Chapter 2 One scale and one half claw

One scale and one half claw After retiring, the fourth-rank civil servant, Kozhellogov, bought a small manor and lived there.There he imitated half Cincinnatus and half Professor Kaigorodoff, plowing the land himself, and recording his observations of nature.After his death, according to his will, his notebook, along with other belongings, passed to his housekeeper, Marfa Yevrampievna.It is well known that the venerable old woman tore down the master's estate, and built in its place a splendid restaurant, where she sold spirits.This restaurant prepares a "clean" room for the passing landlords and civil servants. There is a notebook of the deceased on the table in the room for the passing pedestrians to use when they need paper.I have fallen into my hands a page from the notebook, apparently written by the deceased at the beginning of farming, which reads: "March 3rd. The migratory birds returning in the spring have appeared: yesterday I saw sparrows Salute to you, fluffy sons and daughters of the South! I seem to hear your wishes in your melodious chirps: "Happiness to you, my lord! ' "March 14. Today I asked Marfa Evrampievna: "Why does the cock crow so much?" ’ She answered me, “Because it has a voice.” I said to her, “I also have a voice, but I don’t cry!” 'There are so many mysteries in nature!When I was working in Petersburg, I ate turkey more than once, but it was only yesterday that I saw a live turkey for the first time.That is a very fine bird.

"March 22nd. The chief constable of the district came. We had a long talk about virtue, I sat and he stood. Among other things he asked me: "My lord, you wish you were younger Once? ’ To which I replied: ‘No, I do not wish it to be, for if I had been young I would not have had such a great official position.’ He agreed with me, and went away, obviously deeply moved. "April 16th. I dug up two plots in the garden with my own hands and sowed some groats. I didn't tell anyone about it, so I called my Marfa Yevrampiev Na later surprised me. Thanks to her, I have had many happy moments in my life. At tea yesterday, she complained sadly about her figure, which she said was too plump to get through the storeroom door. Yes. On this point, I said to her: "On the contrary, my dear, the fullness of your figure adds to your charm and makes me feel very fond of you. ' She blushed, and I got up, and put two arms around her, for one arm couldn't hold her.

"May 28th. An old man saw me next to the women's bathing shed and asked me: Why am I sitting there?" I replied, "I am on guard, and young people are not allowed to come here and sit down." ’ The old man said: “Then let us watch the sentry together.” After finishing speaking, the old man sat down next to me, and we began to talk about virtue.” "Notes" ①Cincinnatus was the Roman consul in 460 BC. It is said that his life was simple and plain, and he sometimes farmed the land himself. ——Russian text editor's note ② Kaygorodov (1846-1924), a Russian professor, wrote works on phenology and forest technology. ——Russian text editor's note