The Godson by Leo Tolstoy. Short summary

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A passerby went to a poor man’s cummerbund. The child grew up and went looking for his godfather. But he violated his orders and thereby multiplied his sins. The godfather sent him to atone for them. The boy became a saint.

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No one wanted to go to the poor man as a nephew. Only the wanderer agreed. The boy grew up, became smart, strong and fit. He wanted to find his godfather. His parents let him go in search of him.

The boy met a wanderer. He told him to go to his home, and on the way to see what is happening in the clearing. There was a log hanging there, and under it there was a trough with honey.

A mama bear and her cubs came and pushed the log. It swayed. She hit it harder, the boulder killed the cubs. The bear cub tossed the stick, but it killed her.

The godson reached the golden chambers of the godfather. He disobeyed his command, sat down to decide things among men himself. He wanted the best, but it turned out to be worse. So he sent the godfather to pay for his sins.

The godfather came to the old man in his cell. He ordered him to water the heads until they grew into apple trees. The godfather became famous as a saint.

He began to preach to the robber. But the robber became even more angry. The godson went away from the people. When the robber saw that the saint was not a hypocrite and did not moralize, he repented.