in the city。
At St。 Peter's Day； ｛32｝ a strict fast； when the people's food
consists of kvas； bread； and onions； the mowing begins。
The business which is effected in mowing is one of the most important
in the commune。 Nearly every year； through the lack of hands and
time； the hay crop may be lost by rain； and more or less strain of
toil decides the question； as to whether twenty or more per cent of
hay is to be added to the wealth of the people； or whether it is to
rot or die where it stands。 And additional hay means additional meat
for the old； and additional milk for the children。 Thus； in general
and in particular； the question of bread for each one of the mowers；
and of milk for himself and his children； in the ensuing winter； is
then decided。 Every one of the toilers； both male and female； knows
this； even the children know that this is an important matter； and
that it is necessary to strain every nerve to carry the jug of kvas
to their father in the meadow at his mowing； and； shifting the heavy
pitcher from hand to hand； to run barefooted as rapidly as possible；
two versts from the village； in order to get there in season for
dinner； and so that their fathers may not scold them。
Every one knows； that； from the mowing season until the hay is got
in； there will be no break in the work； and that there will be no
time to breathe。 And there is not the mowing alone。 Every one of
them has other affairs to attend to besides the mowing： the ground
must be turned up and harrowed； and the women have linen and bread
and washing to attend to； and the peasants have to go to the mill；
and to town； and there are communal matters to attend to； and legal
matters before the judge and the commissary of police； and the wagons
to see to； and the horses to feed at night： and all； old and young；
and sickly； labor to the last extent of their powers。 The peasants
toil so； that on every occasion； the mowers； before the end of the
third stint； whether weak； young； or old； can hardly walk as they
totter past the last rows； and only with difficulty are they able to
rise after the breathing…spell； and the women； often pregnant； or
nursing infants； work in the same way。 The toil is intense and
incessant。 All work to the extreme bounds of their strength； and
expend in this toil； not only the entire stock of their scanty
nourishment； but all their previous stock。 All of themand they are
not fat to begin withgrow gaunt after the 〃suffering〃 season。
Here a little association is working at the mowing； three peasants；
one an old man； the second his nephew； a young married man； and a
shoemaker； a thin； sinewy man。 This hay…harvest will decide the fate
of all of them for the winter。 They have been laboring incessantly
for two weeks； without rest。 The rain has delayed their work。 After
the rain； when the hay has dried； they have decided to stack it； and；
in order to accomplish this as speedily as possible； that two women
for each of them shall follow their scythes。 On the part of the old
man go his wife； a woman of fifty； who has become unfit for work；
having borne eleven children； who is deaf； but still a tolerably
stout worker； and a thirteen…year…old daughter； who is short of
stature； but a strong and clever girl。 On the part of his nephew go
his wife； a woman as strong and well…grown as a sturdy peasant； and
his daughter…in…law； a soldier's wife； who is about to become a
mother。 On the part of the shoemaker go his wife； a stout laborer；
and her aged mother； who has reached her eightieth year； and who
generally goes begging。 They all stand in line； and labor from
morning till night； in the full fervor of the June sun。 It is
steaming hot； and rain threatens。 Every hour of work is precious。
It is a pity to tear one's self from work to fetch water or kvas。 A
tiny boy； the old woman's grandson； brings them water。 The old
woman； evidently only anxious lest she shall be driven away from her
work； will not let the rake out of her hand； though it is evident
that she can barely move； and only with difficulty。 The little boy；
all bent over； and stepping gently； with his tiny bare feet； drags
along a jug of water； shifting it from hand to hand； for it is
heavier than he。 The young girl flings over her shoulder a load of
hay which is also heavier than herself； advances a few steps； halts；
and drops it； without the strength to carry it。 The old woman of
fifty rakes away without stopping； and with her kerchief awry she
drags the hay； breathing heavily and tottering。 The old woman of
eighty only rakes the hay； but even this is beyond her strength； she
slowly drags along her feet； shod with bast shoes； and； frowning； she
gazes gloomily before her； like a seriously ill or dying person。 The
old man has intentionally sent her farther away than the rest； to
rake near the cocks of hay； so that she may not keep in line with the
others； but she does not fall in with this arrangement； and she toils
on as long as the others do； with the same death…like； gloomy
countenance。 The sun is already setting behind the forest； but the
