| 239 | 240 | 241 | 242 | 243 |
| 1 | 73 | 145 | 218 | 290 |
|
and throwing it on the ground have stamped it out with my feet; and then
there would have been no fire."
"Ivan," said the old man, "death is fast approaching me, and remember
that you also will have to die. Who did this dreadful thing? Whose is
the sin?"
Ivan gazed at the noble face of his dying father and was silent. His
heart was too full for utterance.
"In the presence of God," the old man continued, "whose is the sin?"
It was only now that the truth began to dawn upon Ivan's mind, and that
he realized how foolish he had acted. He sobbed bitterly, and fell on
his knees before his father, and, crying like a child, said:
"My dear father, forgive me, for Christ's sake, for I am guilty before
God and before you!"
The old man transferred the lighted candle from his right hand to the
left, and, raising the former to his forehead, tried to make the sign of
the cross, but owing to weakness was unable to do so.
"
Glory to Thee, O Lord! Glory to Thee!" he exclaimed; and turning his
dim eyes toward his son, he said: "See here, Ivanushka! Ivanushka, my
dear son!"
241
Page
Quick Jump
|