Ivan Moshkin, ataman Katorzhnoy. Under the auspices of the Roman Pope

The merchant looked at the young man approvingly, Elena Fedorovna already pursed her lips, and her eyes rounded. Well, Lukerya could not stand it, answered:

— How! And why not immediately to the governors?

— Yes, at least to go to the chieftains, — Ivan noted, — to go out with the Cossacks in the field…

— So your wife is not a burden, you stupid head, — the grandmother spoke again, — but a joy!

The girl laughed, and covered her lips with her sleeve, but now the young man turned densely red.

“So, Vanya, Lukerya will be smarter than you and me,” Semyon Petrovich nodded his head.

— Okay. Let’s go home, — having laughed, concluded Fyodor Romanovich, — it’s time, and dinner will come soon.

“And we must go. Let’s go us.

The elder Moshkin bowed to a good acquaintance, and the family headed home.

***

Ustyan, playing with a wand, walked from his yard to the street. The case is already autumn, and there was on it over the shirt a favorite cloth simple kaftan. He bent down, wanted to pick up a funny slingshot from the ground, but then a felt hat fell from his white head. The boy hastily caught the defensive, and with his fingers checked the felt flap, and exhaled with relief. Everything was in place. And then the slingshot came in handy. So grasping and good for everything! It was very similar to the squeak that my father, that Vanina, straight arrow… And Ustyan presented himself in a caftan, with a saber, or even an iron hat and cuirass! Well, not immediately, how to turn out, so, in five to eight years…

It was necessary to hurry, and the boy ran to the court of the merchant Kanyushkin. On the other side of the fence, the dog barked for the sake of order, and almost a gate opened saz.

— Well, what did you bring? ‘the grumpy voice of Grandma Lukerya rang out.

“And the carrot? ‘the guest asked busily.

— Come on, there is nothing to show here, still young.

Ustyan just sighed, knew that the cradle would not deceive. He took out a letter from his hat and gave it to Lukerye.

— Do not leave, run here, next to the fence. I’ll come now.

The boy sniffed for solidity, and his attention was drawn to the nettle thickets in the ditch, here the stick was suitable. Now Ustyan was a horseman of the sovereign’s court and cut himself with enemies, he did not feel sorry for himself, all the nettles were chipped, but he pulled the burning grass to the root!

Indeed, the grandmother left the house and carried the treat in a small basket.

— And Vasyatka half. And you bring a basket in a week, and now, take a note. And don’t get caught in Emele’s eyes anymore. Did you understand?

“Yes, I understand,” said the honest lad.

— Hide the letter in the hat.

— All right…

— Go ahead.

Ustyan ran home with a basket and a wonderful slingshot, already anticipating how he and his brother would eat the donated gingerbread to the last crumb.

***

The boy rushed home, Vaska closed the gate behind him. The brothers hesitated, and the basket was given, but of course, not to the very youngest, and Ustyan was already decorous. as the priest likes to walk, he began to climb into Ivan’s room. The brother apparently did not sleep, but simply sat on the bench, waiting for news.

— Well, did you bring it? asked the young man impatiently, rising quickly.

“Did you scold me with a saber?”

— Here, take it, — and held out the promised to the boy.

Ustyan incredulously picked up a solid and beautiful thing, made even with scabbard, he simply could not tear himself away from the gift.

— This is Vasily, — and in front of him lay another saber, only not in blue, but in green sheath, — otherwise you will fight again.

“My brother and I never fight. Why? — Ustyan said very confidently, but not quite honestly — and this is for you — and put the letter in front of Ivan.

The boy hastily left the room, not wanting to interfere with the elder to disassemble the palm letters written by Elena.

Ivan put the letter in front of him, and began to read:

Hello Ivanushka for many years!

A week later, the priest leaves for three days. In the evening, as Anfim and Emelyan sleep, I will wait for you. In my window, two candles will burn.

Elena

Ivan even suffocated with joy. He will agree with the foreman, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow he will stand guard, and he will be free on the day of school. It will be necessary to make a hotel, otherwise what will surprise such a girl? Today I will work in a forge, the young man decided.

