There once lived, in the
Government of Oufá, a Bashkír named Ilyás. His father, who died a year after he
had found his son a wife, did not leave him much property. Ilyás then had only
seven mares, two cows, and about a score of sheep. He was a good manager,
however, and soon began to acquire more. He and his wife worked from morn till
night; rising earlier than others and going later to bed; and his possessions
increased year by year. Living in this way, Ilyás little by little acquired
great wealth. At the end of thirty-five years he had 200 horses, 150 head of
cattle, and 1,200 sheep. Hired laborers tended his flocks and herds, and hired
women milked his mares and cows, and made kumiss [1], butter
and cheese. Ilyás had abundance of everything, and every one in the district
envied him. They said of him:
'Ilyás is a fortunate
man: he has plenty of everything. This world must be a pleasant place for him.'
People of position heard
of Ilyás and sought his acquaintance. Visitors came to him from afar; and he
welcomed every one, and gave them food and drink. Whoever might come, there was
always kumiss, tea, sherbet, and mutton to set before them. Whenever visitors
arrived a sheep would be killed, or sometimes two; and if many guests came he
would even slaughter a mare for them.
Ilyás had three
children: two sons and a daughter; and he married them all off. While he was
poor, his sons worked with him, and looked after the flocks and herds
themselves; but when he grew rich they got spoiled, and one of them took to
drink. The eldest was killed in a brawl; and the younger, who had married a
self-willed woman, ceased to obey his father, and they could not live together
any more.
So they parted, and
Ilyás gave his son a house and some of the cattle; and this diminished his
wealth. Soon after that, a disease broke out among Ilyás's sheep, and many
died. Then followed a bad harvest, and the hay crop failed; and many cattle
died that winter. Then the Kirghíz captured his best herd of horses; and
Ilyás's property dwindled away. It became smaller and smaller, while at the
same time his strength grew less; till, by the time he was seventy years old,
he had begun to sell his furs, carpets, saddles, and tents. At last he had to
part with his remaining cattle, and found himself face to face with want.
Before he knew how it had happened, he had lost everything, and in their old
age he and his wife had to go into service. Ilyás had nothing left, except the
clothes on his back, a fur cloak, a cup, his indoor shoes and overshoes, and
his wife, Sham-Shemagi, who also was old by this time. The son who had parted
from him had gone into a far country, and his daughter was dead, so that there
was no one to help the old couple.
Their neighbor,
Muhammad-Shah, took pity on them. Muhammad-Shah was neither rich nor poor, but
lived comfortably, and was a good man. He remembered Ilyás's hospitality, and
pitying him, said:
'Come and live with me,
Ilyás, you and your old woman. In summer you can work in my melon-garden as
much as your strength allows, and in winter feed my cattle; and Sham-Shemagi
shall milk my mares and make kumiss. I will feed and clothe you both. When you
need anything, tell me, and you shall have it.'
Ilyás thanked his
neighbor, and he and his wife took service with Muhammad-Shah as laborers. At
first the position seemed hard to them, but they got used to it, and lived on,
working as much as their strength allowed.
Muhammad-Shah found it
was to his advantage to keep such people, because, having been masters
themselves, they knew how to manage and were not lazy, but did all the work
they could. Yet it grieved Muhammad-Shah to see people brought so low who had
been of such high standing.
It happened once that
some of Muhammad-Shah's relatives came from a great distance to visit him, and
a Mullah came too. Muhammad-Shah told Ilyás to catch a sheep and kill it. Ilyás
skinned the sheep, and boiled it, and sent it in to the guests. The guests ate
the mutton, had some tea, and then began drinking kumiss. As they were sitting
with their host on down cushions on a carpet, conversing and sipping kumiss
from their cups, Ilyás, having finished his work, passed by the open door.
Muhammad-Shah, seeing him pass, said to one of the guests:
'Did you notice that old
man who passed just now?'
'Yes,' said the visitor,
'what is there remarkable about him?'
'Only this—that he was
once the richest man among us,' replied the host. 'His name is Ilyás. You may
have heard of him.'
'Of course I have heard
of him,' the guest answered, 'I never saw him before, but his fame has spread
far and wide.'
'Yes, and now he has
nothing left,' said Muhammad-Shah, 'and he lives with me as my laborer, and his
old woman is here too—she milks the mares.'
The guest was
astonished: he clicked with his tongue, shook his head, and said:
'Fortune turns like a
wheel. One man it lifts, another it sets down! Does not the old man grieve over
all he has lost?'
'Who can tell. He lives
quietly and peacefully, and works well.'
'May I speak to him?'
asked the guest. 'I should like to ask him about his life.'
