God Sees the Truth, but Waits by Leo Tolstoy
God Sees the Truth, but Waits
- Leo Tolstoy
In the town of Vladimir lived a young merchant named Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov. He had two shops and a house of his own.
Aksionov was a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond of singing. When quite a young man, he had been given to drink, and was riotous when he had had too much; but after he married he gave up drinking, except now and then.
One summer Aksionov was going to the Nizhny Fair, and as he bade good-bye to his family, his wife said to him, "Ivan Dmitrich, do not start to-day; I have had a bad dream about you."
Aksionov laughed, and said, "You are afraid that when I get to the fair I shall go on a spree.
His wife replied: "I do not know what I am afraid of; all I know is that I had a bad dream.I dreamt you returned from the town, and when you took off your cap I saw that your hair was quite grey."
Aksionov laughed. "That's a lucky sign," said he. "See if I don't sell out all my goods, and bring you some presents from the fair."
So he said good-bye to his family, and drove away.
When he had travelled half-way, he met a merchant whom he knew, and they put up at the same inn for the night. They had some tea together, and then went to bed in adjoining rooms.
It was not Aksionov's habit to sleep late, and, wishing to travel while it was still cool, he aroused his driver before dawn, and told him to put in the horses.
Then he made his way across to the landlord of the inn (who lived in a cottage at the back), paid his bill, and continued his journey.
When he had gone about twenty-five miles, he stopped for the horses to be fed. Aksionov rested awhile in the passage of the inn, then he stepped out into the porch, and, ordering a samovar to be heated, got out his guitar and began to play.
Suddenly a troika drove up with tinkling bells and an official alighted, followed by two soldiers. He came to Aksionov and began to question him, asking him who he was and whence he camc. Aksionov answered him fully, and said, “Won't you have some tea with me?” But the official went on cross-questioning him and asking him. "Where did you spend last night? Were you alone or with a fellow-merchant? Did you see the other merchant this morning? Why did you leave the inn before dawn?
Aksionov wondered why he was asking all these questions, but he described all that had happened and then added, "Why do you question mc as if I were a thief or a robber? I am travelling on a business of my own, and there is no need to question me.
The official, calling the soldiers, said, "I am the police-officer this district, and I question you because the merchant with whom you spent last night has been found with his throat cut. We must search your things."
They entered the house. The soldiers and the police-officer unstrapped Aksionov's luggage and searched it. Suddenly the officer drew a knife out of a bag, crying, "Whose knife is this?"
Aksionov looked, and seeing a blood-stained knife taken from his bag, he was frightened.
"How is it there is blood on this knife?"
Aksionov tried to answer, but could hardly utter a word, and only stammered: -don't know--not mine." Then the police-officer said: This morning the merchant was found in bed with his throat cut. You are the only person who could have done it. The house was locked from inside, and no one else was there. Here is this blood-stained knife in your bag and your face and manner betray you! Tell me how you killed him, and how much money you stole?"
Aksionov swore he had not done it; that he had not seen the merchant after they had had tea together; that he had no money except eight thousand roubles of his own, and that the knife was not a his. But his voice was broken, his face pale, and he trembled with fear as though he went guilty.
The police-officer ordered the soldiers to bind Aksionov and to put him in the cart. As they tied his feet together and flung him into the cart, Aksionov crossed himself and wept. His money and goods were taken from him, and he was sent to the nearest town and imprisoned there. Enquiries as to his character were made in Vladimir. Merchants and other inhabitants of that town said that in former days he used to drink and waste his time, but that he was a good man. Then the trial came on: he was charged with murdering a merchant from Ryazan, and robbing him of twenty thousand rubles.
His wife was in despair, and did not know what to believe. Her children were all quite small; one was a baby at her breast. Taking them all with her, she went to the town where her husband was in jail. At first she was not allowed to see him; but after much begging, she obtained permission from the officials, and was taken to him. When she saw her husband in prison-dress and in chains, shut up with thieves and criminals, she fell down, and did not come to her senses for a long time. Then she drew her children to her, and sat down near him. She told him of things at home, and asked about what had happened to him. He told her all, and she asked, "What can we do now?" |
"We must petition the Czar not to let an innocent man perish." His wife told him that she had sent a petition to the Czar, but it had not been accepted.
Aksionov did not reply, but only looked downcast.
