Narrator: In the town of Vladimir lived a young merchant named Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov. He had two shops and a house of his own.
Aksionov was a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond of singing. When quite a young man he had been given to drink, and was riotous when he had had too much; but after he married he gave up drinking, except now and then.
Aksionov: It’s already summer and I need to go to Nizhny Fair
Wife: Ivan Dmitrich, do not start to-day; I have had a bad dream about you.
Aksionov: ( laughed) You are afraid that when I get to the fair I shall go on a spree.
Wife: "I do not know what I am afraid of; all I know is that I had a bad dream. I dreamt you returned from the town, and when you took off your cap I saw that your hair was quite grey."
Aksionov: ( laughed) "That's a lucky sign,. See if I don't sell out all my goods, and bring you some presents from the fair.
(So he said good-bye to his family, and drove away. When he had travelled half-way, he met a merchant whom he knew, )
Aksonov: How are you?
Merchant: I am alright, Where are you going?
Aksionov: I am going to Nizhny fair. Let’s put up at the same inn for the night
Merchant: Ok! And let’s have some tea together
(Aksionov nakahiga, nagtataka)
Aksionov: It was not my habit to sleep late! And I wish to travel while it was still cool
(pagkagising)
( he made his way across to the landlord of the inn (who lived in a cottage at the back), paid his bill,
Aksionov: I am going to paid my bills now because I need to continue my journey before dawn
Landlord: Ok Sir!
Aksionov: Thank You
Narrator: (When he had gone about twenty-five miles, he stopped for the horses to be fed. Aksionov rested awhile in the passage of the inn, then he stepped out into the porch, and, ordering a samovar to be heated, got out his guitar and began to play.)
(Suddenly a troika drove up with tinkling bells and an official alighted, followed by two soldiers. He came to