cocks are not yet all heaped together； and much still remains to do。
All feel that it is time to stop； but no one speaks； waiting until
the others shall say it。 Finally the shoemaker； conscious that his
strength is exhausted； proposes to the old man； to leave the cocks
until the morrow； and the old man consents； and the women instantly
run for the garments； jugs； pitchforks； and the old woman immediately
sits down just where she has been standings and then lies back with
the same death…like look； staring straight in front of her。 But the
women are going； and she rises with a groan； and drags herself after
them。 And this will go on in July also； when the peasants； without
obtaining sufficient sleep； reap the oats by night； lest it should
fall； and the women rise gloomily to thresh out the straw for the
bands to tie the sheaves； when this old woman； already utterly
cramped by the labor of mowing； and the woman with child； and the
young children； injure themselves overworking and over…drinking； and
when neither hands； nor horses； nor carts will suffice to bring to
the ricks that grain with which all men are nourished； and millions
of poods ｛33｝ of which are daily required in Russia to keep people
from perishing。
And we live as though there were no connection between the dying
laundress； the prostitute of fourteen years； the toilsome manufacture
of cigarettes by women； the strained； intolerable； insufficiently fed
toil of old women and children around us； we live as though there
were no connection between this and our own lives。
It seems to us； that suffering stands apart by itself； and our life
apart by itself。 We read the description of the life of the Romans；
and we marvel at the inhumanity of those soulless Luculli； who
satiated themselves on viands and wines while the populace were dying
with hunger。 We shake our heads； and we marvel at the savagery of
our grandfathers； who were serf…owners； supporters of household
orchestras and theatres； and of whole villages devoted to the care of
their gardens； and we wonder； from the heights of our grandeur； at
their inhumanity。 We read the words of Isa。 v。 8： 〃Woe unto them
that join house to house； that lay field to field； till there be no
place； that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth！
（11。） Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning； that they may
follow strong drink； that continue until night； till wine inflame
them！ （12。） And the harp and the viol； and tabret and pipe； and wine
are in their feasts； but they regard not the work of the Lord；
neither consider the operation of his hands。 （18。） Woe unto them
that draw iniquity with cords of vanity； and sin as it were with a
cart…rope。 （20。） Woe unto then that call evil good； and good evil；
that put darkness for light； and light for darkness； that put bitter
for sweet； and sweet for bitter！ （21。） Woe unto them that are wise in
their own eyes； and prudent in their own sight（22。） Woe unto them
that are mighty to drink wine； and men of strength to mingle strong
drink。〃
We read these words； and it seems to us that this has no reference to
us。 We read in the Gospels （Matt。 iii。 10）： 〃And now also the axe
is laid unto the root of the trees： therefore every tree which
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire。〃
And we are fully convinced that the good tree which bringeth forth
good fruit is ourselves； and that these words are not spoken to us；
but to some other and wicked people。
We read the words of Isa。 vi。 10： 〃Make the heart of this people
fat； and make their ears heavy； and shut their eyes； lest they see
with their eyes； and hear with their ears； and understand with their
heart； and convert and be healed。 （11。） Then said I： Lord； how
long？ And he answered； Until the cities be wasted without
inhabitant； and the houses without man； and the land be utterly
desolate。〃
We read； and are fully convinced that this marvellous deed is not
performed on us； but on some other people。 And because we see
nothing it is； that this marvellous deed is performed； and has been
performed； on us。 We hear not； we see not； and we understand not
with our heart。 How has this happened？
Whether that God； or that natural law by virtue of which men exist in
the world； has acted well or ill； yet the position of men in the
world； ever since we have known it； has been such； that naked people；
without any hair on their bodies； without lairs in which they could
shelter themselves； without food which they could find in the
fields；like Robinson ｛34｝ on his island；have all been reduced to
the necessity of constantly and unweariedly contending with nature in
order to cover their bodies； to make themselves clothing； to
construct a roof over their heads； and to earn their bread； that two
or three times a day they may satisfy their hunger and the hunger of
their helpless children and of their old people who cannot work。
Wherever； at whatever time； in whatever numbers we may have observed
people； whether in Europe； in America； in China； or in Russia；
whether we r