The Beggar Summary
The story begins with the plea of a beggar who argues for Sergei, a lawyer. The beggar says that he has not eaten in three days. For eight years he was a village school student and victim of a conspiracy that cost him his reputation and his job. He has not had any employment for a year. Sergei looks at the beggar's overcoat and face; He thinks he has seen her elsewhere.
The beggars further state that they have been offered a position in the province of Kaluga; But he needs money to take it. Sergei supervises the beggar: one is more than the other. He suddenly remembers where he first saw the beggar. He tells the beggar that two days ago, he met her in Sadovya Street and later claimed that he was a student who had been expelled. The beggar is surprised and claims that he has papers to prove that he was a village teacher. Sergei hates him.
Sergey says that he will call the police for this fraud. At this, the beggar confessed that he used to be part of a Russian recital and was expelled for drunkenness. He says that he has no choice, because lying will not help him if he tells them the truth.
Sergei tells him to work; He asks the beggar if he would like to cut wood for him. The beggar accepts. Sergei takes the beggar home and tells his cook, Olga, to take him to the woodshed. The body language of the beggar makes it clear that he has accepted this work only with pride and shame and not because he wants to do the work. It is also clear that the beggar has gone mad due to drinking vodka and has little desire to work hard.
Sergei saw Olga and the beggar from the window in the dining room. He sees them making their way among the woods with snow. Olga is not taking pity for the beggar. Upon reaching the shed,
Olga pushed the beggar apart with her elbow and angrily slammed the door. He then sees a beggar seat on a log and is lost in thought. Olga kicks the ax at her feet, spits angrily and is seen scolding her. At this point, the beggar makes half-hearted attempts to cut a piece of wood. By now Sergei's anger has vanished and he feels ashamed to see a spoiled, drunken and perhaps sick man doing hard labor in cold weather.
After an hour, Olga informs Sergei that all the wood has been cut. Sergei tells him to give half a ruble to the beggar and also tells that he can come back to cut wood on the first day of every month. He will always have to work for it.
On the first date of the following month, Waff arrives to chop wood and earn half a ruble again, though he can barely freeze on his feet. After that, he returns to Sergei's yard several times and is given work each time — he shovels snow, settles wood and dusts rugs and mattresses. Each time they are given 20 to 40 rupees, and once they are given old trousers. When Sergei moves into a new house, Waff is hired to help with packing and moving furniture. This time, he comes silent, calm and depressed. He doesn't even pretend to work. He trembles in the cold and is embarrassed when the Carters laugh at his behavior and his weary overcoat.
Sergei sends for him and says that he is happy that Vef is working and is calm. He asks the latter for his name. Weff says his name is Lushkoff. Sergei offers him a better job and asks Lushkoff if he can write. When Lushkoff says he can write, Sergei tells him to take a letter to someone the next day where he will be given the job of copying. Sergei reminds him to work hard, stay calm and remember his words. Sergei is happy to have Lushkoff installed on the right track. Lushkoff takes the letter and, later that day, does not return to work for Sergei.
Two years pass. One day, while Sergei is buying a ticket at the ticket window of a theater, he notices a small man next to him, wearing a curly fur coat collar and a worn sealskin hat. This man asks for tickets from time to time and pays in copper coins. Sergei realizes that this man is Lushkoff and asks him what he is doing. Lushkoff says he is doing well; He is a notary and earns 35 rubles a month. Sergei becomes happy and tells Lushkoff that he is almost like a godson for her. He reminds Lushkoff of the scolding he gave her and thanks him for not forgetting her words.
Lushkoff thanks Sergei and says that had it not been for Sergei's help, Lushkoff would probably still be lying and begging. He thanks Sergei but says that it was Olga who saved him. He explains that when he went to Sergei's house, Olga would sit in front of him, grieving and crying, saying that Lushkoff was an unfortunate drunkard, who would not find any happiness in this life or further. She would cry and be sad, but most importantly she would cut wood for him. He confesses that he never cut a piece of wood and he did it all. He cannot explain how the act changed him and saved him. All he knows is that his words and kind actions changed his heart; Get him on the right track and he will never forget him. Then the theater bell rings and Lushoff bows and goes inside the gallery.
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