’Eat，ifyouwantto，’saidshe。
Simondrewthestrangertothetable。
’Takeyourplace，youngman，’saidhe。
Simoncutthebread，crumbleditintothebroth，andtheybegantoeat。
Matryó；nasatatthecornerofthetable，restingherheadonherhandandlookingatthestranger。
AndMatryó；nawastouchedwithpityforthestranger，andbegantofeelfondofhim。Andatoncethestranger’sfacelitup；hisbrowswerenolongerbent，heraisedhiseyesandsmiledatMatryó；na。
Whentheyhadfinishedsupper，thewomanclearedawaythethingsandbeganquestioningthestranger。’Whereareyoufrom？’
saidshe。
’Iamnotfromtheseparts。’
’Buthowdidyoucometobeontheroad？’
’Imaynottell。’
’Didsomeonerobyou？’
’Godpunishedme。’
’Andyouwerelyingtherenaked？’
’Yes，nakedandfreezing。Simonsawmeandhadpityonme。Hetookoffhiscoat，putitonmeandbroughtmehere。Andyouhavefedme，givenmedrink，andshownpityonme。Godwillrewardyou！’
Matryó；narose，tookfromthewindowSimon’soldshirtshehadbeenpatching，andgaveittothestranger。Shealsobroughtoutapairoftrousersforhim。
’There，’saidshe，’Iseeyouhavenoshirt。Putthison，andliedownwhereyouplease，intheloftorontheoven[8]。’
Thestrangertookoffthecoat，putontheshirt，andlaydownintheloft。Matryó；naputoutthecandle，tookthecoat，andclimbedtowhereherhusbandlay。
Matryó；nadrewtheskirtsofthecoatoverherandlaydown，butcouldnotsleep；shecouldnotgetthestrangeroutofhermind。
Whensherememberedthathehadeatentheirlastpieceofbreadandthattherewasnoneforto-morrowandthoughtoftheshirtandtrousersshehadgivenaway，shefeltgrieved；butwhensherememberedhowhehadsmiled，herheartwasglad。
LongdidMatryó；nalieawake，andshenoticedthatSimonalsowasawake——hedrewthecoattowardshim。
’Simon！’
’Well？’
’Youhavehadthelastofthebread，andIhavenotputanytorise。
Idon’tknowwhatweshalldotomorrow。PerhapsIcanborrowsomeofneighbourMartha。’
’Ifwe’realiveweshallfindsomethingtoeat。’
Thewomanlaystillawhile，andthensaid，’Heseemsagoodman，butwhydoeshenottelluswhoheis？’
’Isupposehehashisreasons。’
’Simon！’
’Well？’
’Wegive；butwhydoesnobodygiveusanything？’
Simondidnotknowwhattosay；soheonlysaid，’Letusstoptalking，’
andturnedoverandwenttosleep。
InthemorningSimonawoke。Thechildrenwerestillasleep；hiswifehadgonetotheneighbour’stoborrowsomebread。Thestrangeralonewassittingonthebench，dressedintheoldshirtandtrousers，andlookingupwards。Hisfacewasbrighterthanithadbeenthedaybefore。
Simonsaidtohim，’Well，friend；thebellywantsbreadandthenakedbodyclothes。Onehastoworkforaliving。Whatworkdoyouknow？’
’Idonotknowany。’
ThissurprisedSimon，buthesaid，’Menwhowanttolearncanlearnanything。’
’Menwork，andIwillworkalso。’
’Whatisyourname？’
’Michael。’
’WellMichael，ifyoudon’twishtotalkaboutyourselfthatisyourownaffair；butyou’llhavetoearnalivingforyourself。IfyouwillworkasItellyou，Iwillgiveyoufoodandshelter。’
’MayGodrewardyou！Iwilllearn。Showmewhattodo。’
Simontookyarn，putitroundhisthumbandbegantotwistit。
’Itiseasyenough——see！’
