Chapter 31 31 The Clever House Sweeper

Philip, the servant who cleaned the yard, was standing in the middle of the kitchen giving a lecture.He was listening to a footman, a coachman, two maids, a cook, a cook, and two apprentice cooks, his own sons.Every morning he preaches, and this morning his talk was on education. You're all stupid pigs living in the world, he said, with your hat in both hands and the number plate nailed to it, and you're always sitting there, and there's nothing civilized about you except ignorance. He often uses new terms inappropriately in order to lose the text, so I won't note them one by one below. ] Can't see it either.Mishika was always playing checkers, Matmina was cracking a walnut, Nikifor was grinning.Does this count as intelligence?This is not intelligence but stupidity.You have no intelligence at all!But why?

It is true, Philip.Nikon Drage, said the cook, of course, what intellect can we have?It's all people's minds.How can we understand the truth? Why do you have no intelligence?The yard sweeper went on, just because you guys don't have a real point of view.You don't read books; the Bible means nothing to you.You should pick up the book, sit down, and read it carefully.You are probably all literate, and you can always understand printed characters.For example, you, Mischka, should pick up the book and read it.It's good for you and good for others.All kinds of things are advertised in the book.You can find the essence, the gods, and the countries of the world in the book.It talks about what things are made of and how different people speak different languages.There is also idolatry in the book.Anything can be found in a book if you put your mind to it.But you're always sitting by the stove, eating and drinking.It's like a beast, so stupid!Pooh!

You, Nikon Drage, it's time to go to work.said the cook. I know.I don't need you to tell me.Well, take me for example.I am so old, what is my task?What shall satisfy my soul?There is nothing better than books or newspapers.I'm going to work right away.I'm going to sit at the gate for three hours.Do you think I'm going to sit there or gossip with the girls?No, no, I'm not that number!I'm going to take the book and sit there and read it to my heart's content.That's it. Philip took a battered little book from a cupboard and stuffed it in his bosom. This is my task.I have developed this habit since I was a child.Knowledge is light, but lack of education is darkness. You have probably heard this saying, right?That was all right. Philip put on his hat, cleared his throat, and went out of the kitchen door, mumbling.He walked outside the gate, sat down on the bench, frowned, his face seemed to be covered with dark clouds.

They are not human beings, but pig-like chemists.he grunted, still thinking about the gang in the kitchen. He collected himself, took out the little book, sighed solemnly, and began to read. It was very well written, nothing could be better, he read the first page, shook his head, and thought to himself, God has made man wise! There is a good little book, published in Moscow, called "Cultivating Roots; Do We Need Turnips?"The yard-sweeping servant read the first two pages, shook his head meaningfully, and cleared his throat. Written correctly! Philip read the third page and began to think.He was going to think about education, and for some reason, about the French.His head sank on his chest, his elbows rested on his knees.His eyes narrowed.

Philip had a dream.He dreamed that everything had changed: the world was the same world, the houses were the same houses, the gates were the same as before, but the people were completely different.All the people are extremely clever, there is not a single fool, and all the people walking the streets are French, all French.There was a waterman there, but even he talked: I, frankly, am very dissatisfied with the weather, and would like to see the temperature and temperature charts.He holds a large book in both hands. You should read the calendar.Philip said to him. The cook was stupid, but even she chimed in and gave her opinion in the midst of polite conversation.Philip went to the police station to report to the tenants, but, strange to say, even in that fortified place, everyone kept talking, and there were books on the tables everywhere.Then someone came up to the footman Mishka, pushed him and shouted: Are you asleep?Let me ask you: Are you asleep?

Fell asleep at work, idiot?Philip heard someone's voice thundering, "Are you asleep, bastard, brute?" Philip jumped up and rubbed his eyes.In front of him stood the deputy director of the police station. ah?You fell asleep?I want to fine you money, slippery!I'm going to show you what it's like to sleep at work, ugly! Two hours later, the servant who swept the yard was called to the police station.Then he went into the kitchen again.There, everyone, already impressed by his teaching, sat around the table and listened to Mishka read a book word for word. Frowning and blushing, Philip went up to Mischka, patted the book with his fingerless gloves, and said darkly: Don't read it!