03-a lost opportunity-第5节
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pour out of the room； which made it difficult to approach。
A crowd of peasants had by this time gathered； but they found it
impossible to save their homes； so they carried everything which
they could to a place of safety。 The cattle they drove into
neighboring pastures and left some one to care for them。
The wind carried the sparks from Ivan's house to Gavryl's； and
it； too； took fire and was consumed。 The wind continued to
increase with great fury； and the flames spread to both sides of
the street； until in a very short time more than half the village
was burned。
The members of Ivan's household had great difficulty in getting
out of the burning building； but the neighbors rescued the old
man and carried him to a place of safety； while the women escaped
in only their night…clothes。 Everything was burned； including
the cattle and all the farm implements。 The women lost their
trunks； which were filled with quantities of clothing； the
accumulation of years。 The storehouse and all the provisions
perished in the flames； not even the chickens being saved。
Gavryl； however； more fortunate than Ivan； saved his cattle and a
few other things。
The village was burning all night。
Ivan stood near his home； gazing sadly at the burning building；
and he kept constantly repeating to himself： 〃I should have taken
away the bunch of burning straw； and have stamped out the fire
with my feet。〃
But when he saw his home fall in a smouldering heap； in spite of
the terrible heat he sprang into the midst of it and carried out
a charred log。 The women seeing him； and fearing that he would
lose his life； called to him to come back； but he would not pay
any attention to them and went a second time to get a log。 Still
weak from the terrible blow which Gavryl had given him； he was
overcome by the heat； and fell into the midst of the burning
mass。 Fortunately； his eldest son saw him fall； and rushing into
the fire succeeded in getting hold of him and carrying him out of
it。 Ivan's hair； beard； and clothing were burned entirely off。
His hands were also frightfully injured； but he seemed
indifferent to pain。
〃Grief drove him crazy；〃 the people said。
The fire was growing less； but Ivan still stood where he could
see it； and kept repeating to himself； 〃I should have taken；〃
etc。
The morning after the fire the starosta （village elder） sent his
son to Ivan to tell him that the old man； his father； was dying；
and wanted to see him to bid him good…bye。
In his grief Ivan had forgotten all about his father； and could
not understand what was being said to him。 In a dazed way he
asked： 〃What father？ Whom does he want？〃
The elder's son again repeated his father's message to Ivan。
〃Your aged parent is at our house dying； and he wants to see you
and bid you good…bye。 Won't you go now； uncle Ivan？〃 the boy
said。
Finally Ivan understood； and followed the elder's son。
When Ivan's father was carried from the oven； he was slightly
injured by a big bunch of burning straw falling on him just as he
reached the street。 To insure his safety he was removed to the
elder's house； which stood a considerable distance from his late
home； and where it was not likely that the fire would reach it。
When Ivan arrived at the elder's home he found only the latter's
wife and children； who were all seated on the brick oven。 The
old man was lying on a bench holding a lighted candle in his hand
（a Russian custom when a person is dying）。 Hearing a noise； he
turned his face toward the door； and when he saw it was his son
he tried to move。 He motioned for Ivan to come nearer； and when
he did so he whispered in a trembling voice： 〃Well； Ivanushka；
did I not tell you before what would be the result of this sad
affair？ Who set the village on fire？〃
〃He； he； batiushka ＇little father＇； he did it。 I caught him。 He
placed the bunch of burning straw to the barn in my presence。
Instead of running after him； I should have snatched the bunch of
burning straw and throwing it on the ground have stamped it out
with my feet； and then there would have been no fire。〃
〃Ivan；〃 said the old man； 〃death is fast approaching me； and
remember that you also will have to die。 Who did this dreadful
thing？ Whose is the sin？〃
Ivan gazed at the noble face of his dying father and was silent。
His heart was too full for utterance。
〃In the presence of God；〃 the old man continued； 〃whose is the
sin？〃
It was only now that the truth began to dawn upon Ivan's mind；
and that he realized how foolish he had acted。 He sobbed
bitterly； and fell on his knees before his father； and； crying
like a child； said：
〃My dear father； forgive me； for Christ's sake； for I am guilty
before God and before you！〃
The old man transferred the lighted candle from his right hand to
the left； and； raising the former to his forehead； tried to make
the sign of the cross； but owing to weakness was unable to do so。
〃Glory to Thee； O Lord！ Glory to Thee！〃 he exclaimed； and
turning his dim eyes toward his son； he said： 〃See here；
Ivanushka！ Ivanushka； my dear son！〃
〃What； my dear father？〃 Ivan asked。
〃What are you going to do；〃 replied the old man； 〃now that you
have no home？〃
Ivan cried and said： 〃I do not know how we shall live now。〃
The old man closed his eyes and made a movement with his lips； as
if gathering his feeble strength for a final effort。 Slowly
opening his eyes； he whispered：
〃Should you live according to God's commands you will be happy
and prosperous again。〃
The old man was now silent for awhile and then； smiling sadly； he
continued：
〃See here； Ivanushka； keep silent concerning this trouble； and do
not tell who set the village on fire。 Forgive one sin of your
neighbor's； and God will forgive two of yours。〃
Grasping the candle with both hands； Ivan's father heaved a deep
sigh； and； stretching himself out on his back； yielded up the
ghost。
* * * * * * *
Ivan for once accepted his father's advice。 He did not betray
Gavryl； and no one ever learned the origin of the fire。
Ivan's heart became more kindly disposed toward his old enemy；
feeling that much of the fault in connection with this sad affair
rested with himself。
Gavryl was greatly surprised that Ivan did not denounce him
before all the villagers； and at first he stood in much fear of
him； but he soon afterward overcame this feeling。
The two peasants ceased to quarrel； and their families followed
their example。 While they were building new houses； both
families lived beneath the same roof； and when they moved into
their respective homes； Ivan and Gavryl lived on as good terms as
their fathers had done before them。
Ivan remembered his dying father's command； and took deeply to
heart the evident warning of God that A FIRE SHOULD BE
EXTINGUISHED IN THE BEGINNING。 If any one wronged him he did not
seek revenge； but instead made every effort to settle the matter
peaceably。 If any one spoke to him unkindly； he did not answer
in the same way； but replied softly； and tried to persuade the
person not to speak evil。 He taught the women and children of
his household to do the same。
Ivan Scherbakoff was now a reformed man。
He lived well and peacefully； and again became prosperous。
Let us； therefore； have peace； live in brotherly love and
kindness； and we will be happy。
