,*APT] #ce 

#ahfcahfc 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,! NEXT DAY WAS A HOLIDAY4 ,9 ! EV5+ ALL ! VILLAG]S1 !IR HOLIDAY CLO!S %9+ 9 ! SUNSET1 W]E \T 9 ! /REET4 ,?AT SEASON MORE W9E ?AN USUAL HAD BE5 PRODUC$1 & ! PEOPLE W]E N[ FREE FROM !IR LABORS4 ,9 A MON? ! ,COSSACKS W]E TO />T ON A CAMPAIGN & 9 MANY FAMILIES PREP>ATIONS W]E BE+ MADE = W$D+S4 

,MO/ ( ! PEOPLE W]E /&+ 9 ! SQU>E 9 FRONT ( ! ,COSSACK ,GOV]NM5T ,(FICE & NE> ! TWO %OPS1 9 ONE ( :I* CAKES & PUMPK9 SE$S W]E SOLD1 9 ! O!R K]*IEFS & COTTON PR9TS4 ,ON ! E>?-EMBANKM5T ( ! (FICE-BUILD+ SAT OR /OOD ! OLD M5 9 SOB] GRAY1 OR BLACK COATS )\T GOLD TRIMM+S OR ANY K9D ( ORNAM5T4 ,!Y CONV]S$ AMONG !MSELVES QUIETLY 9 MEASUR$ TONES1 AB\T ! H>VE/1 AB\T ! Y\NG FOLK1 AB\T VILLAGE AFFAIRS1 & AB\T OLD TIMES1 LOOK+ ) DIGNIFI$ EQUANIMITY AT ! Y\NG] G5]ATION4 ,PASS+ BY !M1 ! WOM5 & GIRLS /OPP$ & B5T !IR HEADS4 ,! Y\NG ,COSSACKS RESPECTFULLY SLACK5$ !IR PACE & RAIS$ !IR CAPS1 HOLD+ !M = A :ILE OV] !IR HEADS4 ,! OLD M5 !N /OPP$ SPEAK+4 ,SOME ( !M WAT*$ ! PASS]SBY SEV]ELY1 O!RS K9DLY1 & 9 !IR TURN SL[LY TOOK (F !IR CAPS & PUT !M ON AGA94 

,! ,COSSACK GIRLS HAD NOT YET />T$ DANC+ !IR KHOROVODS1 BUT HAV+ GA!R$ 9 GR\PS1 9 !IR BRI<T COLOR$ BE%METS ) :ITE K]*IEFS ON !IR HEADS PULL$ D[N TO !IR EYES1 !Y SAT EI!R ON ! GR\ND OR ON ! E>?-BANKS AB\T ! HUTS %ELT]$ FROM ! OBLIQUE RAYS ( ! SUN1 & LAU<$ & *ATT]$ 9 !IR R++ VOICES4 ,LITTLE BOYS & GIRLS PLAY+ 9 ! SQU>E S5T !IR BALLS HI< UP 9TO ! CLE> SKY1 & RAN AB\T SQUEAL+ & %\T+4 ,! HALF-GR[N GIRLS HAD />T$ DANC+ !IR KHOROVODS1 & W]E TIMIDLY S++ 9 !IR ?9 %RILL VOICES4 ,CL]KS1 LADS NOT 9 ! S]VICE1 OR HOME = ! HOLIDAY1 BRI<T-FAC$ & WE>+ SM>T :ITE OR NEW R$ ,CIRCASSIAN GOLD-TRIMM$ COATS1 W5T AB\T >M 9 >M 9 TWOS OR ?REES FROM ONE GR\P ( WOM5 OR GIRLS TO ANO!R1 & /OPP$ TO JOKE & *AT ) ! ,COSSACK GIRLS4 ,! ,>M5IAN %OPKEEP]1 9 A GOLD-TRIMM$ COAT ( F9E BLUE CLO?1 /OOD AT ! OP5 DOOR ?R\< :I* PILES ( FOLD$ BRI<T-COLOR$ K]*IEFS W]E VISIBLE &1 CONSCI\S ( HIS [N IMPORTANCE & ) ! PRIDE ( AN ,ORI5TAL TRADESMAN1 WAIT$ = CU/OM]S4 ,TWO R$-BE>D$1 B>EFOOT$ ,*E*5S1 :O HAD COME FROM BEYOND ! ,T]EK TO SEE ! FETE1 SAT ON !IR HEELS \TSIDE ! H\SE ( A FRI5D1 NEGLIG5TLY SMOK+ !IR LITTLE PIPES & OCCASIONALLY SPITT+1 WAT*+ ! VILLAG]S & EX*ANG+ REM>KS ) ONE ANO!R 9 !IR RAPID GUTTURAL SPEE*4 ,OCCASIONALLY A WORKADAY-LOOK+ SOLDI] 9 AN OLD OV]COAT PASS$ ACROSS ! SQU>E AMONG ! BRI<T-CLAD GIRLS4 ,H]E & !RE ! SONGS ( TIPSY ,COSSACKS :O W]E M]RY-MAK+ C\LD ALREADY BE HE>D4 ,ALL ! HUTS W]E CLOS$2 ! POR*ES HAD BE5 SCRUBB$ CLEAN ! DAY BE=E4 ,EV5 ! OLD WOM5 W]E \T 9 ! /REET1 :I* WAS EV]Y:]E SPR9KL$ ) PUMPK9 & MELON SE$-%ELLS4 ,! AIR WAS W>M & /ILL1 ! SKY DEEP & CLE>4 ,BEYOND ! RO(S ! DEAD-:ITE M\NTA9 RANGE1 :I* SEEM$ V]Y NE>1 WAS TURN+ ROSY 9 ! GL[ ( ! EV5+ SUN4 ,N[ & !N FROM ! O!R SIDE ( ! RIV] CAME ! DI/ANT RO> ( A CANNON1 BUT ABOVE ! VILLAGE1 M+L+ ) ONE ANO!R1 FLOAT$ ALL SORTS ( M]RY HOLIDAY S\NDS4 

