Tolstoi's Boyhood

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ...solely because I delight in the words sines, tangents, differentials, integrals, etc. I am much shorter than Volodja, broad-shouldered and stout. I am as ugly as ever, and still make myself miserable about my ugliness. I try to seem eccentric, and have but one comfort; it is that I once overheard papa say that I had a clever plziz, and feel persuaded that he was quite right. St. Jerome is pleased with me; praises me, and I no longer hate him; indeed, when he says that 'with my abilities, with my cleverness,' I ought to be ashamed of not doing well, I feel as if I even love him. My watching the maid-servants' room has long been at an end; I now feel ashamed of hiding behind doors, and then the conviction that Masha really loved Vassily has contributed not a little, I must confess, towards cooling my passion. I was finally cured of my unfortunate attachment by the marriage of Vassily and Masha, which had been at last permitted by my father through my intervention. When the newly-married couple came to thank papa, bringing in a tray with various sweets upon it, and when Masha, in a cap with blue ribbons, thanks all of us, kissing each on his or her shoulder, I smell the scent of rose-oil pomatum which pervades her, but do not experience the least agitation. In general I am beginning to cast aside the defects of my boyhood, except the most important one, how-' ever, which is fated to do me a great deal of harm in V the course of my life, i.e., a taste for philosophizing.___, CHAPTER XXV. VOLODJA'S FRIENDS. THOUGH in the society of Volodja's friends I played a part which wounded my self-love, I liked to sit in his room when he had visitors, and silently to watch all that went on. Volodja's most...