“Ah, grandfather! grandfather!” they began to call out in the crowd.
“Glory be to God!” said Zagloba.
“For the ages of ages!”
“Tell me, children, is this Demiánovka?”
“Yes, it is Demiánovka. But why do you ask?”
“I ask because men told me on the way,” continued the grandfather, “that good people dwell here, that they will take in the old man, give him food and drink, let him spend the night, and give him some money. I am old; I have travelled a long road, and this boy here cannot go a step farther. He, poor fellow, is dumb; he leads me because I am sightless. I am a blind unfortunate. God will bless you, kind people. Saint Nicholas, the wonder-worker, will bless you. Saint Onufri will bless you. In one eye there is a little of God’s light left me; in the other it is dark forever. So I