Having drawn water into the house, six buckets, which would be enough for everything, Vanya went to the workshop, where the prepared bast blanks lay. He had already begun to carve a bear figure with a bear cub.

— Ah, Ivan, hello!

— Hello, Father. Here, you need to work. A little left.

— I see your art, son, — he sighed, — it is clear for whom you are trying. Maybe, nevertheless, you will send matchmakers to Avdotya? And beautiful, and our family is no poorer than her. How will Fyodor Romanovich, Elena’s father, look at your courtship?

— Come on, father… As it will be, so it will be good… Maybe everything is sweet.

“Well, God knows,” Semyon Petrovich did not argue, “but you did well.” Now you will cover the tree with oil, and then paint it in a day.

“I’ll go to the guard tomorrow.

“I’ll paint it. Don’t worry.

— Thank you, Father — and the young man began to iron the tree with emery applied to the rag.

So by evening, an elegant figure, covered with oil, stood ready for painting in the workshop.

***

On this day, Ivan, together with old acquaintances Pyotr Avdusin and Pavel Noskov, entered the guard with a collar. Two archers were from the other ten, Zinovy Ilyin and Demyan Goglev, already sedentary men, about forty years old, with wide broad beards. The eldest was, as always, the foreman Dulev Afanasy Petrovich, their youngest initial person.

The day was turbulent. In the morning, the bishop of the city himself was invited to the city governor, the wheels of the beautiful carriage of the bishop rumbled. It was not a monk sitting on the goats, but it is clear, just a servant in a gray felt caftan and the same hat. The priest was accompanied by six boyar children, in embroidered queens and necked hats, with sabers and pistols at the saddle, but the riders and horses were good, but only one had argamak, apparently, the eldest over all. The collars were considered with someone else’s honor, and the hats were removed in front of the priest who had passed.

— Now, Ivan, you will listen to the stories of the boyar children, as they went to Smolensk. They broadcast this every time, — said Zinovy Ilyin quietly, — well, Demyan and I were there too. But, pretend that you believe everything, do not enter into a quarrel.

— You say right, — Goglev nodded, — nothing, next time we will recapture the city from the Poles.

— Exactly, we’ll beat it off, — Ilyin agreed, — but Filimon Gukov tells the son of Eremeev, fun. Listen.

— Okay, well done, — Afanasy Petrovich himself spoke, — the head of the order himself goes, Tikhon Ilyich Trubchev.

Everyone immediately settled down, took on a young look, so that the approaching head was pleased with his archers, and did not hide his joy. He simply radiated a light-brocade hat glistened, the caftan simply shone, with a pattern on his back — Heat with a bird embroidered with pearls and mother of pearl.

“Well done, well done to her God,” he said to the five collars, “especially to you,” and his head turned his face to Dulyov, “the bishop was very pleased. Yes, he may be, and he himself will come out to you in front of the road. The governor, too, as he heard the words of the bishop, immediately came off the plate with jellied meat. But the jellied meat that his yard girl Melania does, he, read the best in the entire Russian state! — and raised his index finger up, — okay, you have two altyns for vodka, — and handed Dulyov six money.

Having completed such a good deed, the initial man Trubchev moved back to the stone chambers of the governor. Well, the excited foreman, having removed his hat, crossed himself three times to the cathedral in the citadel.

“Father Barsanuphius will love your goodness. Especially when his servant will bypass parishioners with a mug, calling for generosity, “said Ilyin, a joking sagittarius.

— And you, if you had the opportunity, would give alms not only for your family, but also for Goglev’s household.

Then everyone laughed, and Ilyin only straightened his mustache, sometimes looked at his old friend, Demyan.

— What are you laughing at, archers? — asked the boyar son Filimon Gukov, the son of Eremeev, — really over me?

“How can you, Filimon Eremeevich,” Dulyov began to say, “you are a famous warrior, and we went on campaigns with you.”

— Exactly, near Smolensk! — the nobleman agreed, — the campaign was glorious!

