Poor Folk — August 13th Barbara

August 13th.

MY BELOVED MAKAR ALEXIEVITCH,--It is true that misfortune is following upon misfortune.

I myself scarcely know what to do.

Yet, no matter how you may be fairing, you must not look for help from me, for only today I burned my left hand with the iron!

At one and the same moment I dropped the iron, made a mistake in my work, and burned myself!

So now I can no longer work.

Also, these three days past, Thedora has been ailing.

My anxiety is becoming positively torturous.

Nevertheless, I send you thirty kopecks--almost the last coins that I have left to me, much as I should have liked to have helped you more when you are so much in need.

I feel vexed to the point of weeping.

Goodbye, dear friend of mine.

You will bring me much comfort if only you will come and see me today.

B.

D.