Война и мир

Chapter 7

           Atfirsthewatchedtheserfs,tryingtounderstandtheiraimsandwhattheyconsideredgoodandbad,andonlypretendedtodirectthemandgiveorderswhileinrealitylearningfromthemtheirmethods,theirmannerofspeech,andtheirjudgmentofwhatwasgoodandbad.Onlywhenhehadunderstoodthepeasants’tastesandaspirations,hadlearnedtotalktheirlanguage,tograspthehiddenmeaningoftheirwords,andfeltakintothemdidhebeginboldlytomanagehisserfs,thatis,toperformtowardthemthedutiesdemandedofhim.AndNicholas’managementproducedverybrilliantresults.

           Guidedbysomegiftofinsight,ontakingupthemanagementoftheestatesheatonceunerringlyappointedasbailiff,villageelder,anddelegate,theverymentheserfswouldthemselveshavechosenhadtheyhadtherighttochoose,andthesepostsneverchangedhands.Beforeanalyzingthepropertiesofmanure,beforeenteringintothedebitandcredit(asheironicallycalledit),hefoundouthowmanycattlethepeasantshadandincreasedthenumberbyallpossiblemeans.Hekeptthepeasantfamiliestogetherinthelargestgroupspossible,notallowingthefamilygroupstodivideintoseparatehouseholds.Hewashardalikeonthelazy,thedepraved,andtheweak,andtriedtogetthemexpelledfromthecommune.

           Hewasascarefulofthesowingandreapingofthepeasants’hayandcornasofhisown,andfewlandownershadtheircropssownandharvestedsoearlyandsowell,orgotsogoodareturn,asdidNicholas.

Содержание книги
Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 2113 из 2250