Sunday, December 26, 2021

At Christmas Time

At Christmas Time is a 1900 short story by Anton Chekhov. You can read it online here or listen to it read to you (in a different translation) at the bottom of this post. It begins:
"What shall I write ? " asked Yegor, dipping his pen in the ink.

Vasilissa had not seen her daughter for four years. Efimia had gone away to St. Petersburg with her husband after her wedding, had written two letters, and then had vanished as if the earth had engulfed her, not a word nor a sound had come from her since. So now, whether the aged mother was milking the cow at daybreak, or lighting the stove, or dozing at night, the tenor of her thoughts was always the same: "How is Efimia ? Is she alive and well ? " She wanted to send her a letter, but the old father could not write, and there was no one whom they could ask to write it for them.

But now Christmas had come, and Vasilissa could endure the silence no longer.
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14 comments:

  1. ...I hope that you enjoyed a merry day.

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  2. The thoughts and worry never stop when you have children. No matter how old they get.

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  3. That ended far less fun than I had hoped. But I still enjoyed reading it. Happy Boxing Day.

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    Replies
    1. Some stories don't end happily-ever-after

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  4. Sounds like a good story. Hope your Christmas was a good one.

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  5. Such a sad story. :(

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    Replies
    1. Things sometimes just don't work out :(

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  6. I love Chekhov, so I will enjoy LISTENING TO THIS STORY WHEN i PAINT LATER ON: tHANKSS1 vALERIE Oooops, sorry, caps!

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  7. I love "Performed by Frank." I wonder who Frank is?

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    Replies
    1. He's the reader. He has his own YouTube channel:
      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEmtLkgm5mPO6w-kPIEVSsg

      and web site:
      https://www.frankmarcopolos.com/


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