The Small Chimney-Sweep by Maxim Gorky. Short summary

5 seconds

The chimney sweep Fedka notices a needlewoman in the attic window. One day he catches her with a man. Somehow he sees the girl crying with resentment at her lover. Fedka wants to comfort her and falls off the roof.

1 minute

Fedka the chimney sweep is noted for his industrious, calm and quiet disposition. He does not drink and sends his salary to his father in the village. For this, the young man is disliked by his workmates. They consider him a fool.

One day he is cleaning pipes on the roof. In the attic window opposite, he notices a beautiful girl doing needlework. Fedka really likes her.

The young man begins to come often to the roof and observe the beautiful girl. One day he catches her in the arms of a mustachioed man. He kisses and embraces the half-naked beauty.

Fedka is upset and disappointed. The boy begins to drink. One day he comes to the roof after a night of drinking. The young man is dizzy.

He sees a girl being threatened by a mustachioed man, then leaves and she cries. Fedka tries to go down to the girl to calm her down, but he snaps and crashes to his death.