruble apiece and lectured them - that means - mouths of cows in others rye and it a sin! But we reconciled, and I gave them prisoners …
I told that I allow them to graze till Sunday the cattle in my wood. After that we conclude in rural office the contract under which they for pasturage undertake to give me for summer of the worker.
The foreman lived in the village of Mikhalka located as it was told, in the neighbourhood with Koshelevo's estate. I called him.
"The sir the foreman, - I told him, - I ask to invite to me on Sunday all village, twenty seven farms, for discussion of a question of pasturage, which I agree to provide them in my wood. In case they do not agree with me, will not sign the contract - I mouths of the cows in my wood will not allow them".
In revival all village together with the foreman was in the morning and I was asked how many I want for pasturage. Several hours bargained and decided that for each cow or a horse, or even for a calf I need two workers with a harness, i.e., with a horse.
We discussed it at me in the estate. Then went to office. There made the contract to which I added point that in case I call someone to work - one or with a horse - it has to be right there; and if I called twice, and the person did not come - he pays three rubles of a penalty.
Further important point followed: in the period of a harvest, how to reap bread for itself, they undertake to reap for me, and then - one day for themselves, another - for me and that in two weeks to me in a barn delivered all bread.
For the five the clerk to me made the contract; it seemed such appeasable that though take and buy from it all peasants, and the foreman obviously flattered me, in hope for remuneration. Set the seal, undersigned - and it is ready.
I agreed that tomorrow, at six o'clock in the morning, I will come to the village and I will write down how many at each owner of cows that the nobility how many to me everyone has to give workers.
For the next day I came to the village, took the foreman and the head, and went from the house to the house, recalculating cows by the piece. I understood that men will deceive me and to inform at each other …
I remember that one peasant about another told that that hid from me somewhere behind a shed of a calf. I got up courage and, having set on the foreman, made good audit. And when I captured the calf hidden only for the sake of a grass which he will eat without for it it was necessary to fulfill - the foreman lifted terrible shout: "Thief!" - as though personally stole a calf from me.
I wrote down more than six hundred heads. That is received six hundred workers with the cart and six hundred pedestrian - not bad the businessman.
They bought the meadows located near the village from me for hundred rubles and twenty seven mowers. I with them agreed about marsh hay a half half: a half to mow and bring to me to a barn, and a half - to them.
Peasants did for me all work in the field from an aleph to tav2 - well and efficiently. For me as for the tenant it was the find - in the summer it was not necessary to worry about any work. Whether a joke - what to do if there comes the harvest-time, with the God's help - summer dry, and ears just about will ripen and grain will begin to pour out; or on the contrary - when shocks stand in the field and it is raining, and they should be taken away as soon as possible in a shed. And if is not present - they will decay; or - the spring came, it is necessary to sow summer, and there is water and there are rains, and it is impossible to sow. And here suddenly - the sun, it is also possible to start working, and then many working hands - because late are necessary, it is necessary to hurry - to plow quickly, to harrow quickly, to sow quickly. If to be late, the harvest will not manage to ripen, then - big trouble, life - not in life. In a word - workers it is necessary more. My God keep if there are not enough workers - you just were gone. Tenants run then around as drunk mice, looking for with a candle and by the sweat of the brow workers.
In my case could be all right if not big shortcomings of Koshelev. First - the Koshelevsky wood. It occupied 1800 acres and bordered on even big Temersky wood; and further - other woods so the wood was a circle. My usadebka stood in the middle of the Koshelevsky wood as a wounded bird - lonely, thrown, left - the real desert. The poor earth, and where not poor, there - terrible bogs and bogs - the suitable place that devils were found. In the wood - anything: ways, are expensive from one city to another as it usually happens. And there are a lot of wolves. The Grodno governor suited time in two years on wolves a round-up. These wolves were not afraid to be enough at me geese from the estate. I remember how once peasants during a plowed land saw near the estate of a lame wolf. Gave up work and with sticks and terrible shout rushed it to kill.
Also wild boars eating with were found weeding potatoes.
The cows who are grazed in the wood were difficult to be brought together to conduct home. Shepherds shouted, whipped the cows and drove them one by one. Sometimes the shepherd did not see a cow behind a tree. Cows among trees dispersed, and many shepherds were required.
