Poor Folk — September 19th Makar

September 19th.

MY BELOVED BARBARA ALEXIEVNA,--I hasten to let you know that Rataziaev has found me some work to do for a certain writer--the latter having submitted to him a large manuscript.

Glory be to God, for this means a large amount of work to do.

Yet, though the copy is wanted in haste, the original is so carelessly written that I hardly know how to set about my task.

Indeed, certain parts of the manuscript are almost undecipherable.

I have agreed to do the work for forty kopecks a sheet.

You see therefore (and this is my true reason for writing to you), that we shall soon be receiving money from an extraneous source.

Goodbye now, as I must begin upon my labours.

--Your sincere friend, MAKAR DIEVUSHKIN.