Letter to Maria Alexandrovna Ulyanova, August 26, 1898

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Dear Maria Alexandrovna,

A telegram about the release of D.I. eventually arrived with the last post. The post came when our place was full of visitors. During the past few days we have been subjected to an invasion of “aliens”, some from Minusinsk, some from places round about—people of very different character. They brought discord into our peaceful life and towards the end we were growing a little bit crazy The various “farm” discussions about horses, cows, pigs, etc., really wore us out. Everyone here is interested in farm life—even we acquired half a horse (one of the local residents hired a horse from the volost and we wanted to buy the fodder for it so as to be able to use it as much as we wanted), but our half horse turned out to be such a worn—out nag that it took an hour and a half to drag us three versts and we had to give it back; and so our efforts in this field turned out a fiasco. We do, however, gather mushrooms with great zeal, there are lots of saffron milk—cap and milk agaric mushrooms here At first Volodya announced that he did not know how to gather mushrooms and did not like it, but now you cannot drag him out of the forest, he gets real “mushrooth fever”. Next year we intend to have a vegetable garden and Volodya has already agreed to dig the seedbeds. That will be physical exercise for him. Up to now he has been enthusiastic only about his shooting. Right now he is arming himself for the hunt. He shoots grey—hen and we eat them and praise them I do not think our “manor house” will be very cold. A clerk lived here before us and said it was all right, warm. In any case we are taking all the necessary precautions—we have ordered some felt, we are sealing the windows up carefully, are piling up earth round the bottom of the house, etc. We have a stove in every room, so we do not expect it to be very cold. Well, that’s enough gossip. I embrace you fondly, I am awfully glad for DI. ’s sake and for yours. Give him my very best regards. Many kisses for Anya and Manya. Mother sends best regards to all. She is gradually being drawn into Shushenskoye life and is not so bored now as she was at first.

Yours,

Nadya