Each peasant had the shepherd, but that could almost not part all the cattle of infections on houses. And happened to everyone that his cow stayed overnight. It very much a scarecrow of men as at night wolves quite could gobble up a cow. In such nights peasants as mentally ill people ran on the wood in search of the cows. At the same time they awfully shouted that the cow learned a voice of the owner and to frighten off a wolf …
In the very first evening I heard these draft, sad shouts of the peasants running on the wood:
"U-at!. U-at!."
The shiver ran on heart: the wood, night, wolves and peasants who will hardly be to me kind friends …
Voices became louder, were heard closer and closer:
"U-at! … U-at!."
For the first time, having seen several peasants with traces of stings on hands (and all peasants had stings) after these terrible shouts, we just died.
But when they pulled off caps and friendly wished good evening, and asked by kind voices, in despair whether the cattle caused them to me a loss, it became easier for us on heart.
Such we received a portion in the first night after our arrival to Koshelevo. So shook us that tooth on tooth did not get. Then, seeing men in such despair, we with the wife of in vain consoled that should not be afraid of them - quite decent men …
In sense of the law and an order then peasants were arranged absolutely not bad - it occurred after their release. They had an own court with large powers. The court consisted of four peasants and could sentence even to fifty lashes. Its actions extended only to peasants. If the Jew had legal proceedings with the peasant, it already obeyed at the magistrate, but if the Jew wanted, he could transfer business to country court.
This court was very impartial. No distinction between the Jew and the Christian became. Acquitted the one who was right and vice versa - condemned wrong. The Jew still at the same time had the privilege: if the sentence of country court did not suit it, he could not be considered and transfer with it business to world court.
At that time peasants in general had respect for Jews and even considered them for very noble. Then it was not heard that peasants made violence over Jews. And if something like that also occurred - that it was the exceptional case. The authorities also watched it.
We gradually calmed down though noise and shouts broke off every night heart.
I had a lot of chagrin of the cattle sinking in the forest bog. Did not pass day that the cow did not fail in a bog. Business it was dangerous. A cow by the nature - "weak creation", and having lain a couple of hours in the bog, she will catch a cold and will die.
Every day the shepherd with same resorted:
"The owner, a cow in a bog! …"
It was necessary to convoke men to pull out a cow. It happened also most together with peasants to climb in a deep bog that took away health, and having hardly pulled out one leg, to thank God. You will pull out one - another will fail.
Many times we found cows half-dead. Made fire from dry branches and, having pulled out from the bog, warmed them, will not get on feet yet.
And so I pottered every day with cattle.
Then history with sale of separate parts of a meadow - fifty pieces of the earth lying in crude part of the wood which neighboring peasants came to buy began. I was driven to and fro and long on the crude wood: one leg in a bog, another - outside, and I came back home half-dead.
From such motaniye I got sick, heart began to hurt, and coming home, I fell on a sofa. I hardly maintained, and the wife often spoke:
"Let's throw all this Koshelevo and we will clean up while are live".
Sometimes I had to go to surrounding places, to buy in addition the necessary things in economy on markets. Home it happened to come back at night, hungry wolves around howled and to drive away sad thoughts, I shouted, knocked and rang a hand bell. The deficiency, abandonment absolutely killed me.
People in villages visit the friend to an arch in free time. But people do not live in villages among the woods, around they have a scope, come on a visit before dark in the evening, and then leave home; but here nobody came to me, and I - to anybody. The damned wood all closed the road.
I absolutely threw the scientific books, became the real wild eshuvnik with everything that it is peculiar to them, and spent Sundays and the non Jewish holidays with peasants. On heart at me it was heavy and bitter, but it is fine. Disturbed me that my children of will bury in such desert. I remembered pleasures and freedoms Makarovtsev with their friends and acquaintances dear to heart, and my blood so began to boil from disappointment that I was ready to break off myself for pieces.
Why I from there here left?
My relations with koshelevsky peasants were quite good. I never fined them because of the loss caused by their cows. But nevertheless I was Jew - the Jew abandoned to them - and them is much, it is a lot of goyev …
I in every possible way pleased them - lent when it was very necessary for them, money, often rendered them services and more or less got on with them. But the peasant remained to me a stranger … And it is even more, than the stranger … And it - despite everything that they considered as good, human kindness.
