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certain sum of money--all of which would have been sufficient to enable
them to live comfortably and even happily, if their hearts had not been
filled with the shadow of a great sorrow.
This shadow darkened the lives of the entire family.
Polikey, while young, was employed in a horse-breeding establishment in
a neighboring village. The head stableman was a notorious horse-thief,
known far and wide as a great rogue, who, for his many misdeeds, was
finally exiled to Siberia. Under his instruction Polikey underwent a
course of training, and, being but a boy, was easily induced to perform
many evil deeds. He became so expert in the various kinds of wickedness
practiced by his teacher that, though he many times would gladly have
abandoned his evil ways, he could not, owing to the great hold these
early-formed habits had upon him. His father and mother died when he was
but a child, and he had no one to point out to him the paths of virtue.
In addition to his other numerous shortcomings, Polikey was fond of
strong drink. He also had a habit of appropriating other people's
property, when the opportunity offered of his doing so without being
seen. Collar-straps, padlocks, perch-bolts, and things even of greater
value belonging to others found their way with remarkable rapidity and
in great quantities to Polikey's home. He did not, however, keep
such things for his own use, but sold them whenever he could find a
purchaser. His payment consisted chiefly of whiskey, though sometimes he
received cash.
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