Leo Tolstoy Archive
Written: 1862
Source: From RevoltLib.com
Transcription/Markup: Andy Carloff
Online Source: RevoltLib.com; 2021
For lack of space we must omit the description of the teaching of language and other subjects and the extracts from the teachers' diaries; but here we will cite specimens of the compositions of two of the pupils in the first class, making no change in spelling or punctuation.
B, a very poor scholar, but a lad of keen and original mind, wrote compositions about Tula, and about his studies. The one about his studies had a great success among the scholars. B - was eleven years old, and had been at school at Yasnaya Polyana three winters; but he had studied before.
"About Tula" —
"The other Sunday I went to Tula again. When we got there Vladimir Aleksandrovitch told me and Vaska Zhdanof to go to Sunday-school. We went and we went and we went, [27] and at last, after a great deal of trouble, we found it. We went in and found all the scholars sitting down; and I saw our teacher in botany. And so I said, ' How do you do sir? ' [28] and he said, 'How do you do.' Then I went into the class, stood near the table, and I felt so confused that I took and went out into Tula. I went and I went and I saw a woman baking cakes. [29] I began to take my money out of my pocket, when I had got it out, I bought the cakes.
After I had bought them I went on. And I saw a man walking up and down on a tower, and looking to see if there was a fire anywhere. And I have finished about Tula."
"Composition about how I studied —
"When I was eight years old, I was sent to Gruma to the cattle woman. There I learned a good deal. But afterwards I got tired of it, and began to cry. And the woman took a stick and began to beat me. But I cried louder than ever. And after a few days I ran off home, and told them all about it. And they took me from there and sent me to Dunka's mother. And there I studied well, and I was never beaten there, and there I learned the whole alphabet. Then I was sent to Foka Demidovitch. He used to beat me very cruelly. Once I ran away from him, and he ordered them to find me. When they found me and carried me to him, he took me and laid me over the footstool, took a bundle of rods, and began to beat me. And I screamed with all my might; and when he lifted me up he made me read. And as he listened to me he would say, ' You son of a dog! how abominably you read! oh, what a pig you are! ' '
Here are two examples of Fedka's composition; the one on the subject "Corn" given to him, the other chosen by himself, about a visit to Tula. This was Fedka's third winter at school. He was ten years old.
"About Corn —
"Corn grows in the ground. At first it is generally green. But when it is full grown then the ears of corn grow out of it and the women reap it. There is another kind of corn just like grass, and the cattle eat it well."
That was all there was of it. He was conscious that it was not good, and was sorry for it. About Tula he wrote as follows without correction:
"About Tula —
"When I was a very little boy I was five years old and sometimes I heard of people going to a place called Tula and I did not know what Tula was. And so I asked my papa: [30]
"' Pa! what sort of a place is this Tula where you go? Is it good?'
"Papa said, 'Yes.'
"Then I said: ' Pa! take me with you, I want to see Tula.'
"Papa said: 'All right when Sunday comes I will take you with me.'
"I was glad and began to run and jump on the bench.
"After these days came Sunday. I got up very early in the morning but papa was already harnessing the horses in the yard. I got on my shoes and stockings and dressed me as quick as I could.
"By the time I was dressed and ran down into the yard father had the horses all harnessed. I got into the sledge and started. We rode and we rode and we went about fourteen versts. [31] I saw a tall church and I shouted ' Father see what a tall church! '
"Father said: ' there is a church not so high and prettier,' and I began to ask him: ' Father let us go into it: I want to say my prayers.'
"Father took me in. Just as we were going in, they suddenly pounded on the bell; I was frightened and I asked father what that was: ' Is it a drum they are playing on? '
"Father said: ' No that is the beginning of mass.'
"Then we went into the church and said our prayers. When we had said our prayers we went to market. And here I am going along and going along and I keep stumbling all the time but I keep looking around on all sides.
"And then we came to the bazaar; and I saw some one selling cakes 1 and I wanted to take some without paying for them. And father says to me: 'don't take them, else they will take your cap! '
"I ask: [32] Why should they take my cap? ' and father says: ' don't take them without money,' and I say: ' Then give me a grivna [33] and I will buy myself some little cakes! '
"Papa gave me one and I bought three cakes and I ate them up and I said: 'father how good these cakes are! '
"When we had done our shopping, we went back to the horses and watered them and gave them their hay and when they were fed we harnessed them and went home and I went into the cottage and undressed and began to tell everybody how I had been to Tula and how father and I had been to church and said our prayers. And then I went to sleep and dreamed that I saw Father starting for Tula again. I immediately woke up and saw that everybody was asleep and so I took and went to sleep again myself."