THE LONG EXILE;
OR,
GOD SEES THE TRUTH, BUT BIDES HIS TIME
ONCE upon a time there lived in the city of Vladimir a young tradesman named Aksenof. He had two shops and a house.
Aksenof had a ruddy complexion and curly hair; he was a very jolly fellow and a good singer. When he was young he used to drink too much, and when he was tipsy he was turbulent; but after his marriage he ceased drinking, and only occasionally had a spree.
One summer Aksenof was going to Nizhni[1] to the great Fair. As he was about to bid his family good-by, his wife said to him:
"Ivan Dmitrievitch, do not start to-day; I dreamed that some misfortune befell you."
Aksenof laughed at her, and said:
"Are you still afraid that I shall go on a spree at the Fair?"
His wife said:
"I myself know not what I am afraid of, but I had such a bad dream; you seemed to be coming home from town, and you took off your hat, and I looked, and your head was all gray."
Aksenof laughed.
"That means good luck. See, I am going now. I will bring you some rich remembrances."
And he bade his family farewell and set off.
When he had gone half his journey, he fell in with a
1
- ↑ Nizhni Novgorod; it means Lower New Town
