"Turn from that teaching
Tender and wise-- 40
Cowards and traitors
Soon will arise.

"People of Russia,
Banish the night!
You have been granted
That which is needful--
Freedom and Light!"

The deacon was poor
As the poorest of peasants:
A mean little cottage 50
Like two narrow cages,
The one with an oven
Which smoked, and the other
For use in the summer,--
Such was his abode.
No horse he possessed
And no cow. He had once had
A dog and a cat,
But they'd both of them left him.

His sons put him safely 60
To bed, snoring loudly;
Then Savushka opened
A book, while his brother
Went out, and away