The Foundling (Tolstoy)
Division into chapters is editorial.
The discovery of the foundling
Early one morning, Másha went to fetch water from the well as she did every day. As she approached her family's door, she noticed something unusual wrapped in old rags lying there. Curious about the strange bundle, she reached out and touched it gently.
When she touched the rags, there came from it the sound of "Ooah, ooah, ooah!" Másha bent down and saw that it was a tiny, red-skinned baby. It was crying aloud: "Ooah, ooah!"
The discovery startled Másha, but her compassionate nature immediately took over. She carefully lifted the crying infant into her arms and carried it inside the house. The baby appeared to be newly born, with wrinkled red skin and tiny features that spoke of its vulnerability and need for care.
Once inside, Másha immediately began caring for the infant. She found a spoon and gave the baby milk, trying to nourish the obviously hungry child. Her actions were gentle and instinctive, showing her natural maternal instincts despite the unexpected situation. Her mother soon appeared, drawn by the commotion and the sound of the crying baby.
When her mother asked what she had brought into their home, Másha simply explained that she had found a baby at their door.
The mothers objection
Upon learning about the foundling, the mother's reaction was immediate and practical. She considered their family's dire financial situation and the additional burden that caring for another child would place on their already strained resources.
The mother expressed her concerns about their poverty and their inability to properly feed and care for the infant. She believed the most sensible course of action would be to take the baby to the village chief, who could arrange for its proper care elsewhere.
"We are poor as it is; we have nothing to feed the baby with; I will go to the chief and tell him to take the baby."
The mother's words reflected the harsh reality of their circumstances. Living in poverty, the family barely had enough resources to sustain themselves, let alone care for an additional mouth to feed. Her practical approach, while seemingly harsh, came from a place of genuine concern about their survival and the baby's welfare. She believed that someone with more means would be better equipped to provide for the child's needs.
Máshas successful plea
Hearing her mother's decision to give the baby away, Másha became deeply emotional. The thought of abandoning the helpless infant that she had just rescued filled her with distress. She began to cry, her tears reflecting both her compassion for the child and her desperation to convince her mother to change her mind.
Másha began to cry, and said: "Mother, the child will not eat much; leave it here! See what red, wrinkled little hands and fingers it has!"
Másha's plea was both practical and emotional. She tried to reassure her mother that the baby would not consume much food, addressing the economic concerns that had been raised. More importantly, she drew her mother's attention to the baby's tiny, vulnerable features - its small red hands and delicate fingers that spoke of its complete helplessness and need for protection.
The mother looked closely at the baby's tiny hands and fingers that Másha had pointed out. As she observed the infant's delicate features and obvious vulnerability, something stirred within her heart. The sight of the helpless child awakened her maternal instincts and compassion, overriding her initial practical concerns about their poverty.
Moved by pity for the innocent child, the mother decided not to take the baby to the chief after all. Másha's emotional appeal had succeeded in changing her mother's heart. From that moment forward, the family welcomed the foundling into their home. Másha took on the responsibility of caring for the infant, feeding it regularly and wrapping it in swaddling clothes to keep it warm and comfortable. When the baby grew tired, she would sing gentle songs to help it fall asleep, showing the same tender care that any loving mother would provide.