LITTLE GIRLS WISER THAN MEN - LEO TOLSTOY

LITTLE GIRLS WISER THAN MEN

-         LEO TOLSTOY

Count Leo Tolstoy was a famous Russian writer. He got Noble Prize for his novel “War and Peace”. In all his works, he emphasized on moral values in life. Mahatma Gandhi was highly influenced by his teachings. In the story “Little Girls Wiser than Men”, he highlighted the importance of forgiving and forgetting in our day to-day life like children.

    It was Easter time. Akulya and Malasha were two little girls who were playing in the street. They had just come from church. Their mothers had dressed them both in new frocks. Malasha wore a blue frock and Akulya wore a yellow print, and both had red kerchiefs on their heads. They removed their shoes and stockings and began to walk through the puddle in the street. When they were playing Malasha splashed water. It spoiled Akulya’s frock. She became angry and ran after Malasha to strike her. At that time Akulya’s mother came there. Akulya made a complaint to her mother about Malasha. Akulya’s mother was angry. She caught Malasha and struck her on the back of her neck. Malasha began to howl. By hearing the crying sound of Malasha her mother came out and started to quarrel with Akulya’s mother. Soon a crowd collected in the street. They went on quarrelling. Akulya’s old grandmother tried to calm them but she failed in it. While the crowd was abusing each other, Akulya and Malasha went back to the puddle. They made the water run into the street. They followed it and delighted. On seeing them, the old mother asked the elders to look at the small children. The elders were ashamed and stopped quarrel. They went back to their homes.

     Tolstoy ends his story with a quote from the Bible,

     “Except ye turn, and becomes as little children, Ye

     Shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heavens”

It means, that unless you change and become like little children, who forget their worries and refrain from holding grudges, you shall not reach the kingdom of heaven