,OL59 HAD BE5 PAC+ ! Y>D ALL ?AT MORN+ HOP+ TO SEE ,M>YANKA4 ,BUT %E1 HAV+ PUT ON HOLIDAY CLO!S1 W5T TO ,MASS AT ! *APEL & AFT]W>DS SAT ) ! O!R GIRLS ON AN E>?-EMBANKM5T CRACK+ SE$S2 SOMETIMES AGA91 TOGE!R ) H] COMPANIONS1 %E RAN HOME1 & EA* TIME GAVE ! LODG] A BRI<T & K9DLY LOOK4 ,OL59 FELT AFRAID TO ADDRESS H] PLAYFULLY OR 9 ! PRES5CE ( O!RS4 ,HE WI%$ TO F9I% TELL+ H] :AT HE HAD BEGUN TO SAY ! NI<T BE=E1 & TO GET H] TO GIVE HIM A DEF9ITE ANSW]4 ,HE WAIT$ = ANO!R MOM5T LIKE ?AT ( YE/]DAY EV5+1 BUT ! MOM5T DID NOT COME1 & HE FELT ?AT HE C\LD NOT REMA9 ANY LONG] 9 ?IS UNC]TA9TY4 ,%E W5T \T 9TO ! /REET AGA91 & AFT] WAIT+ A:ILE HE TOO W5T \T & )\T KN[+ :]E HE WAS GO+ HE FOLL[$ H]4 ,HE PASS$ BY ! CORN] :]E %E WAS SITT+ 9 H] %9+ BLUE SAT9 BE%MET1 & ) AN A*+ HE>T HE HE>D BEH9D HIM ! GIRLS LAU<+4 

,BELETSKI'S HUT LOOK$ \T ONTO ! SQU>E4 ,AS ,OL59 WAS PASS+ IT HE HE>D ,BELETSKI'S VOICE CALL+ TO HIM1 ',COME 91' & 9 HE W5T4 

,AFT] A %ORT TALK !Y BO? SAT D[N BY ! W9D[ & W]E SOON JO9$ BY ,]O%KA1 :O 5T]$ DRESS$ 9 A NEW BE%MET & SAT D[N ON ! FLOOR BESIDE !M4 

',!RE1 ?AT'S ! >I/OCRATIC P>TY1' SAID ,BELETSKI1 PO9T+ ) HIS CIG>ETTE TO A BRI<TLY COLOR$ GR\P AT ! CORN]4 ',M9E IS !RE TOO4 ,DO Y\ SEE H]8 9 R$4 ,?AT'S A NEW BE%MET4 ,:Y DON'T Y\ />T ! KHOROVOD8' HE %\T$1 LEAN+ \T ( ! W9D[4 ',WAIT A BIT1 & !N :5 IT GR[S D>K LET US GO TOO4 ,!N WE WILL 9VITE !M TO ,U/5KA'S4 ,WE MU/ >RANGE A BALL = !M6' 

',& ,I WILL COME TO ,U/5KA'S1' SAID ,OL59 9 A DECID$ TONE4 ',WILL 

 ,M>YANKA BE !RE8' 

',YES1 %E'LL BE !RE4 ,DO COME6' SAID ,BELETSKI1 )\T ! LEA/ SURPRISE4 ',BUT ISN'T IT A PRETTY PICTURE8' HE ADD$1 PO9T+ TO ! MOTLEY CR[DS4 

',YES1 V]Y6' ,OL59 ASS5T$1 TRY+ TO APPE> 9DIFF]5T4 

',HOLIDAYS ( ?IS K9D1' HE ADD$1 'ALWAYS MAKE ME WOND] :Y ALL !SE PEOPLE %\LD SUDD5LY BE CONT5T$ & JOLLY4 ,TO-DAY = 9/ANCE1 JU/ BECAUSE IT HAPP5S TO BE ! FIFTE5? ( ! MON?1 EV]Y?+ IS FE/IVE4 ,EYES & FACES & VOICES & MOVEM5TS & G>M5TS1 & ! AIR & ! SUN1 >E ALL 9 A HOLIDAY MOOD4 ,& WE NO LONG] HAVE ANY HOLIDAYS6' 

