There was a General by Olga Forsh. Short summary

5 seconds

The village fool tells the general about the Easter alms drives. He happily takes part in them.

1 minute

General Nikita Ivanovich returns to his native village after a contusion. He feels very lonely and unnecessary. His friends and wife have turned their backs on him after he was wounded.

The peasants send their fool Stepa to him. According to village customs, he is considered a relative of the general, since Stepan’s mother was Nikita Ivanovich’s nurse.

The villagers give the fool the task of ridding the village of the present Zemstvo and petty officer.

Stepan comes to the general. He passes on the request of the peasants. Then he sees how unhappy the general is and feels pity for him.

Stepa tells him that he and his buddies are going to become «voloechniks». This is the name given to the villagers, who pretend to be blind men at Easter and sing songs.

The general’s daughter asks her father to become a «voloechnik». He agrees.

The general’s wife watches in horror as her husband, the lunatic Stepa and his daughter walk in a single file, singing Easter songs.