Michaelwatchedhim，putsomeyarnroundhisownthumbinthesameway，caughttheknack，andtwistedtheyarnalso。
ThenSimonshowedhimhowtowaxthethread。ThisalsoMichaelmastered。
NextSimonshowedhimhowtotwistthebristlein，andhowtosew，andthis，too，Michaellearnedatonce。
WhateverSimonshowedhimheunderstoodatonce，andafterthreedaysheworkedasifhehadsewnbootsallhislife。Heworkedwithoutstopping，andatelittle。Whenworkwasoverhesatsilently，lookingupwards。Hehardlywentintothestreet，spokeonlywhennecessary，andneitherjokednorlaughed。Theyneversawhimsmile，exceptthatfirsteveningwhenMatryó；nagavethemsupper。
Daybydayandweekbyweektheyearwentround。MichaellivedandworkedwithSimon。HisfamespreadtillpeoplesaidthatnoonesewedbootssoneatlyandstronglyasSimon’sworkman，Michael；andfromallthedistrictroundpeoplecametoSimonfortheirboots，andhebegantobewelloff。
Onewinterday，asSimonandMichaelsatworkingacarriageonsledge-runners，withthreehorsesandwithbells，droveuptothehut。Theylookedoutofthewindow；thecarriagestoppedattheirdoor，afineservantjumpeddownfromtheboxandopenedthedoor。AgentlemaninafurcoatgotoutandwalkeduptoSimon’shut。UpjumpedMatryó；naandopenedthedoorwide。Thegentlemanstoopedtoenterthehut，andwhenhedrewhimselfupagainhisheadnearlyreachedtheceiling，andheseemedquitetofillhisendoftheroom。
Simonrose，bowed，andlookedatthegentlemanwithastonishment。Hehadneverseenanyonelikehim。Simonhimselfwaslean，Michaelwasthin，andMatryó；nawasdryasabone，butthismanwaslikesomeonefromanotherworld:red-faced，burly，withanecklikeabull’s，andlookingaltogetherasifhewerecastiniron。
Thegentlemanpuffed，threwoffhisfurcoat，satdownonthebench，andsaid，’Whichofyouisthemasterbootmaker？’
’Iam，yourExcellency，’saidSimon，comingforward。
Thenthegentlemanshoutedtohislad，’Hey，Fé；dka，bringtheleather！’
Theservantranin，bringingaparcel。Thegentlemantooktheparcelandputitonthetable。
’Untieit’saidhe。Theladuntiedit。
Thegentlemanpointedtotheleather。
’Lookhere，shoemaker，’saidhe，’doyouseethisleather？’
’Yes，yourhonour。’
’Butdoyouknowwhatsortofleatheritis？’
Simonfelttheleatherandsaid，’Itisgoodleather。’
’Good，indeed！Why，youfool，youneversawsuchleatherbeforeinyourlife。It’sGerman，andcosttwentyroubles。’
Simonwasfrightened，andsaid，’WhereshouldIeverseeleatherlikethat？’
’Justso！Now，canyoumakeitintobootsforme？’
’Yes，yourExcellency，Ican。’
Thenthegentlemanshoutedathim:’Youcan，canyou？Well，rememberwhomyouaretomakethemfor，andwhattheleatheris。Youmustmakemebootsthatwillwearforayear，neitherlosingshapenorcomingunsewn。Ifyoucandoit，taketheleatherandcutitup；butifyoucan’t，sayso。Iwarnyounow，ifyourbootscomeunsewnorloseshapewithinayear，Iwillhaveyouputinprison。Iftheydon’tburstorloseshapeforayear，Iwillpayyoutenroublesforyourwork。’
Simonwasfrightened，anddidnotknowwhattosay。HeglancedatMichaelandnudginghimwithhiselbow，whispered:’ShallItakethework？’
Michaelnoddedhisheadasiftosay，’Yes，takeit。’