Then his wife said, "It was not for nothing I dreamt your hair had turned grey. You remember? You should not have started that day." And passing her fingers through his hair, she said: "Vanya dearest, tell your wife the truth; was it not you who did it"
"So you, too, suspect me!" said Aksionov, and, hiding his face in his hands, he began to weep. Then a soldier came to say that the wife and children must go away; and Aksionov said good-bye to his family for the last time.
When they were gone, Aksionov recalled what had been said, and when he remembered that his wife also had suspected him, he said to himself, "It seems that only God can know the truth; it is to Him alone we must appeal, and from Him alone expect mercy."
And Aksionov wrote no more petitions; gave up all hope, and only prayed to God.
Aksionov was condemned to be flogged and sent to the mines. So he was flogged with a knot, and when the wounds made by the knot were healed, he was driven to Siberia with other convicts.
For twenty-six years Aksionov lived as a convict in Siberia. His hair turned white as snow, and his beard grew long, thin, and grey. All his mirth went; he stooped; he walked slowly, spoke little, and never laughed, but he often prayed.
In prison Aksionov learnt to make boots, and earned a little money, with which he bought The Lives of the Saints. He read this book when when there was light enough in the the prison; and on Sundays in the prison-church he sang in the choir; for his voice was good.
The prison authorities liked AKsionov for his meekness, and his fellow prisoners respected him and called him "Grandfather and the Saint” When they wanted to petition the prison authorities they always made Aksionov their spokesperson. When there were quarrels among the prisoners, they came to put the things right, and to judge the matter.
No news from his home, and he did not even know if his and children were still alive.
One day a fresh gang of convicts came to the prison. In the evening, the old prisoners collected round the new ones and asked them what towns or village came from, and what they were sentenced for.
Aksionov sat down near the newcomers, and listened with downcast air to what was said. One of the new convicts, a tall, strong man of sixty with a closely-cropped grey beard, was telling the others what he had been arrested for. Well friends." he said, "I only took a horse that was tied to a sledge, and I was arrested and charged for stealing. He said I had only taken it to get home quicker, and then let it go; besides, the driver was a personal friend of mine So I said, 'It's all right. "No,' said they, you stole it.' But how and where I stole it they could not say. I once really did something wrong, and ought to by rights have come here long ago, but that time I was not found out. Now I have been sent here for nothing at all... Eh, but it's lies I'm telling you; I've been to Siberia before, but I did not stay long.
"Where are you from?" asked some one.
"From Vladimir. My family is of that town. My name is Makar, and they also call me Semyonich."
Aksionov raised his head and said: "Tell me, Semyonich, do you know anything of the merchants Aksionov of Vladimir? Are they still alive?"
"Know them? Of course I do. The Aksionovs are rich, though execution of their father is in Siberia: a sinner like ourselves. It seems A convict, for you, Gran'dad, how did you come here?"
Aksionov did not like to speak of his misfortune. He only sighed, and said, "For sins I have been in prison these twenty-six years.
"What sins? asked Makar Semyonich.
But Aksionov only said, "Well, Well--- I must have deserved it!" He would have said no more, but his companions told the newcomers how Aksionov came to be in Siberia; how someone had killed a merchant, and had put the knife among Akstonov's things, and Aksionov had been unjustly condemned.
When Makar Semvonich heard this, he looked at Aksionov, slapped his own knee, and exclaimed. "Well, this is wonderful! Really wonderfull But how old you've grown, Gran'dad! "
The others asked him why he was so surprised, and where he had seen Aksionov before: but Makar Semyonich did not reply. He only said: "It's wonderful that we should meet here, lads!"
These words made Aksionov wonder whether this man knew who had killed the merchant; so he said, "Perhaps, Semyonich, you have heard of that affair, or maybe you've seen me before?"
"How could I help hearing? The world's full of rumours. But it's a long time ago, and I've forgotten what I heard.
"Perhaps you heard who killed the merchant?" asked Aksionov.
Makar Seryonich laughed, and replied: "It must have been him in whose bag the knife was found! If someone else hid the knife there, 'He's not a thief till he's caught,' as the saying is. How could anyone put a knife into your bag while it was under your head? It would surely have woke you up."
