Мертві душі

           TohimIwentandsaidthatIhadafriend(thoughIdidnotactuallymentionyourname)whowasingreattroubleofsoul.Suddenlytherecluseinterruptedmewiththewords:‘God’sworkfirst,andourownlast.Thereisneedforachurchtobebuilt,butnomoneywherewithtobuildit.Moneymustbecollectedtothatend.’Thenheshuttothewicket.Iwonderedtomyselfwhatthiscouldmean,andconcludedthatthereclusehadbeenunwillingtoaccordmehiscounsel.NextIrepairedtotheArchimandrite,andhadscarcereachedhisdoorwhenheinquiredofmewhetherIcouldcommendtohimamanmeettobeentrustedwiththecollectionofalmsforachurch—amanwhoshouldbelongtothedvorianeortothemoreletteredmerchants,butwhowouldguardthetrustashewouldguardthesalvationofhissoul.OntheinstantthoughtItomyself:‘WhyshouldnottheHolyFatherappointmyfriendSemenSemenovitch?Forthewayofsufferingwouldbenefithimgreatly;andashepassedwithhisledgerfromlandownertopeasant,andfrompeasanttotownsman,hewouldlearnwherefolkdwell,andwhostandsinneedofaught,andthuswouldbecomebetteracquaintedwiththecountrysidethanfolkwhodwellincities.And,thusbecome,hewouldfindthathisserviceswerealwaysindemand.’OnlyoflatedidtheGovernor-Generalsaytomethat,couldhebutbefurnishedwiththenameofasecretarywhoshouldknowhisworknotonlybythebookbutalsobyexperience,hewouldgivehimagreatsum,sincenothingistobelearnedbytheformermeans,and,throughit,muchconfusionarises.