THREE OLD MEN.[1]
"And when ye pray, make not vain repetitions as the heathen do: for they think they shall be heard for their much asking. Be not like unto them, for your Heavenly Father knows what ye have need of before ye ask Him."—Matt. vi. 7, 8.
The Archbishop was sailing in a ship from the City of Archangel to Solovka. And on the same ship were sailing sundry pilgrims. The wind was fair, the weather bright, there was no rocking. As for the pilgrims, some had laid them down, some were taking a little to eat, others sat in groups talking one with another. The Archbishop, too, came out upon the deck, and walked backwards and forwards along the bridge. The Archbishop went to the prow of the boat; he perceived that a group of people had collected together there. A little muzhik was pointing to something in the sea with his hand, and speaking, and the people stood and listened. The Archbishop stood still too. He also looked in the direction pointed out by the little muzhik, but nothing was to be seen save the sea, on which the sun was shining. The Archbishop drew nearer still and began to listen,
- ↑ Translated from the Moscow (Fifth) Edition of 1889 of Tolstoi's collected works (vol. xx., pp. 212–221).
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