When Aksionov heard these words, he felt sure this was the man who had killed the merchant. He rose and went away. All that night Aksionov lay awake. He felt terribly unhappy, and all sorts of images rose in his mind. There was the image of his wife as she was when he parted from her to go to the fair. He saw her as if she were present; her face and her eyes rose before him; he heard her speak and laugh. Then he saw his children, quite little, as they were at that time: one with a little cloak on, another at his mother's breast. And then he remembered himself as he used to be - young and merry. He remembered how he sat playing the guitar in the porch of the inn where he was arrested, and how free from care he had been. He saw, in his mind, the place where he was flogged, the executioner, and the people standing around; the chains, the convicts, all the twenty-six years of his prison life, and his premature old age. The thought of it all made him so wretched that he was ready to kill himself.
"And it's all that villain's doing!" thought Aksionov. And "What his anger was so great against Makar Semyonich that he longed for vengeance, even if he himself should perish for it. He kept he repeating prayers all night, but could get no peace. During the day he did not go near Makar Semyonich nor even look at him.
A fortnight passed in this way. Aksionov could not sleep at night and was so miserable that he did not know what to do.
One night as he was walking about the prison he noticed some earth that came rolling out from under the shelves on which the prisoners slept. He stopped to see what it was. Suddenly, Makar Semyonich crept out from under the shelf and looked up at Aksionov with frightened face. Aksivonov tried to pass without looking at him, but Makar seized his hand and told him that he had dug a hole under the wall getting rid of the earth by putting it into his high-boots, and emptying every day on the road when the prisoners were driven to their work.
"Just you keep quiet, old man, and you shall get out too. If you blab, they'll flog the life out of me, but I will kill you first.”
Aksionov trembled with anger as he looked at He drew his hand away, saying, "I have no wish to escape; you have no need to kill me; you killed me long ago! As to telling of you--I may do so or not, as God shall direct."
Next day, when the convicts were led out to work, convoy soldiers noticed that one or other of the prisoners emptied some earth out of his boots. The prison was searched and a tunnel found. The Governor came and questioned all prisoners to find out who had dug the hole. They all denied knowledge of it. Those who knew would not betray Maker Semyonich, knowing he would be flogged almost to death. A last the Governor turned to Aksionov whom he knew to be a just man, and said
"You are a truthful old man; tell me, before God, who dug the hole?"
Makar Semyonich stood as if he were quite unconcerned looking at the Governor and not so much as glancing Aksionov. Aksionov's lips and hands trembled, and for a long time he could not utter a word. He thought. "Why should I screen him who ruined my life? Let him pay for what I have suffered. But if I tell, they will probably flog the life out and maybe I suspect him wrongly. And, after all, what good would it be to me?"
"Well, old man," repeated the Governor, "tell me the truth; who has been digging under the wall?
Aksionov glanced at Makar Semyonich, and said, "I cannot say your honour. It is not God's will that I should tell! Do what you like with me. I am in your hands."
However much the Governor tried, Aksionov would say no more, so the matter had to be left.
That night, Aksionov was lying on his bed and just beginning to doze, someone came quietly and sat down on his bed. He peered through the darkness and recognized Makar.
What more do you want of me?" asked Aksionov, “Why have you come here?"
Makar Semyonich was silent. So Aksionov, sat up and said, “What do you want? Go away, or I will call the guard"
Makar Semyonich bent close over Aksionov, and whispered. "Ivan Dmitrich, forgive me!"
"What for?" asked Aksionov.
It was I who killed the merchant and hid the knife among your things. I meant to kill you too, but I heard a noise outside. so I hid the knife in your bag and escaped out of the window."
Aksionov was silent, and did not know what to say. Makar Semyonich slid off the bed shelf and knelt upon the ground. "Ivan Dmitrich." said he, "forgive me! For the love of God, forgive me! I will confess that it was I who killed the merchant, and you will be released and can go to your home."
"It is easy for you to talk," said Aksionov, "but I have suffered for you these twenty-six years. Where could I go to now. My wife is dead, and my children have forgotten me. I have nowhere to go..."
Makar Semyonich did not rise. but beat his head on the floor. “Ivan Dmtrich, forgive me!" he cried. "When they flogged me, it was not so hard to bear as it is to see you had pity on me, and did not tell. For Christ’s sake, Forgive me, wretch that I am" And he began to sob.
