September 8, 2025 • 12 mins
17 - The Servant, Sergei Terentyevich Semyonov.
In this collection of Russian stories, editor and compiler Thomas Seltzer selects from a range of the best examples of 19th and early 20th century Russian literature. As a survey of famous authors at the height of the powers, as well as some writers who have been unjustly neglected, this anthology is indispensable.
In this collection of Russian stories, editor and compiler Thomas Seltzer selects from a range of the best examples of 19th and early 20th century Russian literature. As a survey of famous authors at the height of the powers, as well as some writers who have been unjustly neglected, this anthology is indispensable.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter seventeen of Best Russian Short Stories. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Best Russian Short Stories edited and compiled by Thomas Selter.
The Servant by Sergey Semyonov. Garasm returned to Moscow just
(00:24):
to the time when it was hardest to find work,
a short while before Christmas, when a man sticks even
to a poor job, in the expectation of a present.
For three weeks, the peasant lad had been going about
in vain seeking a position. He stayed with relatives and
friends from his village, and although he had not yet
suffered great want, it disheartened him that he, a strong
(00:44):
young man, should go without work. Girassm had lived in
Moscow from early boyhood. When still a mere d out,
he had gone to work in a brewery as a
bottle washer, and later as a lowest servant in a house.
In the last two years, he had been in Atan's employee,
and would still have held that position had he not
been summoned back to his village for military duty. However,
(01:08):
he had not been drafted. It seemed dull to him
in the village. He was not used to the country life,
so he decided he would rather count the stones in
Moscow than stay there. Every minute. It was getting to
be more and more irksome for him to be tramping
the streets in idleness. Not a stone did he live
and turn. In his effort to secure any sort of work,
(01:29):
he plugged all of his acquaintances. He even held a
people on the street and asked them if they knew
of a situation all in vain. Finally, Gerasim could no
longer bear being a burden on his people. Some of
them were annoyed by his coming to them, and others
had suffered unpleasantness from their masters on his account. He
(01:49):
was altogether at a loss what to do. Sometimes he
would go a whole day without eating. One day, garacym
betook himself to a friend from his who lived at
the extreme outer edge of Moscow, near Sukonik. The man
was the coachman to a merchant by the name of Sharoff,
in whose service he had been for many years. He
(02:11):
had ingratuated himself with his master, so that Sharoff trusted
him absolutely and gave every sign of holding him in
high favor. It was the man's glip tongue chiefly that
had gained him his master's confidence. He told on all
the servants, and Cheroff valued him for it. Gerasim approached
and greeted him. The coachman gave his guest a proper reception,
(02:32):
served him with tea and something to it, and asked
him how he was doing. Very badly, jager Danilitch said, Gerasim,
I've been without a job for weeks. Didn't you ask
your old employer to take it back? I did. He
wouldn't take you again. The position was filled already. That's it.
That's the way you, young fellows are. You saw your
(02:53):
employed so so, and when you leave your jobs you
usually have muddied up the way back to them. You
ought so of your master, so that they will think
a lot of you, and when you come again, they
will not refuse you, but rather dismiss the man who
has taken your place. How can a man do that?
In these days? There aren't any employers like that, and
we aren't exactly eight noall's order? What the use of
(03:16):
worsting words? I just want to tell you about myself,
if for some reason or other I should ever have
to leave this place and go home. Not only would
mister Sharoff, if I came back, take me on again
without a word, but he would be glad to too.
Gerasim sat there downcast. He saw his friend was boasting,
and it occurred to him to gratify him. I know it,
(03:37):
he said, but it's hard to find men like hi,
Yager Duanelitch. If you are a poor worker, your master
would not have kept you twelve years. Jeger smiled. He
liked the praise. That's it, he said. If you were
to live in serve as I do, you wouldn't be
out of work for months and months. Gerassim made no reply.
Yeager was summoned to his master. Wait a moment, he said,
(04:00):
I'll be right back very well. Jagger came back and
reported that inside of half an hour he would have
to have the horse's harness and ready to drive his
master to town. He lighted up his pipe and took
several turns in the room. Then he came to a
halt in front of Gerrassim. Listen, my boy, he said,
(04:21):
if you want, I'll ask my master to take you
as a servant. Here does he need a man. We
have one, but he's not much good. He's getting gold
and it's very hard for him to do the work.
