A Talk with a Wayfarer (Tolstoy)
Division into sections is editorial.
A beautiful morning and encounter with a wayfarer
On a wonderful early morning, a narrator walked through the countryside, feeling light and joyful. The sun was just appearing from behind the trees, and dew glittered on the grass and foliage. Everything around him seemed lovely and lovable. The beauty was so overwhelming that he felt he did not want to die and would willingly live longer in such a beautiful world, though he acknowledged that this was not his decision to make, but the Master's.
As he approached the village, the narrator saw a man standing motionless before the first house, waiting with the patience that only working people possessed. The man was a bearded, strong, healthy peasant with shaggy, slightly grey hair and a simple worker's face, smoking a short pipe rather than a paper cigarette.
Conversation about smoking and its harmful effects
After greeting each other, the narrator asked for directions to old Alexéy's house. The peasant replied that he didn't know, explaining that they were strangers from Kalouга. The narrator noticed the peasant's use of "we" instead of "I," reflecting the Russian tendency to think collectively rather than individually.
Not 'I am a stranger,' but 'we are strangers.' A Russian is hardly ever alone... otherwise it is always 'we' the family, 'we' the artél, 'we' the Commune.
The narrator pointed to the peasant's pipe and asked how much he spent on smoking annually, suggesting it was three roubles or more. When the peasant confirmed this wasn't enough, the narrator urged him to give up smoking, sharing that he himself had quit and felt well and free as a result. The peasant acknowledged that smoking was no good but explained it was difficult to quit because of habit and dullness.
Seeing you smoke, others will do the same... especially the young folk. They'll say, 'If the old folk smoke, God himself bids us do it!'
The narrator pressed further, explaining that the peasant's example would influence others, particularly young people, and even his own son would follow his smoking habit. The peasant agreed with this reasoning but remained reluctant to quit, explaining that smoking helped him cope with dullness and boredom in his life.
I would, only it's so dull without it... It's chiefly from dullness. When one feels dull, one has a smoke... It's dull! At times it's so dull... so dull... so dull!
The moment of spiritual connection about the soul
In response to the peasant's complaint about dullness, the narrator offered a spiritual remedy, suggesting that the best way to overcome such feelings was to think of one's soul. This advice immediately transformed the peasant's demeanor - his expression changed from kindly and humorous to attentive and serious.
'Think of the soul... of the soul,' you say? he asked, gazing questioningly into my eyes... at once the expression of his face quite changed... he became attentive and serious.
The peasant's face lit up affectionately as he absorbed this spiritual counsel. He acknowledged the truth of the narrator's words, recognizing that thinking of the soul was indeed the great thing, the chief thing in life. He thanked the narrator warmly, calling him "daddy," and dismissed his pipe as good-for-nothing rubbish.
You are right, daddy! You say truly. To think of the soul is the great thing. The soul's the chief thing... Thank you, daddy, it is quite true.
The peasant's face grew still kindlier and more serious as he repeated his agreement with the narrator's spiritual wisdom. The moment had created a profound connection between the two men, transcending their brief acquaintance.
Emotional farewell and reflection
The narrator wished to continue their conversation, but emotion overwhelmed him. A lump rose in his throat, and he found himself unable to speak, having grown very weak in the matter of tears. With joyful and tender feelings, he took leave of the peasant and departed.
Yes, how can one help being joyful, living amid such people? How can one help expecting from such people all that is most excellent?