The Beggar by Ivan Turgenev. Short summary

5 seconds

The author met a beggar on the street. He wanted to give him alms, but he had forgotten his purse. So he shook the beggar’s hand and asked for forgiveness. The man said that a handshake was almsgiving.

1 minute

A poem in prose.

The author was walking down the street and met a beggar. It was an old man in miserable rags. The author was struck by the fact that the beggar’s body was covered with festering wounds, his eyes were inflamed and watery, and his lips were blue in color. The poor man held out his filthy, cold-red palm in the hope of alms.

The author, filled with compassion for the beggar, began to search through his pockets. But it turned out that he had forgotten his wallet at home. He had not taken a watch or even a handkerchief at all. His pockets were completely empty. And the beggar kept holding his red swollen palm…

Then the author sincerely shook his outstretched hand and said: «I’m sorry, brother, but I have nothing!» The beggar smiled sadly with his blue lips and replied, «Nothing, brother. A handshake is already almsgiving.» The author felt that he had just received a handout.