I went somehow to the non Jewish holiday to examine the meadows in the wood. I see - two bulls, and the shepherd Anton, the guy of years of 20, the biggest athlete in the village are grazed in rye, sits to himself quietly with the whistle as if does not concern it. I took and cut off a branch from a tree and drove bulls to myself home. Anton drove them to himself to the village. I drive them to the estate, and it - to the village. I told the foreman that Anton did not allow me to take away his bulls who caused me damage. On Sunday in office the trial of Anton who was sentenced to 20 blows a birch took place.
Why to Anton was to harm the kind owner? … To me his family led by the brother Pavel head came, fell to me in legs that I forgave him. And when I forgave him, they very much estimated it. But absolutely kindly they could not treat me. It seemed to me that all of them time think of one: what do I do among them here? How I got here? Why occupied their fields? What I, the Jew, turn here - among their black, hairy faces and gloomy, angry, hungry eyes? …
In a harvest-time all village undertook my harvest. They wanted to terminate at me earlier, and it is big business. Stalks of rye became absolutely dry, and it was necessary as it is possible to squeeze quicker it and right there for the next day to bring shocks to a shed that grain did not pour out in the field. In ten days I already compressed all rye and is taken out to a shed.
The summer harvest of rye that year was plentiful, and old peasants said that it will not be remembered. But barley, oats, potatoes, peas, buckwheat and all garden vegetables - were not successful. From forty acres of the seeded oats I had even no enough for a forage to my couple of horses - one fine black grains, - and for crops next year I had to buy everything.
Only Sena I had much - can, 400 carts. But what's the use, if badly, sadly and tiresomely if I to myself do not find the place?
Both again, and again I remembered kind, lovely and cheerful Makarovtsa …

Chapter 13
The wood burns. - Awful fire. - I in confusion. - We rescue household things. - Burned out fifty tithes of the wood. - The wood burns again. - I run at full speed behind quenchers. - Head. - My plans in the field of agriculture. - New trouble. - The roof fell off. - Still big misfortunes. - The child dropped out of a cradle. - Illness of my wife. - Children are ill. - I run to and fro. - Yakov-Yosl. - Jew's dream. - Guard!!! - Will and hair. - My tune.
Once, in an oats harvest-time, I stood near mowers, shipped in the thoughts. There was among mowers very angry, bad peasant Fyodor in whom I always felt hatred, special to myself. Suddenly this Fyodor turns around and lets out joyful cry:
"The estate burns!"
I turned pale. From the estate the smoke rose to the sky. I rushed there at full speed together with five peasants … The closer I approached the estate, the smoke became more dense, covering the wood as a dark scarf. Met me, wringing hands, the wife:
"The wood burns!".
Fire approaches the estate, and just about will capture straw roofs ….
And I do not know at all what to do how to extinguish such heavy fire in the wood, and I do not know at all on what I light. Peasants told that the estate - under the threat as in the wood it is full of a dry tree. Four years cut in the wood trees for sending to Danzig. Two months were not a rain. Branches and garbage dried - fine fuel!
Fifteen years ago too the estate burned down. There were two plants - vodka and beer. There was it from the fire which began in the wood. To extinguish such heavy fire, two hundred people are necessary.
Here I saw how the concealed hatred of peasants to me filters a poisonous stream.
The stranger I him was, absolutely others. Others blood.
I asked the wife to take down by means of peasants in a van household things, and itself seized a horse and ran to call men to the aid. But summer, in villages not a soul. Small - graze, big - mow for themselves and for the owner.
I jump desperate gallop further and I meet the peasants mowing rye. I call to them and I ask to give up mowing and quicker to run to extinguish wildfire. I to them for it will write off mowing which they have to me for the earth taken from me under hemp. Each peasant took from me a site for which about five mowers or other workers were due to me.
So I ran versts five on fields, asking everyone about favor: run supposedly help to extinguish this hell. I run and all the time I look back: I see that a smoke - in all wood, fire is not visible, only - the dense red smoke mixed with fire reaches the sky.
I squeezed heart. Not before already was that I lost everything - but I left the wife with two small children at such heavy fire, among haters, her, of course, will become badly, and there will be nobody to bring her round. Nevertheless I managed to convince all counter peasants and peasants to run and extinguish fire, and I went further.