',YES1' SAID ,BELETSKI1 :O DID NOT LIKE SU* REFLECTIONS4 

',& :Y >E Y\ NOT DR9K+1 OLD FELL[8' HE SAID1 TURN+ TO ,]O%KA4 

,]O%KA W9K$ AT ,OL591 PO9T+ TO ,BELETSKI4 ',EH1 HE'S A PR\D ONE ?AT KUNAK ( Y\RS1' HE SAID4 

,BELETSKI RAIS$ HIS GLASS4 ,A,L,L,A,H ,B,I,R,D,Y' HE SAID1 EMPTY+ IT4 7,A,L,L,A,H ,B,I,R,D,Y1 ',GOD HAS GIV56'--! USUAL GREET+ ( ,CAUCASIANS :5 DR9K+ TOGE!R47 

',SAU BUL' 7',Y\R HEAL?'71 ANSW]$ ,]O%KA SMIL+1 & EMPTI$ HIS GLASS4 

',SPEAK+ ( HOLIDAYS6' HE SAID1 TURN+ TO ,OL59 AS HE ROSE & LOOK$ \T ( ! W9D[1 ',:AT SORT ( HOLIDAY IS ?AT6 ,Y\ %\LD HAVE SE5 !M MAKE M]RY 9 ! OLD DAYS6 ,! WOM5 US$ TO COME \T 9 !IR GOLD--TRIMM$ S>AFANS4 ,TWO R[S ( GOLD CO9S HANG+ R\ND !IR NECKS & GOLD-CLO? DIADEMS ON !IR HEADS1 & :5 !Y PASS$ !Y MADE A NOISE1 0FLU1 FLU10 ) !IR DRESSES4 ,EV]Y WOMAN LOOK$ LIKE A PR9CESS4 ,SOMETIMES !Y'D COME \T1 A :OLE H]D ( !M1 & BEG9 S++ SONGS SO ?AT ! AIR SEEM$ TO RUMBLE1 & !Y W5T ON MAK+ M]RY ALL NI<T4 ,& ! ,COSSACKS W\LD ROLL \T A B>REL 9TO ! Y>DS & SIT D[N & DR9K TILL BREAK ( DAY1 OR !Y W\LD GO H&-9-H& SWEEP+ ! VILLAGE4 ,:OEV] !Y MET !Y SEIZ$ & TOOK ALONG ) !M1 & W5T FROM H\SE TO H\SE4 ,SOMETIMES !Y US$ TO MAKE M]RY = ?REE DAYS ON 5D4 ,FA!R US$ TO COME HOME--,I /ILL REMEMB] IT--QUITE R$ & SWOLL51 )\T A CAP1 HAV+ LO/ EV]Y?+3 HE'D COME & LIE D[N4 ,MO!R KNEW :AT TO DO3 %E W\LD BR+ HIM SOME FRE% CAVI> & A LITTLE *IKHIR TO SOB] HIM UP1 & W\LD H]SELF RUN AB\T 9 ! VILLAGE LOOK+ = HIS CAP4 ,!N HE'D SLEEP = TWO DAYS6 ,?AT'S ! SORT ( FELL[S !Y W]E !N6 ,BUT N[ :AT >E !Y8' 

',WELL1 & ! GIRLS 9 ! S>AFANS1 DID !Y MAKE M]RY ALL BY !MSELVES8' ASK$ ,BELETSKI4 

',YES1 !Y DID6 ,SOMETIMES ,COSSACKS W\LD COME ON FOOT OR ON HORSE & SAY1 0,LET'S BREAK UP ! KHOROVODS10 & !Y'D GO1 BUT ! GIRLS W\LD TAKE UP CUDGELS4 ,C>NIVAL WEEK1 SOME Y\NG FELL[ W\LD COME GALLOP+ UP1 & !Y'D CUDGEL HIS HORSE & CUDGEL HIM TOO4 ,BUT HE'D BREAK ?R\<1 SEIZE ! ONE HE LOV$1 & C>RY H] (F4 ,& HIS SWEE!>T W\LD LOVE HIM TO HIS HE>T'S CONT5T6 ,YES1 ! GIRLS 9 ?OSE DAYS1 !Y W]E REGUL> QUE5S6' 

7,S\RCE3 ,! ,COSSACKS3 ,A ,TALE ( #a#h#e#b1 BY ,LEO ,TOL/OY1 TRANSLAT$ BY ,L\ISE & ,AYLM] ,MAUDE1 PUBLI%$ #a#h#f#c47 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfb 3 ,*APT] #ce -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,MAY #a#c1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #ce -- ,ADD$4 

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