The Beggar

The advocate Sergei and a beggar (Lushkoff); the beggar is begging. They are from Russia (copecks, roubles, Russian choir). The beggar looks ragged, in a fawn overcoat, with dull drunken eyes, red-spotted cheeks and mismatched overshoes.

Because the beggar lied — earlier he claimed to be an expelled student, now a village teacher. The beggar lied because no one gives him anything when he tells the truth (he was really a choir singer dismissed for drunkenness).

Sergei told him to work — to chop wood. It was meant as help (the dignity of honest labour) as well as a challenge to his lies.

Lushkoff reluctantly agreed (trapped by pride and his own lies). Through the window Sergei saw him too weak to chop wood. Later Sergei gave him copying work (he could write) through a letter to a friend.

Sergei was basically kind (he felt pity and offered regular, cleaner work). He said his words 'took effect' believing that his harsh advice had reformed Lushkoff — but he was only partly right.

Two years later they met at a theatre. Lushkoff was now a notary earning 35 roubles a month, well dressed.

The cook Olga really changed him. She chopped the wood for him every time (Lushkoff never cut a single stick!). Her tears, kind words and noble deeds touched his heart and made him stop drinking and reform. She is the true heroine.

Olga, the cook — because through her silent, selfless kindness and hard work she truly transformed Lushkoff's life, expecting nothing in return.

He recognised him — two days earlier the same man had claimed to be an expelled student, not a teacher.

He had sung in a Russian choir but was dismissed for drunkenness, and now begged by lying.

Copying work, since Lushkoff could write.

A notary earning 35 roubles a month.

She chopped the wood for him and, through her kind words and tears, changed his heart.

The cook Olga is the real hero. Though Sergei believed his harsh words reformed Lushkoff, it was Olga's silent kindness — chopping the wood for him and weeping for him — that touched his heart and made him give up drinking and become an honest man. Quiet compassion, not harshness, changed his life.

Sergei is an advocate — quick-tempered and stern when he detects lies, yet basically kind-hearted. He gives the beggar honest work and later feels pity for him. However, he is a little proud, wrongly believing that his own words reformed Lushkoff.

Genuine, selfless kindness can transform a fallen person far more powerfully than scolding or preaching. True goodness often works silently, expecting nothing in return.

ଷଡ଼ଯନ୍ତ୍ର।

stick of wood (Olga did it).