'Why not?' replied the
master, and he called from the kibítka[2] in which they were
sitting:
'Babay;' (which in the
Bashkir tongue means 'Grandfather') 'come in and have a cup of kumiss with us,
and call your wife here also.'
Ilyás entered with his
wife; and after exchanging greetings with his master and the guests, he
repeated a prayer, and seated himself near the door. His wife passed in behind
the curtain and sat down with her mistress.
A cup of kumiss was
handed to Ilyás; he wished the guests and his master good health, bowed, drank
a little, and put down the cup.
'Well, Daddy,' said the
guest who had wished to speak to him, 'I suppose you feel rather sad at the
sight of us. It must remind you of your former prosperity, and of your present
sorrows.'
Ilyás smiled, and said:
'If I were to tell you
what is happiness and what is misfortune, you would not believe me. You had
better ask my wife. She is a woman, and what is in her heart is on her tongue.
She will tell you the whole truth.'
The guest turned towards
the curtain.
'Well, Granny,' he
cried, 'tell me how your former happiness compares with your present
misfortune.'
And Sham-Shemagi
answered from behind the curtain:
'This is what I think
about it: My old man and I lived for fifty years seeking happiness and not
finding it; and it is only now, these last two years, since we had nothing left
and have lived as laborers, that we have found real happiness, and we wish for
nothing better than our present lot.'
The guests were
astonished, and so was the master; he even rose and drew the curtain back, so
as to see the old woman's face. There she stood with her arms folded, looking
at her old husband, and smiling; and he smiled back at her. The old woman went
on:
'I speak the truth and
do not jest. For half a century we sought for happiness, and as long as we were
rich we never found it. Now that we have nothing left, and have taken service
as laborers, we have found such happiness that we want nothing better.'
'But in what does your
happiness consist?' asked the guest.
'Why, in this,' she
replied, 'when we were rich, my husband and I had so many cares that we had no
time to talk to one another, or to think of our souls, or to pray to God. Now
we had visitors, and had to consider what food to set before them, and what
presents to give them, lest they should speak ill of us. When they left, we had
to look after our laborers, who were always trying to shirk work and get the
best food, while we wanted to get all we could out of them. So we sinned. Then
we were in fear lest a wolf should kill a foal or a calf, or thieves steal our
horses. We lay awake at night, worrying lest the ewes should overlie their
lambs, and we got up again and again to see that all was well. One thing
attended to, another care would spring up: how, for instance, to get enough
fodder for the winter. And besides that, my old man and I used to disagree. He
would say we must do so and so, and I would differ from him; and then we
disputed—sinning again. So we passed from one trouble to another, from one sin
to another, and found no happiness.'
'Well, and now?'
'Now, when my husband
and I wake in the morning, we always have a loving word for one another, and we
live peacefully, having nothing to quarrel about. We have no care but how best
to serve our master. We work as much as our strength allows, and do it with a
will, that our master may not lose, but profit by us. When we come in, dinner
or supper is ready and there is kumiss to drink. We have fuel to burn when it
is cold, and we have our fur cloak. And we have time to talk, time to think of
our souls, and time to pray. For fifty years we sought happiness, but only now
at last have we found it.'
The guests laughed.
But Ilyás said:
'Do not laugh, friends.
It is not a matter for jesting—it is the truth of life. We also were foolish at
first, and wept at the loss of our wealth; but now God has shown us the truth,
and we tell it, not for our own consolation, but for your good.'
And the Mullah said:
'That is a wise speech.
Ilyás has spoken the exact truth. The same is said in Holy Writ.'
And the guests ceased
laughing and became thoughtful.
*****
Real-life Experience: Balancing Life and Dreams
My
parents work hard every day to balance their responsibilities with their
dreams. My father works long hours to provide for our family. In his free time,
he loves reading books and learning new things. His dream is to have more time
for himself and enjoy his hobbies. My mother is busy managing the household and
taking care of us. She dreams of traveling and exploring new places, but she
often puts her dreams aside for the sake of the family. When I asked them what
would make them truly happy, both of them said they would love more time to do
what they enjoy. They believe that spending time together, while also doing
things they love, would bring real happiness. They try to support each other’s
dreams while fulfilling their duties, always balancing their wishes with their
responsibilities.
*****
Proverbs on Holistic and Visionary Skills:
The proverb that best summarizes the story of Ilyás is "Life
is like a ladder - some climb up it and others down." (Bulgarian).