Gukov looked around the young soldiers who had not heard of the Smolensk fortress, sat down, moved his hat to the back of his head and led a story:

— The year 7140 has come. Mikhail Borisovich Shein led a large army. We approached with a large army under the glorious Smolensk — the city. Regiments came from all over the earth — from Novgorod, from the Volga. Moscow nobles were also on the campaign. Large cannons, siege, took with them more than twenty. Around all the cities fought, and Novgorod — Seversky, and Serpeysk and Belaya fortress. They began to camp, set up a palisade and began to dig aprosh. We were approaching the walls, and Polish military people fired at us from muskets and cannons. Which of ours died. But will you scare us with bullets and cores? But, our siege guns Serpent and Raven also spoke, like the walls and towers from the cores of huge ones shook. They almost took the city, but the king of Poland came to the rescue and for a long time we fought in the camp, I even got a saber in battle. So in the winter of 7141 we left with honor from under the walls of Smolensky. But come back, the king — the priest — will gather strength, and again we will go to war. Okay, let’s go and eat in the refectory. Only me are waiting.

“God help,” Afanasy Petrovich said, calming down.

So the day was busy and hectic. The bishop left only in the evening, when the sun began to hide behind the walls of the fortress, making the brick walls of the Tula stronghold even redder. Their Kremlin was good, they say, no worse than Moscow. And there were a lot of battles here.

“Finally, the day ends. Now we will close the gate, — whispered the foreman.

The archers removed the locks, and five of them began to push the gates of the gates, heavy, shackled with iron. Here, the gate slammed shut and the grate was lowered. Two guards remained at the entrance, and two went to rest in the room nearby. In the morning they were replaced. Ivan waited impatiently for the evening.

Cherished date

In the church of St. Nicholas, they called for Vespers, and the young man began to dress for a night walk. Clothes picked up not noticeable, but good, soft boots. He put a gift for Elena Fedorovna in a shoulder bag. He sat down at the table, looked thoughtfully at the candle, a small light slightly illuminated the room. I had to go, and the young man carefully stepping on the floorboards did not wake anyone in the house. The dog, dozing at the booth, only raised its head and wagged its tail, recognizing the owner. Ivan could not resist, stroked the head of a faithful friend, and slipped out into the night street.

It’s dark, it’s just very dark and the blackness seemed to come up from both sides. The night traveler saw only coal fences that seemed now, as if hiding in the black night silence. Ivan finally saw with difficulty the turn of the street to the estate of the merchant Kanyushkin. He went closer, and accurately, saw the tower with a window lit by candles. The window was definitely girlish, with multi-colored glasses. It was impossible to pull, and Ivan, having finally decided, jumped, clung with his palms to the edge of the fence boards, pulled himself up and threw his body over the fence. I landed almost on my arms and legs at the same time, it’s good that I didn’t get into the nettles growing nearby.

— You jump well, for sure, because you are in the royal service, — he heard such a welcome voice.

In the dark, Elena Fedorovna stood over him, shining with a white face, and rolling into a forest and a large, and you can see a warm, scarf. She held an oil lamp in her left hand.

“Let’s go,” she said, grasping the guest by the hand, “Emelya and Anfim are sleeping, do not wake up.

— And, Ivan Semenovich was late, — suddenly heard the young man a familiar voice, — yes I am, Lukerya. Go, but look at me, don’t indulge, otherwise I’ll leave you like that with a stick, you can’t sit down before the wedding!

Elena laughed, looked hastily at the young man, but he only smiled back.

“And to you, grandma, thank you for everything.

— Okay, go fast, doves. I’ll watch here on the bench, “Lukerya immediately cooled down.

The girl shone on the stairs, and they quickly climbed the steps, and the hostess opened the door to the girls’ chambers.

— Come on in.

The same guiding two candles by the window that he saw when he walked down the street shone in the upper room. In the red corner, three lamps in red lampshade glass burned in front of the icons. The girl looked very cozy in the room — on the floor there was a Khiva carpet, three Venetian chairs, an armchair, a bookcase, a pair of carved rich chests, a bed covered with a rich bedspread, with several pillows at the head.