It's lucky for us that the neighborhood isn't a lively one,
and the police don't make a fuss about things being
kept so else the old man couldn't manage to keep
the place kin enough for them. Oh, if he can,
(04:43):
then please do say a word for me, Yagar Danelitch.
I'll pray for you all my life. I can't stand
being without work any longer. All right, I'll speak for you.
Come again to morrow, and in the meantime take this
ten kopeck piece. It may come in handy. Thanks, Yaggar Duanevitch.
Then you will try for me. Please do me the favor,
(05:04):
all right, I'll try for you. Garassim left and Jagger
harnessed his horses. Then he put out his hortman's cabot
and drove up to the front door. Mister Shareroff stepped
out of the house, seated himself in the sleigh, and
the horses galloped off. He attended to his business in
town and returned home. Yeager, observing that his master was
(05:25):
in a good humor, said to him, yager, fear dorrich,
I have a favor to ask of you. What is it?
There's a young man from my village here, a good boy.
He's without a dog. Well, wouldn't you take him? What
do I want him for? Here's him as a man
of all work round the place. How about Polycarpet? What
(05:46):
good is he? It's about time you dismissed him. That
wouldn't be fair. He has been with me so many years.
I can't let him go to sew without any cause.
Supposing he has worked for you for years, he didn't
work for nothing. He got paid for it. He's certainly
saved up of your dolls for his old age, save
doub How could he from what he is not alone
(06:08):
in the world. He has a life to support, and
she has to eat and drink. Also, his life earns
money too. At day's work as a charwoman a lot
you could have made enough for class. Why should you
care about Polycarpet and his wife? To tell you the truth,
he's a very poor servant. Why should you throw your
money away on him? He never travels the snow away
(06:31):
on time, or does anything right. And when it comes
his turn to be night watchmen. He slips away at
least ten times a night. It's still called for him.
He'll see some day because of him, you will have
trouble with the police. The Quarterly Inspector will descend on us,
and it won't be so agreeable for you to be
responsible for polycarpet. Still, it's pretty rough. He's been with
(06:52):
me fifteen years, and to treat him the way in
his old age, it would be a sin, a sin.
What how would you be doing him? He won't starve,
he'll go to the almshouse. It would be better for
him too, to be quite in his old ate. Sharoff reflected,
all right, he said, finally, bring your friend here. I'll
(07:13):
see what I can do do Take him, sir, I'm
so sorry for him. He's a good boy, and he's
been without work for such a long time. I know
he'll do his work well and Servia faithfully. On account
of having to report for military duty, he lost his
last position. If it hadn't been for that, his master
would never have let him go. The next evening, Gerasim
(07:37):
came again and asked, well, could you do anything for me?
Something I believe? First, let's have some tea, then we'll
go to see my master. Even tea had no allurement
for Gerasim. He was eager for a decision, but under
the compulsion of politeness to his cost, he gulped down
to glasses of tea, and then they betook themselves to Sharaff.
(07:59):
Sharoff asked Gerasim where he had left before and what
work he could do. Then he told him he was
prepared to engage him as a man of all work,
and he should come back next day ready to take
the place. Garassim was fairly stunned by the great stroke
of fortune. So overwhelming was his joy that his legs
would scarcely carry him. He went to the coachman's room,
(08:22):
and Yagger said to him, well, my lad, see it
that you do your work right, so that I sha'n't
have to be ashamed of you. You know what masters
are like. If you go wrong once, they'll be at
you forever after with their fault finding, and never give
you peace. Don't worry about that, yagor Danilitch, whoa well.
(08:43):
Garasm took leave, crossing the yard to go out by
the gate. Puly carpete rooms gave on the yard and
the broad beam of light from the window fell across
Garasim's way. He was curious to get a glimpse of
his future home, but the panes were all frosted over
and it was impossible to peep through. However, he could
(09:05):
care what the people inside were saying. What we would
do now? Was said in a woman's voice. I don't know,
I don't know. A man, undoubtedly Polycarpe, replied, go begging.
