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A)
Some haven't even a shelter. And some are blind or deaf. But I, thank God, I can see beautifully and can hear everything, everything. A mole burrows underground - and I can hear even that. (p.103)
B)
I feel that I am alive; that I breathe and all of me is here. I look, I listen. The bees in the bee-garden buzz and hum; a pigeon will alight on the roof and begin to coo; the brood-hen will come in with her chickens and peck the crumbs or sometimes a sparrow will fly in or a butterfly - I am very pleased. (p.105)
C)
However, even when it is dark there is still something to listen to: a cricket will chirp or a mouse will start scratching somewhere. That's when it's good: no need to think". (p.107)
Ivan Turgenev, Russian Stories, ed. Gleb Struve, "A Living Relic", Bantam Dual Language Book, 1961, New York.
PLACE: Russia
TIME: l9th Century
CIRCUMSTANCE: Sensations of a paralyzed old lady.
Lukerya summoned up her courage. The thought that this half-dead creature was prepared to sing awakened in me an involuntary horror. But before I could get out a word my ears caught the trembling of a drawn-out, scarcely audible but pure and true sound; it was followed by another and still another. Lukerya sang "In the meadows." She sang without changing the expression of her petrified face; even her eyes were fixed. But so touching did this poor, strained, shakey voice sound like a thin trail of smoke, so great was her desire to pour her whole soul into it - I no longer felt any horror; an ineffable pity gripped my heart.
Ivan Turgenev, Russian Stories, ed. Gleb Struve, "A Living Relic", Bantam Dual Language Book, 1961, New York, p. 111.
PLACE: Russia
TIME: 19th Century
CIRCUMSTANCE: Sensations of a paralyzed old lady.
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