On Renumeration of Labour + 

The Father + 

Katia, a girl of nine + 

Fedia, a boy of eight + 

Katia + 

Father, our sledge is broken. Couldn’t you mend it for us? + 

Father + 

No, darling, I can not. I don’t know how to do it. Give it to Prohor; he will put it right for you. + 

Katia + 

We have asked him to already. He says he is busy. He is making a gate. + 

Father + 

Well, then, you must just wait a little with your sledge. + 

Fedia + 

And you, father, can’t you mend it for us, really? + 

Father + 

Smiling. Really, my boy. + 

Fedia + 

Can’t you do any work at all? + 

Father + 

Laughing. Oh yes, there are some kinds of work I can do. But not the kind that Prohor does. + 

Fedia + 

Can you make samovars like Vania? + 

Father + 

No. + 

Fedia + 

Or harness horses? + 

Father + 

Not that either. + 

Fedia + 

I wonder why are we all unable to do any work, and they do it all for us. Ought it to be like that? + 

Father + 

Everybody has to do the work he is fit for. Learn, like a good boy, and you will know what work everybody has to do. + 

Fedia + 

Are we not to learn how to prepare food and to harness horses? + 

Father + 

There are things more necessary than that. + 

Fedia + 

I know: to be kind, not to get cross, not to abuse people. But isn’t it possible to do the cooking and harness horses, and be kind just the same? Isn’t that possible? + 

Father + 

Undoubtedly. Just wait till you are grown up. Then you will understand. + 

Fedia + 

And what if I don’t grow up? + 

Father + 

Don’t talk nonsense! + 

Katia + 

Then we may ask Prohor to mend the sledge? + 

Father + 

Yes, do. Go to Prohor and tell him I wish him to do it. + 