ABSTRACT
There lived this old man and his old woman. They had a son who was called Soldier Simkin. Soldier Simkin had served twenty-five years. In the service he had been a very good fiddler. When he was discharged, they gave him a violin for his good service. And for the road they gave him three rubles. They gave him a letter so that he could travel to Petrograd without paying. And from Petrograd home he would have to go on horseback or walk on foot. This took place in the spring, when the rivers were thawing out. Soldier Simkin decided to go on foot. He walked and walked, and he got tired. He was tired and then he remembered: in the army, on occasion, if you get tired on a campaign, you play some music and your tiredness will pass. “Let me get that fiddle,” he thought, and then I’ll sit down and play!”
