’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。’