When Aksionov heard him sobbing he, too, began to weep. "God will forgive you!" said he. "Maybe I am a hundred times worse than you." at these words his heart grew light, and the longing for home left him. He no longer had any desire to to leave the prison but only hoped for his last hour to come.
In spite of what Aksivonov had said, Makar Semyonich confessed his guilt. But when the order for his release came, Aksionov was already dead.
About Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy, a Russian author is considered the master of realistic fiction. He was born on 9 September 1828 in an aristocratic family. His mother died when he was two years old and his father died when he was 9. He was looked after by an aunt of his, Kazan.
He was one of the greatest novelists of all time. He is known for 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'. His works are considered pieces of life not the pieces of art. His study of human beings is reflected in his novels. He was clearly influenced by inner conscience and morality. He is found to have most diverse approaches to human experience. For most of the times, he wrote in realistic style in which he conveyed Russian life accurately. His "War and Peace" is a massively sprawling narrative making the use of nearly 600 characters which he considered prose epic. He believed Anna Karenina to be true novel. It contains two major plotlines which intersect. It is about morality and betrayal, contrast between rural and city life and class divisions and it stands between realism and modernism. In the later years, Tolstoy wrote solely about moral, political and religious beliefs. He had developed firm belief that a man must strive for perfection by following the commandments of God. Mahatma Gandhi had been in correspondence with him for at least one year. Mahatma Gandhi is said to have developed his nonviolent resistance through his principles.
By the end of his life, he developed difference with his wife and he left his home one night secretly. He travelled in the cold winter. It was two cold night and he caught pneumonia. Despite summoning his personal doctor, he died at Astapovo railway station on 20 November 1910.
Summary of "God sees the truth but waits"
This is a story of a young merchant of Vladimir, Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov who goes on a journey on a business of his own. On the way, he stayed for the night in an inn with another merchant whom he knew. In the morning, he left earlier while it was dark and stayed in another inn and ordered for tea while he played guitar. Suddenly, a troika stopped there and a police officer with two soldiers came to him and began to question him about the murder of the merchant with whom he stayed for the night. The police officer searches his luggage and a blood stained knife is found. He is charged with the murder of his fellow merchant and all his pleadings are rejected. His petition to Czar is also rejected and he is sent to jail. His wife who had a baby on her lap comes to meet him in the jail. Their meeting was very moving but she asks Aksionov to tell her the truth whether he really murdered his fellow merchant. It upsets him very badly. He concludes that only God knows the truth and only He can help him because his wife too suspects him.
He is sent to Siberia. He resorts to praying to God and and buys a book, "The Life of Saints." He becomes prematurely old and meek. His fellow prosoner call him "The Old Man." He settles the disputes of prisoners and his fellow prisoners make him their spokesperson when they have any request to prison authorities.
In the same prison comes a man, who claims that he was brought here for nothing and when he really did wrong, he was mot arrested. He said that he was from Vladimir and his name was Makar Semyonitch. Aksionov questions him if he knew Aksionovs of Vladimir. He replies in the affirmative. Then, Aksionov asks him about the murder of his fellow merchant in the inn but his answer creates suspicion in his mind and Aksionov believes that he is the murderer of the fellow merchant but he says nothing.
One day, Aksionov finds Makar digging tunnel to escape from the jail but Makar threatens him not to tell anyone about it and if he did so he would kill him and promises to let him escape also. But Aksionov says that he need not kill him because he had already killed him.
Later when the tunnel is discovered, prison officials ask him to reveal the name of the person who dug the tunnel but Aksionov says that he has no knowledge about it.
Later in the night, Makar comes to Aksionov and confesses his crime and begins to cry. Aksionov too cries but he says that he has no desire to leave the prison because he has no where to go.
However, Makar confesses his crime before prison authorities and before the order for his release comes, he is found dead on his bed.
Multiple Choice Type Questions
2. Leo Tolstoy was born in ............
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Why did Askionov’s wife say that he should not go to the Nizhny fair?
Answer: His wife said so because she had had a bad dream about him. The dream was that when Aksionove returned from the fair and opened his cap his hair had become grey.
2. What did Askionov’s wife dream the night before he began his travel?
Answer: His wife dreamt that when Aksionove returned from the fair and opened his cap his hair had become grey.
4. Who did Askionov meet in the middle of his journey?
Answer: Aksionov met a merchant of his acquaintance in the middle of his journey.
