"How nice it was last night!"
"Yes, Orphan, it was nice. A little more, and the fire would have burned away half the village."
"I mean about the people," explained the boy. "How they joined together in a friendly way. If they would live like that all the time, if there were a fire all the time!"
The blacksmith reflected for an instant, then asked in surprise:
"You mean there should be fires all the time?" He looked at Yevsey sternly, and shook his finger. "You wiseacre, you, look out! Don't think such sinful thoughts. Just see him! He finds pleasure in fires!"
CHAPTER II
When Yevsey completed the school course, the blacksmith said to him:
"What shall we do with you now? There's nothing for you here. You must go to the city. I have to get bellows there, and I'll take you along, Orphan."
"Will you yourself take me?"
"Yes. Are you sorry to leave the village?"