Having come back home, I saw that the smoke became less. Apparently, the fire was extinguished. Peasants not especially tried - I presented them work that now it is necessary to me!
Fifty tithes of the wood, near the estate burned down; other trees still smoldered. Men a long pole extinguished: beat garbage with a pole and so suppressed fire.
Dry branches on trees burned down, but not trees. I did not leave, did not extinguish yet. In total there were several hundreds of people, peasants and peasants.
When there passed danger, I included to peasants work of four hundred people. The stranger promised to give everyone two poods of hay.
On it business did not come to an end. The wood cannot be extinguished in one day. For the next day it began to burn again. Again it was necessary to run for workers, to ask that extinguished the fire.
And so burned nearly an every day. I threw economy and ran every day for workers. I knew that if peasants are called to extinguish the fire, they have to come. But it is impossible to force them, and their help costs money.
Generally the fire in the village - a terrible scarecrow. There very much are afraid of fire.
I remember, I sat on a grass near mowers once and lit a cigarette. Threw the burning match, and the grass lit up so quickly that I hardly managed to trample fire. And if did not trample - it instantly would extend to several versts around.
And I understood that any puppy - the shepherd or who - can set fire to the estate in a minute.
All second half of summer to the middle of fall we lived in deadly fear. For me it was accident which of me squeezed out all blood. I waited with a sinking heart for wildfires and was very unfortunate.
I promised the foreman a good gift - five carts of hay, and to the clerk - quarter that in case I ask for the help, they right there sent me peasants.
Besides - I prepared and distributed vodka...
Somehow Friday afternoon the wood lit up again. The fire quickly and with a force extended. On my good luck, there was a holiday. I ran on a footpath directly in office of the clerk. The foreman living in my village, was not houses. Came to office - there is no clerk. I was told that it at the mistress, from here for two versts.
I ran there. The door is locked. I knock, I knock - nobody responds. I ask neighbors whether here the clerk, answer that he here with the mistress also will not open. I begin to knock with a force at the door, he jumped out of the room, was going to fight, but, having felt chervonets which I to it put at once in a hand, takes away hands. He very much does not want to leave the mistress and to run for peasants.
"I am sick …", - he lies.
With great difficulty and at moderate threats somehow I try to persuade him. On the way we bring together three hundred peasants, and I buy twenty pots of vodka with herring and cheese …
So far I come back - evening, and fire captured all wood, and, on my happiness, was thrown on other party from the estate. Peasants told that they will not be able to extinguish such heavy fire and will protect the estate from fire. Advised to send to women behind a cloth, them to weaved. The cloth should be wetted in water and to lay on estate roofs.
In hope for good remuneration brought from all neighboring villages of a barrel, buckets and tubs and wetted a cloth. Three hundred peasants prepared schnapps and sprawled on a grass, expecting that fire will approach the estate … From one their expectation the shiver scolded. Around - a hellfire, and they lie quietly waiting for vodka after the fire. I watch how it comes nearer, and peasants are silent. My heart shivers, the head flares. I was enraged:
"That you knew, - I shouted in despair to the foreman, - I forever leave the estate and I leave it completely on your responsibility. Remember that you sgniyosh in prison, and will torment with Shemet your grandsons!".
The foreman, at last, moved out from the place and shouted to the people:
"We go to extinguish!."
Went to the wood, cut long branches, and three hundred people stood in a row against fire and began to beat with branches. Slowly coming, a row moves forward, and suppresses, suppresses fire … And so all night long went and beat with branches until extinguished at all fire which receded further.
Fire became such big and high that in all surrounding places it was visible, and none of these surrounding places this night slept. Stood on the street all the time as I was told, and looked at the sea of fire. Many knew that it burns the Jew and mourned his misfortune.
At six o'clock in the morning fire was put out, I sent behind vodka and herring again. People greedy ate and drank.
To eight o'clock in the morning there arrived the asessor from Berezy1 with six hundred peasants. There was nothing to do to it, but it took money from me. How it is possible to release an asessor, without having put in a hand of money? Or on the contrary: how the asessor can release the Jew, without having taken money?
Men me consoled that more wood will not burn as all grass burned out. There is no grass - there is no danger of the fire.