5. Why did the police officer arrest Aksionov?
Answer: The police officer arrested Aksionov because the merchant with whom he had stayed in the inn was found with his throat cut in the adjoining room and when the police officer searched his luggage he found a bloodstained knife.
6. Why did Askionov feel that it is God alone with Whom he should expect mercy?
Answer: Aksiono felt so because everybody including his wife suspected him that he had committed murder. Only God knew the truth and thus He alone could help him.
7. What happened when he was sent to Siberia?
Answer: He was sent to Siberia for life imprisonment and where after 26 years he became prematurely old. His hair turned white as snow and his beard turned grey and long. He stooped and walked slowly. He spoke little and never laughed and but prayed to God.
8. How did the fellow prisoners treat Aksionov?
Answer: The fellow prisoners expected him very much and called him Grandfather and Saint because he had become prematurely old. His hair turned white as snow and his beard turned grey and long. He stooped and walked slowly and was very saintly.
9. Why did the fellow prisoners make Aksionov their spokesperson whenever they wanted to petition the prison authorities?
Answer: The fellow prisoners made Aksionov their spokesperson whenever they wanted to petition the prison authorities because they liked him for his meekness.
10. What do you think the writer tries to teach us?
Answer: The writer tries to teach us that the God inside us sees everything and we can't hide anything from him. Even if your crime is not seen by anyone, the God inside you reveals the crime when the time comes.
Long Answer Questions
1. What does Aksonov say in response to his wife and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer: Aksionov was shocked at his wife said and said that he had never expected that he too would suspect him and began to weep. It tells about his character that he was simple and innocent man who had great trust in his family. He felt that it was only God who knew the truth and only God could help him.
2. Discuss how Aksionov came to realize that Makar was the real murderer.
Answer: Aksionov came to realize that Makar was the real murderer when he asked Makar whether he had heard who had killed the merchant but Makar said it must have been him in whose bag the knife had been found and if someone had hidden the knife there, he was not the thief until he was caught.
3. Justify the title "God sees the truth but waits."
Answer: The title "God sees the truth but waits' is very apt title. In this story. there is no witness of the murder and no clue about the murderer. Aksionov is charged with the murder that he has not committed. He knows nothing about the murder and the murder. He does not have any clue to even suspect any person. He accepts ihis conviction as his destiny and prays to God who only knows the truth and at the end, the time comes when murderer himself confesses his crime and accepts the punishment.
Vocabulary
Question 1. Use suitable prefixes to form negative of the following words
Example: Place - Misplace
Perfect, natural, interesting,common, reasonable, kindness, possible, stable, comfortable, normal
Answer:
Perfect- Imperfect
Natural- Unnatural
Interesting- Uninteresting
Common- Uncommon
Reasonable- Unreasonable
Kindness- Unkindness
Possible- Impossible
Stable- Unstable
Comfortable- Uncomfortable
Normal- Abnormal
Question 2. Use the following words in sentences of your own:-
Harmony, glorious, revolution, enlightenment, cremation, funeral, isolation, invention, eliminate, community, violation
Answer:
Harmony: Communal harmony is necessary for the development of a country
Glorious: I am proud of the glorious past of my country.
Revolution: French Revolution signaled the advent of democracy.
Enlightenment: Buddha attained enlightenment under Bodhi tree.
Cremation: His dead body was cremated in the cremation ground.
Funeral: There were thousands of people in his funereal procession.
Isolation: Animals cannot breed in isolation.
Invention: Wheel is a prehistoric invention.
Eliminate: Cheetah was eliminated from Indian soil before 1947.
Community: Muslim community was against the introduction of the new law.
Violation: Violation of traffic rules may be dangerous.
Question 3. Give synonyms of the following words:-
Dazzling, isolate, modern, intermediary, romantic, passion enlighten, routine, generous
Answer:
Dazzling-- glaring, shining
isolate--separate, segregate
modern-- current, recent
intermediary--- mediator, negotiator
romantic--passionate, idealist
passion --- devotion dedication
enlighten- apprise, illuminate
routine-- practice, regimen
generous --- liberal, bountiful
Question 3. Make adjectives from the following nouns. The first one is done for you:- Office--- official
Nation, Politics, Spirit, Tradition, Option, condition
Answer:
Nation---- national
Politics--- political
Spirit--- spiritual
Tradition---traditional
Option---optional
Condition---conditional
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