“That’s how I live. Sit down Ivan. Here is honey and beer.

“This is for you,” the guest muttered a little embarrassed and put a wooden figure on the table.

Two funny bear cubs danced on the table, hugging each other with shaggy paws. The girl sat down next to the tables, turned like that, it was clear that she liked the figure.

— What can I say, very beautiful. I’ll put it here. Thank you for the gift — and she put the hotel on her desk — here, you sing, she baked herself.

Elena moved the dish with pies, and removed the linen napkin from the treat. Poured into glasses and berry glove. I put plates for the guest and myself.

— Try, these with fish, next to — with hares, and this is with cabbage onions and eggs.

The dishes smelled amazing, and the guest could not refuse. He should have tried. Having eaten each of the pies, which of them he could not decide, and was forced to repeat. The hostess was glad that he did not refuse, although she herself ate only one, with fish.

— Which one did you like best?

“One is better than the other. You cannot select.

She thoughtfully drank a berry drink, then got up, opened the supplier and took out a shirt from a thin canvas.

“It’s a present, you. As a keepsake — and she put it on the bench — my father does not want to listen about our wedding yet, — she added in a different tone, — I don’t know what to come up with.

“I will try to negotiate with Father Barsanuphius,” Ivan tried to find a solution, “we will be secretly married. There, you see, your father will forgive us.

— Hard to say… But the priest will go for the goods now only in winter, as the road opens. And so, we can see each other in the church on Sundays. Only you know: I will not accept matchmakers from anyone but you.

“And I won’t marry anyone but you.

Elena came close, very close, so Ivan heard the rustling of the silk of her outfit. It seemed to him so loud, so it sounded in his head, and his heart pounded very hard, and it seemed to the young man that the girl could hear it. Her dazzling chalk white face approached and the beauty’s carmine lips touched his lips, and her hands lay on her shoulders. Ivan dreamed that time seemed to stop, the young man did not breathe, as if he had fallen into the abyss. Finally, Elena broke away from him, the eyes of the beauties constantly looked at their chosen one.

“Let’s go,” she said with difficulty, “it’s time. I’ll walk you out.

The girl took his hand, there was an oil lantern in the other, the young man put her gift in his bosom, and they carefully went down the stairs. Elena was anxious, listening to every rustle in the house. But now, she pulled back the bolt, opened the door from the hem, kissed Ivan’s neck, and whispered:

— Go. It’s time for you to sleep…

He nodded, hardly turned away from his beloved, ran to the fence, and quickly climbed it, being on the street. The young man here checked if he had forgotten anything, and went home, hiding in the night darkness. It was hard to return, he turned around more than once, wanted to once again see the window of her room. Before him everything stood the white face of the beauty with dazzling blue eyes.

From autumn to spring

Ivan’s service in the fortress continued, as did secret correspondence between lovers. Winter was coming, and the day became very fleeting, after four in the afternoon the young sagittarius and his father returned home after the service, and they made something by the light of the rays. Of course, not something complicated, but so, rude things to take your hands. It was also twilight at home. Hearing a prayer for Vespers, they also performed a prayer, sat down to dinner, to eat what the hostess had prepared for dinner. After that they went to bed. It was more fun in those days when the father and the eldest son stayed at home. Work was in full swing, and new sensible things were getting out of the hands of the Moshkins. For three weeks they made the Psalter’s salary for the church from bronze from bronze, then Gavrila, a goldsmith, arrived, took their work, which put gold and stones. And so, most often they made locks for the merchant Kanyushkin.

One day in December, Semyon and Ivan were engaged, rather tormented with the repair of a cunning pistol given to them by a streletsky head.

— So Ivan, heat the bugle, but keep the axis careful… I need to go in… So, now hammer quietly. Bite with ticks and files now…

The son clearly did the job according to his father, it turned out just fine. The gun cooled down, Semyon cocked the spring with a key. pulled the trigger: a whole sheaf of sparks hit the lock.

— Well, that’s it, it’s done. Then we will shoot once for order, and take the pistol to the Kremlin, Tikhon Ilyich.