I suppose that's all we can do. There's nothing else left,
said the woman. Oh, we poor people, What miserable life
(09:25):
will eat? We work and work from early morning till
late at night, day after day, and when we get
out then it's away with you. What can we do?
Our master is not one of us. It wouldn't be
worth the while to say much to him about it.
He cares only for his advantage. Oh, the masters are
(09:46):
so mean. They don't think of any one but themselves.
It doesn't occur to them that we work for them
honestly and faithfully for years, and use of all our
best strength in their service. They're afraid to keep us
a year longer. Even we've got all the strength we
need to do their work. If we weren't strong enough,
we'd go off our own a cart. The Master's not
(10:07):
so much to blame as his coachman, Jagger. The nilige
wants to get a good position for his friend. Yes,
he's a serpent. He knows how to like his tongue.
You wait, you foam out the beast. I'll get even
with you. I'll go straight to the Master and tell
him how the fellow deceives him, how he steals the
hand foot. I've put it down in writing, and he
(10:30):
can convince himself how the fellow lies about us. All don't,
old woman, don't sin? Sin? Isn't what I said? Oh true,
I know to adot what I'm saying, and I mean
to tell it straight out to the Master. He should
see with his own eyes. Why not? What can we
do now? Anyhow? Where shall we go? He's ruined us,
(10:52):
ruined us. The old woman burst out sobbing. Garson heard
all that, and it stabbed him like a dagger. He
realized misfortune he would be bringing the old people, and
it made him sick at heart. He stood there a
long while, saddened, lost in thought. Then he turned and
went back into the coachman's room. Ah, you forgot something, No,
(11:13):
Yager Danielach Garason stammered out, I have come. Listen. I
wanted to thank you ever endeavored so much for the
way you received me, and and all the trouble you
took for me. But I can't take the place. What
(11:35):
what does that mean? Nothing? I don't want the place.
I will look for another one for myself. Did you
mean to make a fool of me? Did you? You idiot?
You come here so meek, try for me? Did try
for me? And then you refuse to take the place,
(11:55):
you rascal? You have disgraced me. Garason found nothing to
say in he reddened and lowered his eyes. Yega turned
his back scornfully and said nothing more. Then Garask him quietly,
picked up his cap and left the coachman's room. He
crossed the air rapidly, went out by the gate, and
hurried off down the street. He felt happy and light heartened.
(12:20):
End of the Servant by Sergey Semyonov
Chapter seventeen of Best Russian Short Stories. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Best Russian Short Stories edited and compiled by Thomas Selter.
The Servant by Sergey Semyonov. Garasm returned to Moscow just
(00:24):
to the time when it was hardest to find work,
a short while before Christmas, when a man sticks even
to a poor job, in the expectation of a present.
For three weeks, the peasant lad had been going about
in vain seeking a position. He stayed with relatives and
friends from his village, and although he had not yet
suffered great want, it disheartened him that he, a strong
(00:44):
young man, should go without work. Girassm had lived in
Moscow from early boyhood. When still a mere d out,
he had gone to work in a brewery as a
bottle washer, and later as a lowest servant in a house.
In the last two years, he had been in Atan's employee,
and would still have held that position had he not
been summoned back to his village for military duty. However,
(01:08):
he had not been drafted. It seemed dull to him
in the village. He was not used to the country life,
so he decided he would rather count the stones in
Moscow than stay there. Every minute. It was getting to
be more and more irksome for him to be tramping
the streets in idleness. Not a stone did he live
and turn. In his effort to secure any sort of work,
(01:29):
he plugged all of his acquaintances. He even held a
people on the street and asked them if they knew
of a situation all in vain. Finally, Gerasim could no
longer bear being a burden on his people. Some of
them were annoyed by his coming to them, and others
had suffered unpleasantness from their masters on his account. He
(01:49):
was altogether at a loss what to do. Sometimes he
would go a whole day without eating. One day, garacym
betook himself to a friend from his who lived at
the extreme outer edge of Moscow, near Sukonik. The man
was the coachman to a merchant by the name of Sharoff,
in whose service he had been for many years. He
(02:11):
had ingratuated himself with his master, so that Sharoff trusted
him absolutely and gave every sign of holding him in
high favor. It was the man's glip tongue chiefly that
had gained him his master's confidence. He told on all
the servants, and Cheroff valued him for it. Gerasim approached
and greeted him. The coachman gave his guest a proper reception,
(02:32):
served him with tea and something to it, and asked
him how he was doing. Very badly, jager Danilitch said, Gerasim,
I've been without a job for weeks. Didn't you ask
your old employer to take it back? I did. He
wouldn't take you again. The position was filled already. That's it.
