A Russian Proprietor

of his third term at the university, he came to spend his sum

ess Biéloretska?a, who, according to his notion, was his best friend, and the most g

to a country life, because I feel that I was born for it. For God's sake, dear auntie, don't make sport of me. You say that I am young. Perhaps I am

t of chaos, I made an investigation, and discovered that the principal trouble was due to the most wretch

stification of my resolve. Is not my obligation sacred and clear, to labor for the welfare of these seven hundred human beings for whom I must be responsible to God? Would it not be a sin to leave them to the mercy of harsh eld

pect of me. Dear auntie, do not make ambitious plans for me: accustom yourself to the thought that I am going on an absolutely peculiar path, but one that is good, and, I think, will bring

. He generally dictates to me, and I am accustomed to give way to him. Wh

nephew in the following lett

But, my dear, our good tendencies do us more harm in life than our bad ones. I will not tell you that you are committing a folly,

country life; that you wish to make your serfs

it is easier to win happiness for ourselves than for others; and thirdly, that, in order to be a good master, it is necessary to b

or the conduct of life; but at my age, my dear, people don't care for arguments and

but I have never heard of a young man of good family and abilit

ead you to success; and success, if it is not necessary for you as success, is at least indispensable in giving you the possibility of doing good which you desire. The po

tue, no career would fail to bring you success; but at all events

re deceiving yourself. Ambition is a virtue at your age, and with your means it becomes

to me that I have all the more love for you on account of your foolish but still noble and magnan

y, having decided that his genial aunt might be mistaken, sent in his petiti