Ustyan strolled by, singing, and sometimes winked at his older brother.

— What, eyes hurt? Tell your mother, let her wash, — the father was worried, — and you and I, Ivan, need to put iron tires on the wheels of our cart, they jumped off. The wheel will quickly get around, there will be absolutely trouble.

The eldest son nodded, and went to the barn. Ustyan also followed him, and quickly put the letter in his hand. Then, as if nothing had happened, the boy joined Vasily, who was carrying firewood into the house. The work seemed fun to the children, the snow was sad under the felt boots, sometimes one or the other threw snowballs at each other. So, not very much, if only the snow fell in the bosom.

Well, Ivan put the jumped tire in the bugle, warmed it to red, grabbed it with ticks, and began to settle, hitting the rim with a kiyanka, on a wooden wheel so that it would fit less. It was already beginning to get dark again, and it was necessary to remove the ticks and hammers and extinguish the bugle. Then, sedately, imitating his father, the young man went home.

He ate as if he did not notice the taste of food, only brought, like others, spoons with porridge to his mouth. So he swallowed dinner like a crow in a tree. And did not notice what he ate. But now, it was over, and the young man hurried to himself. Closing the door, he took out the cherished note

Good afternoon, Ivanushka, health to you for many years!

Father will leave at the end of March, sell the goods to Moscow and buy all sorts of things there. He wants to grab me for Gavrila Khlebnikov, a merchant from Moscow, but I don’t want that. They told me that Father Barsanuphius could marry us secretly. I’m ready for anything.

Elena who loves you.

Ivan jumped up from the bench, and entered the upper room like a caught forest cat in a cage. Nothing, the pop will marry them. How much money will he want for demand? He has two rubles, nothing. He sat down at the table, pulled up a burning candle, and began to draw out the letters with a pencil.

My kind Elena!

We get married secretly, I will agree with the priest. I will never give up on you.

Devoted to you Ivan

I re-read it again — it seemed to be good and not stupid. He could not express himself as colorfully as his betrothed did. Both clever and beautiful… And he? Well, he has enough strength, he shoots well too, and he almost adopted the skill from his father.

— Okay, stop harassing yourself, — he said to himself, and began to earnestly pray for the icons in the red corner, remembering both the Mother of God, and St. Nicholas, and St. George.

Only in this way could he calm down, undressed to death, and climbed under a warm blanket. The stove was heated, the houses were heated from below, from the basement.

Secret wedding

Ivan went to the church, in a hurry. And it was not easy, and the cat is heavy — as much as two rubles of money. He walked past melting snowdrifts, trying to get around cow cakes on the road. And what kind of farm without a cow, or even two? Milk to sour cream is difficult for a Russian person to live without them. So the fence appeared, next to which sat Mishka, a holy fool. A good, kind ascetic. He did not wish evil on anyone, did not curse, he spoke only good things.

Ivan, without thinking, put two kopecks in the mug of the holy man, and taking off his hat, crossed himself on the domes, and asked:

“Stand up for me before God, good man.

— Do not doubt, — and the holy fool smiled with a good, bright smile, — everything will be kind. The Most Holy Theotokos loves you, will intercede.

It became a little easier on Ivan’s soul, and he went into the temple, and again crossed himself, and tried to see the priest. Finally, I saw a priest talking about someone with a widow. Finally, she bowed low to him, and moved away. Father Barsanuphius was thin, with the same thin beard, in an ordinary cassock. and, with a cross on his chest.

— Father, — Ivan turned to him, — I would talk about an important matter. I decided to get married…

“That’s a good thing,” the priest clasped his hands on his chest and smiled slyly.

— Yes, it’s not easy… We wouldn’t talk here, otherwise I’m a little embarrassed in front of someone else’s eyes!

— And why you, vyunosh, thought, if you don’t want someone else’s ears nearby?

“He’s getting married, Father. So the bride agrees, do not think. Her father looks at me askance.

“Why?” You are in the royal service, and do not carry firewood to people.

“So I wish to marry Elena Fedorovna Kanyushkina,” the young man said very quietly.