Rare family

I deeply honor my family, I will leave too high its meaning and significance. Nowadays it is difficult to meet a true family ... Family life is in decline ... But in my wanderings around the world I accidentally found an exemplary family in the backwoods, staying in which was for me the best and dearest time in my life. These dear memories for me and I want to share with readers. That was a few years ago ...
I traveled on business of the Voronezh province, and I often had to stop for the night and rest in different
villages and villages. I looked closely at the life-time of the peasants, learned to understand their views and opinions.

Once, in the evening, I drove up to the village. Heavy clouds clouded the whole sky. Began to drizzle rain. I'm tired
shake in the cart and decided to spend the night in the village.

- Listen, - I turned to my driver, - you probably know someone in the village? .. Take me to someone in the hut, I want to spend the night and relax ... The driver scratched his head ...

- Tutoshny ... Well, sir, if you want to stay for the night ... I will bring you to Arkhip ... He has wealth ... and
the house will be cleaner ...

- Does he have a big family?

“A big one ... a man of twelve will make up ... We drove through the village street and drove up to the big rebuilt hut.” Two shaggy dogs came out from under the gate and barked at us.

The window in the hut opened, it seemed the face of an old man with a long gray beard.

- Let me go, grandfather to spend the night ... I'm tired ... I am going on business! - I begged the old man.

The old man was silent for several minutes, searching inquiringly at me.

- You are welcome, sir ... Do not blame me ... The rich they are, those are happy! - he said.

I entered the hut. She was full of people. Three men repaired the harness, some women sewed something ... Children
played around adults. I thought that the old man had gathered guests, and sat quietly on the bench, looking around the meeting.

The old man seemed to guess my thoughts.

- Why are you surprised, sir? - he grinned. - Do you think it hurts a lot of people? This, my dear, all his family ...
Together we live. Hey, Matresha, argue the master a snack ... - he interrupted his speech, turning to the young girl,
worked hard for something. - Probably tired on the road, then?

I was really so tired and exhausted that, having barely tasted the scrambled eggs that Matresha wonderfully cooked, I fell asleep and slept like a dead man until morning.

The morning was clear and bright. In the hut began to move with the dawn. But they walked quietly and spoke in a whisper for fear
wake me up Apparently, it was unusual for them, especially for the guys who were constantly appeased and
stipulated.

I got up early in great spirits. It seemed to me that I have known the old man and his family for a long time. So good
I felt among them. A respectful gray-haired old man with a good-natured and stern face together came to me
tightly liking. It was evident that he steadfastly held in his hands the reins of government, and the whole family venerated him deeply. And the family was huge.

When everyone left after lunch, I expressed my surprise to the old man.

- How do you all live together? Closely, I think, quite? A lot of all because ...

The old man smiled:

- In crowded, but not mad, sir. No offense, we do not know. And what a lot of us, it's your truth ... We have three to the hut from the yard
the cages are rigged ... Yes, and we occupy a bathhouse ... We still want to build ... We live better together, sir! Here, look how many of us. Yes, my old woman, three sons married with their wives and children live with me, still a boy son and my daughter is smaller ... My eldest daughter is widowed ... Also, it means that I live with the guys ... So consider us ... And for that sir, all the workers ... how many hands we have ... the work is in full swing ... Is it arable land, stubble, mowing, have the first one matured before us ... We can help another ... It’s not a worker? - He gently patted the cheek of a small, blond boy. - My grandchildren are good guys ... to thank God ... We will gradually teach them to work ... Let them learn ...

- But in such a huge family, grandfather, I think, can not do without quarrels? Women probably quarrel? - I asked.

- No, sir, we don’t have this ... We live in soul ... I have a good old woman ... her daughters-in-law
love ... This, sir, how to deliver ... We are so worth it, that neither quarrel, nor offense is not heard ... They do not get along
women, now to me ... I will argue everything, I myself look at everything ... My sons, thank God, do not want to share their lives ... And
right, sir! We have a lot of workers, work is in full swing ... Well, there are plenty. The women have silk sundresses ... And
look, others are poor! Pity to look! We live in soobcha, we judge and award with our court ... And there is nothing
God angry, we live well! - The family is kind, to the person happiness, and to help the motherland. In a good working family and guys
good workers will grow ... So, sir!

The old man's words were confirmed. I went to bed with them and spent a whole week, it was not my hurry. And to tell the truth, I looked at them and wondered ... The family was truly exemplary. All were in front of me. No one was hiding. And for all the time I did not notice a sidelong glance, an unkind word in the family.
All lived unusually amicably and peacefully. Whether the dispute began between adults, women began to quarrel, or children were capricious - the old man had only to look at them sternly and intently, and everything calmed down. He was the soul of this consonant and peaceful family, protected her, watched her.

Meanwhile, I did not hear the old man swearing or shouting. He always spoke calmly and strictly. We often talked to him to his liking.

“My mother was a truly kind person,” the old man told me. - She taught me good; taught to believe in God
people to love, to lead the family, in harmony and peace to keep it! Often she told me: “Take care, Arkhip, family ... In her
the happiness of a man ... Peace and family agrees - above all! "I grew up with this and so raised children ... my sons
the old woman and I are honored, my family is firmly pity and cherished ... Thank you, mother! Peace to her holy darling!

It was necessary to see how old Arkhip was respected in the village, what honor his family enjoyed. Matter what was
decide whether to ask, everyone went to him, believing in his reason and truthfulness.

“Here, sir,” the old man laughed at me, “we also have envious people ... envy my family, peace and consent to our envy ... A sorcerer, listen, they nickname me ... As if I conjure ... That's why we have peace and love,” the old man laughed good-naturedly.

The time I spent in the family of Arkhip will never forget. Nowhere did I feel as good as in this simple, peasant family.

With deep respect, I always remember my grandfather Arkhip. Simple peasant, he knew how to understand, knew how to appreciate
the meaning and value of the family.

Is he alive now?

From the magazine "Helmsman", 1906
Original article and photograph http://www.livejournal.com/users/soulfreedom/119047.html