That's the way you, young fellows are. You saw your
(02:53):
employed so so, and when you leave your jobs you
usually have muddied up the way back to them. You
ought so of your master, so that they will think
a lot of you, and when you come again, they
will not refuse you, but rather dismiss the man who
has taken your place. How can a man do that?
In these days? There aren't any employers like that, and
we aren't exactly eight noall's order? What the use of
(03:16):
worsting words? I just want to tell you about myself,
if for some reason or other I should ever have
to leave this place and go home. Not only would
mister Sharoff, if I came back, take me on again
without a word, but he would be glad to too.
Gerasim sat there downcast. He saw his friend was boasting,
and it occurred to him to gratify him. I know it,
(03:37):
he said, but it's hard to find men like hi,
Yager Duanelitch. If you are a poor worker, your master
would not have kept you twelve years. Jeger smiled. He
liked the praise. That's it, he said. If you were
to live in serve as I do, you wouldn't be
out of work for months and months. Gerassim made no reply.
Yeager was summoned to his master. Wait a moment, he said,
(04:00):
I'll be right back very well. Jagger came back and
reported that inside of half an hour he would have
to have the horse's harness and ready to drive his
master to town. He lighted up his pipe and took
several turns in the room. Then he came to a
halt in front of Gerrassim. Listen, my boy, he said,
(04:21):
if you want, I'll ask my master to take you
as a servant. Here does he need a man. We
have one, but he's not much good. He's getting gold
and it's very hard for him to do the work.
It's lucky for us that the neighborhood isn't a lively one,
and the police don't make a fuss about things being
kept so else the old man couldn't manage to keep
the place kin enough for them. Oh, if he can,
(04:43):
then please do say a word for me, Yagar Danelitch.
I'll pray for you all my life. I can't stand
being without work any longer. All right, I'll speak for you.
Come again to morrow, and in the meantime take this
ten kopeck piece. It may come in handy. Thanks, Yaggar Duanevitch.
Then you will try for me. Please do me the favor,
(05:04):
all right, I'll try for you. Garassim left and Jagger
harnessed his horses. Then he put out his hortman's cabot
and drove up to the front door. Mister Shareroff stepped
out of the house, seated himself in the sleigh, and
the horses galloped off. He attended to his business in
town and returned home. Yeager, observing that his master was
(05:25):
in a good humor, said to him, yager, fear dorrich,
I have a favor to ask of you. What is it?
There's a young man from my village here, a good boy.
He's without a dog. Well, wouldn't you take him? What
do I want him for? Here's him as a man
of all work round the place. How about Polycarpet? What
(05:46):
good is he? It's about time you dismissed him. That
wouldn't be fair. He has been with me so many years.
I can't let him go to sew without any cause.
Supposing he has worked for you for years, he didn't
work for nothing. He got paid for it. He's certainly
saved up of your dolls for his old age, save
doub How could he from what he is not alone
(06:08):
in the world. He has a life to support, and
she has to eat and drink. Also, his life earns
money too. At day's work as a charwoman a lot
you could have made enough for class. Why should you
care about Polycarpet and his wife? To tell you the truth,
he's a very poor servant. Why should you throw your
money away on him? He never travels the snow away
(06:31):
on time, or does anything right. And when it comes
his turn to be night watchmen. He slips away at
least ten times a night. It's still called for him.
He'll see some day because of him, you will have
trouble with the police. The Quarterly Inspector will descend on us,
and it won't be so agreeable for you to be
responsible for polycarpet. Still, it's pretty rough. He's been with
(06:52):
me fifteen years, and to treat him the way in
his old age, it would be a sin, a sin.
