Childhood
列夫·托尔斯泰/LeoTolstoy
Happy，happy，never-returngtiofchildhood！Howwehelplovganddwellguponitsrelles？Theycheerandelevatethesoul，aoonesourceofhigherjoys.
Sotis，whendreagofbygonedays，fancythat，tiredoutwithrunngabout，Ihavesatdownyhighar-chairbythetea-table.Itiste，andIhavelongscedrunkycupofilk.MyeyesareheavywithsleepasIsitthereandlisten.HowuldInotlistehatMaaisspeakgtosobody，andthatthesoundofhervoiceissolodioandkd？Howuchitsechoesrecalltoyheart！WithyeyesveiledwithdrowsessIgazeatherwistfully.Suddenlysheseestogrowsallerandsaller，andherfacevaoapot；yetIstillseeit—stillseeherasshelooksatandsiles.Sohowitpleasestoseehergrownsosall.Iblkandblk，yetshelookshanaboyref？lectedthepupilofahenIroeyself，andthepicturefades.OnceoreIhalf-closeyeyes，andcastabouttotryandrecallthedrea，butithasgone，Irisetoyfeet，onlytofallbackfortablytothearchair.
“There！Youarefallgasleepaga，littleNis，”saysMaa.“Youhadbettergotoby-by.”
“No，Iwon’tgotosleep，Maa，”Ireply，thoughalostaudibly，forpleasantdreasaref？illgallysoul.Thesoundsleepofchildhoodisweighgyeyelidsdown，andforafewonts.Isktosberandoblivionuntilawakenedbysoone.Ifeelysleepasthoughasofthandwerecaressg.Iknowitbythetouch，and，thoughstilldreag，Iseizeholdofitandpressittoylips.Everyoneelsehasgoobed，andonlyonedlereasburngthedrag-roo.Maahassaidthatsheherselfwillwake.ShesitsdownonthearofthechairwhichIaasleep，withhersofthandstrokgyhair，andIhearherbeloved，well-knownvoicesayyear：“Getup，ydarlg.Itistitogoby-by.”
Noenviogazeseeshernow.Sheisnotafraidtosheduponthewholeofhertendernessandlove.Idonotwakeup，yetIkissandkissherhand.
“Getup，then，yangel.”
Shepassesherotherarroundyneck，andherf？gerstickleastheyoveacrossit.Therooisquietandhalf-darkness，buttheticklghastouchedynervesandIbegtoawake.Maaissittgnear—thatItell—andtouchg；Ihearhervoidfeelherpresehisatstroestup，tothrowyarsaroundherneck，tohideyheadherboso，andtosaywithasigh：
“Ah，dear，darlgMaa，howuchIloveyou！”
Shesileshersad，entgsile，takesyheadbeeenherohands，kissesontheforehead，andliftsontoherp.
“Doyoulovesouch，then？”shesays.Then，afterafewonts’silence，shentues：“Andyoutlovealways，andneverfet.IfyourMaashouldnolongerbehere，willyouproiseofether—never，Nilka？”andshekissesorefondlythanever.
“Oh，butyoutnotspeakso，darlgMaa，yowndarlgMaa！”IexciasIcspherknees，andtearsofjoyandlovefallfroyeyes.
How，afterseslikethis！Iwouldgoupstairs，andstandbeforethes，andsaywitharapturofeelg，“GodblessPapaandMaa！”aaprayerforybelovedotherwhichychildishlipshadlearnttolisp—theloveofGodandotherblendgstrangelyasgleeotion！