And yes was.
Having finished wildfires from what I till time grew old, again turned to work. I decided to get more cattle as it was a lot of hay. There will be a lot of manure - will be able well to fertilize and process the earth and to hope for the best.
And I began to implement the plan: to receive a lot of manure and to fertilize the fields. At the end of summer I let know in all neighboring places that I take for winter of cows. I take a cow or a bull for five rubles. From the next places delivered seventy pieces. To me the landowner also was and gave forty bulls for the winter, having concluded the contract for five rubles apiece. And right there paid for it two hundred rubles. In the contract it was written that in case of death of one of bulls - from me fifty rubles. In total there were at me hundred ten pieces, apart from my own which there were twenty with something.
But at the beginning of winter, I bethought what I did nonsense here. At the beginning of winter the price of hay was to thirty kopeks for pood. In how many the manure pood will cost me? It was better for me to sell hay and just to gain on it up to two thousand rubles, than to take so many mouths on a pro-forage. Hopes to improve the soil by means of manure and so can be executed only in several years.
This plan, maybe, suits for it as Rozemblyum, living in the princely estate. But I - with bitter life in the desert, among fire, wolves and haters peasants - I and so here long will not remain. What will it give me? But with it there's nothing to be done, as well as with the other nonsenses made by me. And from it pressed heart.
When began to take out manure from a cowshed, found under manure of huge snakes. Peasants who very much are afraid of snakes lifted shout, ran together with drekoly and killed them. It is more than sixty huge snakes - others on one and a half arshins.
Snakes on me too badly worked.
In the winter when it is not enough work, and night long, I started missing books again, and I was attacked by big melancholy. Nights - long, in the afternoon - too there is nothing to do - crazy to go. And I went to Kobrin, for six versts, to the son reb Yoshe, to take to read something. Took two books, in two days read - and again there is nothing to do. But God the misfortunes did not leave me.
Staying at home in the Hanukkah, suddenly I hear - something strongly and hard rattles, like a thunder. We run up all to a window and with horror it is visible to what the roof of a big cowshed where there are all cows, fell off. I do not represent how all of us then did not die of fear.
In a hurry we run to a cowshed. Heart is disturbing fights. But all cattle is whole. Apparently, having heard that the roof cracks, cows instinctively nestled on walls. The roof broke in the middle. We did not die, but my wife then got sick for fear.
The roof broke under weight of the snow lying on it. Then there was a big snowfall, and I did not know that snow should be dumped from roofs …
Though the roof did not touch any cow, but to me because of it fairly got: cows did not take out cold at all. It was necessary to feed better them - nearly one hay that cost to me twice dearer and what, to my big displeasure, reached sixty kopeks for pood.
Peasants had to sell the cows - they could not be fed. It was possible to buy cattle literally at half price. Tu that cost before thirty, forty rubles, sold this year for eight-nine rubles, and a two-week calf - for eight zloties …
Before Pesakh to me surrounding peasants came to buy hay. I refused to them. I had no hay, only on corners the rotten, frozen hay from stacks lay. But for them and it were the goods for which they paid me twenty kopeks for pood … It was worthless hay. I gained hundred fifty rubles for it.
If not my nonsense with manure, I could live happily that year. Another on my place would eat himself alive from chagrin that the hands spent such state. But I worried not because of money which I could earn here, and because of the bad luck because everything at me "oil down", topsy-turvy, badly, silly, all to nothing …
Without having what to do, I reflected how to worry long winter without any work when nobody comes to me and I - to anybody - and here the Lord conceived to me pity that is called again and sent new trouble, only still big.
My wife got sick with typhus after melted shmalts from eighteen geese and salted a lot of meat. Right after it all three my children got sick.
And as if it is not enough - the smallest dropped out of the cradle hanging on custom of that time, under a ceiling on ropes. The cradle hung highly over a floor and the child fell and the forehead which strongly swelled up hurt near an eye. The child sick with typhus terribly suffered.
Melamed and servants living at us ran from the estate home for fear of typhus. I remained absolutely alone. Though was at us the shepherd with the wife, but at them was works with cattle enough, and I in eyes did not see them.