What how would you be doing him? He won't starve,
he'll go to the almshouse. It would be better for
him too, to be quite in his old ate. Sharoff reflected,
all right, he said, finally, bring your friend here. I'll
(07:13):
see what I can do do Take him, sir, I'm
so sorry for him. He's a good boy, and he's
been without work for such a long time. I know
he'll do his work well and Servia faithfully. On account
of having to report for military duty, he lost his
last position. If it hadn't been for that, his master
would never have let him go. The next evening, Gerasim
(07:37):
came again and asked, well, could you do anything for me?
Something I believe? First, let's have some tea, then we'll
go to see my master. Even tea had no allurement
for Gerasim. He was eager for a decision, but under
the compulsion of politeness to his cost, he gulped down
to glasses of tea, and then they betook themselves to Sharaff.
(07:59):
Sharoff asked Gerasim where he had left before and what
work he could do. Then he told him he was
prepared to engage him as a man of all work,
and he should come back next day ready to take
the place. Garassim was fairly stunned by the great stroke
of fortune. So overwhelming was his joy that his legs
would scarcely carry him. He went to the coachman's room,
(08:22):
and Yagger said to him, well, my lad, see it
that you do your work right, so that I sha'n't
have to be ashamed of you. You know what masters
are like. If you go wrong once, they'll be at
you forever after with their fault finding, and never give
you peace. Don't worry about that, yagor Danilitch, whoa well.
(08:43):
Garasm took leave, crossing the yard to go out by
the gate. Puly carpete rooms gave on the yard and
the broad beam of light from the window fell across
Garasim's way. He was curious to get a glimpse of
his future home, but the panes were all frosted over
and it was impossible to peep through. However, he could
(09:05):
care what the people inside were saying. What we would
do now? Was said in a woman's voice. I don't know,
I don't know. A man, undoubtedly Polycarpe, replied, go begging.
I suppose that's all we can do. There's nothing else left,
said the woman. Oh, we poor people, What miserable life
(09:25):
will eat? We work and work from early morning till
late at night, day after day, and when we get
out then it's away with you. What can we do?
Our master is not one of us. It wouldn't be
worth the while to say much to him about it.
He cares only for his advantage. Oh, the masters are
(09:46):
so mean. They don't think of any one but themselves.
It doesn't occur to them that we work for them
honestly and faithfully for years, and use of all our
best strength in their service. They're afraid to keep us
a year longer. Even we've got all the strength we
need to do their work. If we weren't strong enough,
we'd go off our own a cart. The Master's not
(10:07):
so much to blame as his coachman, Jagger. The nilige
wants to get a good position for his friend. Yes,
he's a serpent. He knows how to like his tongue.
You wait, you foam out the beast. I'll get even
with you. I'll go straight to the Master and tell
him how the fellow deceives him, how he steals the
hand foot. I've put it down in writing, and he
(10:30):
can convince himself how the fellow lies about us. All don't,
old woman, don't sin? Sin? Isn't what I said? Oh true,
I know to adot what I'm saying, and I mean
to tell it straight out to the Master. He should
see with his own eyes. Why not? What can we
do now? Anyhow? Where shall we go? He's ruined us,
(10:52):
ruined us. The old woman burst out sobbing. Garson heard
all that, and it stabbed him like a dagger. He
realized misfortune he would be bringing the old people, and
it made him sick at heart. He stood there a
long while, saddened, lost in thought. Then he turned and
went back into the coachman's room. Ah, you forgot something, No,
(11:13):
Yager Danielach Garason stammered out, I have come. Listen. I
wanted to thank you ever endeavored so much for the
way you received me, and and all the trouble you
took for me. But I can't take the place. What
(11:35):
what does that mean? Nothing? I don't want the place.
I will look for another one for myself. Did you
mean to make a fool of me? Did you? You idiot?
You come here so meek, try for me? Did try
for me? And then you refuse to take the place,
(11:55):
you rascal? You have disgraced me. Garason found nothing to
say in he reddened and lowered his eyes. Yega turned
his back scornfully and said nothing more. Then Garask him quietly,
picked up his cap and left the coachman's room. He
crossed the air rapidly, went out by the gate, and
hurried off down the street. He felt happy and light heartened.
(12:20):
End of the Servant by Sergey Semyonov
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