This proverb reflects the central theme of the story, where Ilyás rises from poverty to wealth and later falls into misfortune. Throughout his life, Ilyás experiences the highs of success and the lows of losing everything. The story demonstrates how life can be unpredictable, and no one remains at the top forever. It highlights the cyclical nature of fortune, where sometimes you are at the top, and at other times, you face setbacks. Just as the proverb suggests, life is a journey of climbing up and falling down, and it’s how we handle both situations that shape our overall experience
The Wheel of
Fortune and Life's Challenges
The wheel of fortune constantly
reminds us that we cannot always be at the top. Life is full of ups and downs,
and success can be fleeting. Just as Ilyás experienced wealth and prosperity
but lost everything, we too go through phases of joy and sorrow. Fortune can
lift us up one moment and set us down the next. However, what matters is how we
cope with these changes. The key is to remain resilient during tough times and
not get carried away during moments of success. Life is a mixture of both good
and bad, and we must embrace both with grace. If we learn to accept the changes
life brings, we will find peace in knowing that everything is temporary, and
what matters most is how we live in the present.
*****
Workplace
skills:
1.
What are some of the
qualities of Ilyás as an employer as depicted in the story?
Ilyás is generous and hospitable. He provides for his workers and guests. He
values hard work and cares for others.
2.
What qualities of Ilyás
as an employee do you find in the story?
Ilyás is hardworking and dedicated. He works long hours. Even in hardship, he
does his best.
3.
What qualities are
valued highly by Ilyás both as an employer and an employee?
Ilyás values hard work and responsibility. He believes in perseverance and
humility. He adapts to changes without complaining.
More questions with answers:
1.
How do you think a person
who has recently got a job feels about himself and the world?
The person may feel proud and excited. They may be hopeful about their future.
The world may seem full of opportunities.
2.
How do you think a
person who has just retired from a job thinks of himself and the world?
The retired person may feel relieved and nostalgic. They may reflect on past
achievements. The world may seem quieter and slower.
3.
How do you think a
person who has lost his job feels about the job, the company, and the world?
The person may feel frustrated and disappointed. They might be angry at the
company. The world may seem uncertain and difficult.
4.
How will a person who
has had to dismiss an employee think about himself, his job, and the world?
The person may feel conflicted or guilty. They may see it as part of their job.
The world may seem like a place of tough decisions.
*****
The matching
of the phrasal verbs with their meanings from the story:
- marry off – find a wife or a husband for
one's son or daughter
- look after – take care of
- break out – start suddenly
- dwindle away – become gradually smaller
- send in – hand in
- pass by – go past
- make up – compose or form
- part with – give away or get rid of
something
- put down – keep something on the floor
- spring up – appear quickly
Here are sentences using the phrasal verbs from the story:
- Marry off: Ilyás worked hard to marry
off his sons, providing them with land and livestock.
- Look after: Ilyás used to look after
his sheep and cattle himself before he grew old.
- Break out: A disease broke out
among Ilyás’s sheep, causing many to die.
- Dwindle away: Over the years, Ilyás’s
wealth began to dwindle away due to poor harvests and losses.
- Send in: After preparing the sheep,
Ilyás sent in the meat for the guests to eat.
- Pass by: Ilyás passed by the
open door as the guests were drinking kumiss.
- Make up: Ilyás and his wife made up
after disagreements and worked together in their old age.
- Part with: Ilyás had to part with
his remaining cattle when his fortunes declined.
- Put down: Ilyás put down the cup
after taking a small sip, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the conversation.
- Spring up: New challenges sprang up
quickly after Ilyás lost his wealth, making life even harder.
Here are the idioms matched with
their meanings, followed by sentences using them:
1.
Band-aid solution – a temporary solution to a problem
Sentence: The manager offered a band-aid solution to
the issue, but it didn't address the root cause.
2.
Dress up to the nines – wear one's best clothes
Sentence: She dressed up to the nines for the
wedding, looking stunning in her designer gown.
3.
Foot the bill – pay up the bill
Sentence: Since it was his idea to go out for dinner, John insisted on
footing the bill for everyone.
4.
Give someone the cold
shoulder – ignore or reject someone
Sentence: After their argument, Sarah started to give Tom the
cold shoulder at work.
5.
Horse sense – common sense
Sentence: With a little horse sense, you can easily
see that the proposal is not practical.
6.
Know one's onions – be skilled and informed
Sentence: If you need advice on marketing, you should ask Peter; he
really knows his onions.
7.
Long face – look sad
Sentence: He had a long face after hearing the
disappointing news about the project.
8.
Pink slip – job termination letter
Sentence: After the company downsized, John received his pink
slip and was let go from his position.
9.
Neck and neck – a very close race
Sentence: The two teams were neck and neck throughout
the entire game, making it an exciting match.
10. Once bitten, twice shy – learning from
a bad experience
Sentence: After his last failed business venture, he's become twice
shy, being extra careful with his investments.
