Lyubka the Cossack by Isaac Babel. Short summary

5 seconds

Once upon a time, the cunning broker Cudechkis helped Lyubka Kazak. The innkeeper forgave him his debt, and soon appointed him manager of her establishment.

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Lubka Kazak was the mistress of the inn. The cook and the manager Cudechkis lived with her.

Ten years ago Cudechkis worked as a broker. One day he sold a landowner a threshing machine. The delighted Cudechkis called the landowner to Lubka. The landlady fed the landlord and gave him a barmaid. At night the man ran away. The money was demanded from Tsudechkis. The Jew refused to pay. The watchman locked him in a room.

At the window, Zudechkis saw the cook rocking the cradle. The baby was crying. It was Lubka’s son. The broker took the baby in his arms and rocked Davidka until he fell asleep.

Lubka returned home in the evening. The watchman told the landlady the story about the landlord. Lubka demanded money from the broker, but Tsudechkis would not give up.

The landlady dismantled the contraband and returned to the room. Zudechkis put a fine comb to the woman’s chest and put the baby in bed with her. The baby bumped into the comb several times, but then took the pacifier. This is how the man weaned Davidka from the breast.

Lubka let Zudechkis go, and afterwards made him the steward.