God Sees the Truth but Waits

God sees the truth, but waits

Leo tolstoy

In the town of Vladimir lived a young merchant named Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov.

He had two shops and a house of his own.

Aksionov was a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very

fond of singing. When quite a young man he had been given to drink, and was

riotous when he had had too much; but after he married he gave up drinking,

except now and then.

One summer Aksionov was going to the Nizhny Fair, and as he bade good-bye to

his family, his wife said to him, "Ivan Dmitrich, do not start to-day; I have had a

bad dream about you."

Aksionov laughed, and said, "You are afraid that when I get to the fair I shall go on

a spree."

His wife replied: "I do not know what I am afraid of; all I know is that I had a bad

dream. I dreamt you returned from the town, and when you took off your cap I saw

that your hair was quite grey."

Aksionov laughed. "That's a lucky sign," said he. "See if I don't sell out all my

goods, and bring you some presents from the fair."

So he said good-bye to his family, and drove away. When he had travelled halfway, he met a merchant whom he knew, and they put up at the same inn for the

night. They had some tea together, and then went to bed in adjoining rooms.

It was not Aksionov's habit to sleep late, and, wishing to travel while it was still

cool, he aroused his driver before dawn, and told him to put in the horses.

Then he made his way across to the landlord of the inn (who lived in a cottage at

the back), paid his bill, and continued his journey.

When he had gone about twenty-five miles, he stopped for the horses to be fed.

Aksionov rested awhile in the passage of the inn, then he stepped out into the

porch, and, ordering a samovar to be heated, got out his guitar and began to play.

Suddenly a troika drove up with tinkling bells and an official alighted, followed by

two soldiers. He came to Aksionov and began to question him, asking him who he

was and whence he came. Aksionov answered...