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This sort of employment, as his neighbors said, was both light and
profitable; it required neither education nor labor. It had one
drawback, however, which was calculated to reconcile his victims to
their losses: Though he could for a time have all his needs supplied
without expending either labor or money, there was always the
possibility of his methods being discovered; and this result was sure to
be followed by a long term of imprisonment. This impending danger made
life a burden for Polikey and his family.
Such a setback indeed very nearly happened to Polikey early in his
career. He married while still young, and God gave him much happiness.
His wife, who was a shepherd's daughter, was a strong, intelligent,
hard-working woman. She bore him many children, each of whom was said to
be better than the preceding one.
Polikey still continued to steal, but once was caught with some small
articles belonging to others in his possession. Among them was a pair
of leather reins, the property of another peasant, who beat him severely
and reported him to his mistress.
From that time on Polikey was an object of suspicion, and he was twice
again detected in similar escapades. By this time the people began to
abuse him, and the clerk of the court threatened to recruit him into
the army as a soldier (which is regarded by the peasants as a great
punishment and disgrace). His noble mistress severely reprimanded him;
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