*****
Multiple-choice
questions (MCQs) based on the story "Ilyás" by Leo Tolstoy
- Where did Ilyás live?
a) Moscow
b) Oufá
c) Tashkent
d) St. Petersburg - What was Ilyás’s initial
wealth?
a) 200 horses
b) Seven mares, two cows, and a score of sheep
c) 1000 sheep
d) 500 cattle - What did Ilyás do to grow his
wealth?
a) He worked from morning till night
b) He married rich women
c) He took loans
d) He sold cattle - How many children did Ilyás
have?
a) Four
b) Two
c) Three
d) Five - What happened to Ilyás’s eldest
son?
a) He went abroad
b) He became a rich merchant
c) He was killed in a brawl
d) He ran away - Why did Ilyás’s wealth
decrease?
a) He gave his wealth to his children
b) Cattle disease, bad harvest, and theft
c) He invested poorly
d) He lost a battle - What did Ilyás have to sell by
the time he was seventy?
a) His land
b) His horses and cattle
c) His home
d) His furniture - Who helped Ilyás and his wife
when they were in need?
a) His son
b) Muhammad-Shah
c) The government
d) Neighbors - How did Ilyás and his wife
repay Muhammad-Shah’s kindness?
a) They gave him money
b) They worked as laborers for him
c) They gave him horses
d) They helped him with his business - What was Muhammad-Shah’s
relationship with Ilyás before helping him?
a) He was his relative
b) A neighbor
c) A former employee
d) A business partner - What did Ilyás do when
Muhammad-Shah’s relatives came to visit?
a) He prepared a feast
b) He killed a sheep and served it to the guests
c) He went on a vacation
d) He refused to serve them - What did the guests say about
Ilyás?
a) He was still wealthy
b) He was the richest man
c) They had heard of him and his former prosperity
d) He was a fool - What was Sham-Shemagi’s
perspective on their former wealth?
a) She missed the luxury
b) She thought they were happier now
c) She wanted to get rich again
d) She wished for a bigger house - What did Sham-Shemagi say about
their past life?
a) They were always happy
b) They never found happiness when rich
c) They were poor even when they were wealthy
d) They were careless in the past - What did Sham-Shemagi say about
their current life?
a) They were struggling
b) They had no time for each other
c) They were at peace and content
d) They missed their wealth - What did Ilyás say about their
happiness?
a) It was in their wealth
b) It was in their contentment
c) They had always been happy
d) They never found happiness - What did the Mullah think about
Ilyás’s speech?
a) He disagreed with him
b) He thought it was foolish
c) He thought it was wise and truthful
d) He laughed at him - Why was Muhammad-Shah surprised
by Ilyás and his wife’s happiness?
a) They were very rich in the past
b) They had no reason to be happy
c) They were always sad
d) They didn’t seem sad despite losing everything - What did the old couple find
happiness in now?
a) Their children
b) Peace and love between them
c) Their hard work
d) Being wealthy again - What is the main lesson from
Ilyás’s story?
a) Wealth is everything
b) Happiness is found in contentment, not in wealth
c) Hard work leads to success
d) Losing wealth is a disaster - What did Ilyás and his wife do
in their old age?
a) Started a new business
b) Worked as laborers
c) Moved to a new village
d) Lived with their children - What did the guests think after
hearing Sham-Shemagi’s words?
a) They laughed at her
b) They understood the truth of life
c) They felt pity for her
d) They argued with her - What did Ilyás say about the
guests laughing?
a) He agreed with them
b) He was happy to see them laugh
c) He said it was not a matter for joking
d) He did not care - Who did Ilyás say could explain
the truth of life?
a) His children
b) Muhammad-Shah
c) Sham-Shemagi
d) The Mullah - What is the message of the
Mullah’s response?
a) Ilyás’s speech is the truth
b) Ilyás was wrong
c) Happiness is found in wealth
d) Life is full of sorrow
Answer
Key:
- b) Oufá
- b) Seven mares, two cows, and a
score of sheep
- a) He worked from morning till
night
- c) Three
- c) He was killed in a brawl
- b) Cattle disease, bad harvest,
and theft
- b) His horses and cattle
- b) Muhammad-Shah
- b) They worked as laborers for
him
- b) A neighbor
- b) He killed a sheep and served
it to the guests
- c) They had heard of him and
his former prosperity
- b) She thought they were
happier now
- b) They never found happiness
when rich
- c) They were at peace and
content
- b) It was in their contentment
- c) He thought it was wise and
truthful
- d) They didn’t seem sad despite
losing everything
- b) Peace and love between them
- b) Happiness is found in
contentment, not in wealth
- b) Worked as laborers
- b) They understood the truth of
life
- c) He said it was not a matter
for joking
- c) Sham-Shemagi
- a) Ilyás’s speech is the truth
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