In one of surrounding places there was no doctor, only poor the paramedic. In three versts from Koshelev, in the Birch, there was, however, a specialist paramedic by the name of Yakov-Yosl whom I also used. Going behind it, I was forced to leave all my patients on a small silly shiksa.
I was very whining and on the way to the paramedic broke into all road bitter tears. It was good still if I found the paramedic of the house. And as my heart fell if said to me that it - at the station where at the station-master the sick sister lies. I, having been worn out, I run to the station.
"Yakov-Yosl, - I pay in large tears, - be mercy, we go to Koshelevo, my wife and children die! Be, Yakov-Yosl, is mercy!
But Yakov-Yosl did not move. He has to, speaks, to wait till twelve o'clock. From where there will arrive a doctor. It is necessary to be on the place when the doctor is. Though cry in a voice - will not help - the administration it will not leave, as any treasure.
What is cost by tears … I cabled doctors, and once sent the carrier to Kobrin for the doctor with whom together there had to arrive also Yakov-Yosl. I also looked for some Jew for care of patients.
It was worth catching the Jew who would agree with me to go to me big tortures as in all neighboring places it was known that in Koshelev because of bogs typhus rages.
I seated the Jew in a carriage and ran in a shop to buy something. The Jew in a carriage fell asleep and dreamed no more not less as, dying in Koshelev … Rose it is not live, is not dead, and right there took to the heels home. I approach a britska - there is no Jew! I go home without paramedic and without Jew.
I come home and I find the wife and children lying during a heat, and small lies with the swelled-up person and terribly groans. On a table some paper grows white. What is? The wife wrote the will in typically female style and language … I look there.
"Hubbub!!!" - I Shout loudly. In the will - it is no more not less as specifies whom I have to marry …
"Hubbub!!!"
Except the will, the wife managed to cut hair - invited someone, and that cut her hair as she did not want to die the sinner - the married woman should not carry hair …
On a table the will grows white, and at a bed of the wife her beautiful black hair roll.
I turned as the mad, as the madman. "What will be?" - Drilled in the head.
In this awful mood I composed a sad and sad tune and to them the patient with typhus lying with high temperature of the child who dropped out of a cradle rocked to sleep. Even today, having remembered this tune, I feel how the cold to me penetrates all body.
So I swung the child, sang and all the time ran up to other patients who groaned everyone in the corner.
There arrived the paramedic Yakov-Yosl with the doctor from Pruzhan in the evening, and hour through two - the doctor from Kobrin.
But doctors had nothing to do. What could they do with typhus? Two hours sat, ate shkvarkok, drank to tea - what else? I gave everyone forty rubles, and they with the world left. It was terrible not to call the doctor. Therefore I caused, but as they could not help, it was made by superfluous. They prescribed nothing to patients. Ordered to give some trifle, I do not remember any more that. I remember only that a samovar without ceasing boiled. I danced around patients all the time and the child the tune rocked to sleep …
I saw that except me to help patients there is nobody. I was one. And it is necessary to eat and drink - to protect forces. To stand on feet. Reluctantly I ate and drank …
Ate couple of tens the salted geese and two big bowls of mushrooms. Ate mechanically as the car. Could not come off. But did not sleep at all, absolutely. The child did not give. All the time ached and groaned. All night long I sat and swung the child, and terrible thoughts drilled a brain.
The wife had a strong heat. At night she jumped from a bed and shouted:
"I go to the wood!"
It was necessary to grab her hand, and she was very much torn in the wood. With great difficulty put her to bed, holding with one hand that did not come off, did not escape, and another - swung a cradle …
But I did not maintain. It was too heavy, too awful.
And I cabled to Kiev. But nobody arrived from there. As well from Kaments. I was thrown. Forgot about me. And I with pain thought of the grandmother. The grandmother Bale Russia would be living, she right there would arrive. No power on earth would not hold it, and likely it would bring someone from children to me on the help and to a consolation.

Chapter 12
1 in honor of St. Georges the Victorious, in this case - on April 26 according to the Art. to style.
2 "Aleph" and "tav" - the first and last letters of the Jewish alphabet.

Chapter 13
1 At the time of the Cat - the town Grodno lips., nowadays - in Belarus of Beryozovsky district of the Brest Region.



My memoirs. Volume I



My memoirs. Volume II





Our partners