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earned 20 - 40 Copecks for it. Once Sergei gave him a pair of trousers

too.

When Sergei moved into another house he hired him to help in the

packing and hauling of the furniture. This time the waif was sober,

gloomy, and silent. He hardly touched the furniture, and walked behind

the wagons hanging his head, not even making pretence of appearing

busy. He only shivered in the cold and became embarrassed when the

carters jeered at him for his idleness, his feebleness, and his tattered,

fancy overcoat. After the moving was over Sergei sent for him.

Hauling: transporting

Pretence: to show something which actually does not exist

jeered at him: made fun of him

Sergei shifted to another house and hired the beggar to help in moving

the articles like furniture. Now the man was not under the influence of

alcohol. He was sad and remained quiet. He hardly took part in moving

the furniture. He simply walked behind the vans with his head hanging

low and did not even pretend to be busy. He shivered due to the cold

weather and seemed embarrassed when other workers made fun of him

for being idle, weak and laughed at his torn overcoat. When the work

was completed, Sergei called the beggar.

“Well, I am happy that my words have taken effect,‟” he said, handing

him a rouble. “Here‟s for your pains. I see you are sober and have no

objection to work. What is your name?‟”

Sergei said that he was happy to see the change in the beggar due to

his scoldings. He gave him a Rouble for his labour and asked him his

name as he had left drinking and was willing to work too.

“Lushkoff.”