Summer was "a comin' in," and a certain serious matter began to weigh upon the mind of the peasants of Kushlefka, which is a prosperous village in a grain-growing district of Archangel; for its settlement could not much longer be delayed. The fact is, that early in the winter Kushlefka had been so unfortunate as to lose the services of its _pastuch_, or cowherd, death having carried off the old man during the slack time--when the cows were all at home, that is, and needed no one to look after them. But now that summer was at hand, and the cows would soon be wanting to be up and about, wandering over communal pasture and moorland in search of the fresh young blades of grass, it was very awkward to feel that there was no pastuch to personally conduct them in their wanderings, and that no single candidate had been near the place to apply for the post. None of the villagers would so much as think of accepting the office, for it was but a poorly-paid billet, and was generally held by some one unconnected with the place--some outsider who had wandered into the village in search of a job and was appointed pastuch for as long as he would keep the situation. Hence when, one Sunday afternoon, as the assembly of the Heads of Families or Souls composing the Mir or Commune of Kushlefka were met to consider matters of local interest, and to settle certain business questions appertaining to their jurisdiction, it was considered rather a stroke of good luck for the community when a ragged moujik of middle age suddenly appeared at the door of the council-hall, doffed his cap and crossed himself towards the _ikon_ in the corner of the room, made a bow to those present, grinned, scratched his head, and said: "Good day, brothers; don't leave me!" The reader must not suppose that the new-comer in thus addressing the Souls of Kushlefka was seized with a sudden misgiving that those gentlemen might all arise and depart just as he had arrived; the Russian expression "Don't leave me!" merely indicates a desire to be heard, and if possible assisted, and is a common mode for an inferior to commence a conversation with a superior. "What do you want?" asked the starost, or president. "Why--work," said the man; "some job--bread to eat--any kind of work will do for me." This seemed most providential, and the starost looked meaningly around at his lieutenants. "What do you know--what can you do?" he asked. "Better ask me what I _can't_ do!" replied the new man; "I can do a bit of anything and everything!" "You can drink _vodka_, _I_ warrant!" said one of the Souls, "or you'd have pockets in your clothes and something inside them!" This was in rude allusion to the attire of the new-comer. "Well, if you come to that, brother," said that ragged individual, "the moujik who doesn't take kindly to _vodka_ is like a fish who can't swim; I can drink _vodka_ as well as most--try me, if you don't believe it."