Anton Chekhov

“ In earlier days when he was a shoemaker the beggars took no notice of him, now they wouldn't let him pass.
And at home his new wife, the lady, was waiting for him, dressed in a green blouse and a red skirt. He meant to be attentive to her, and had just lifted his arm to give her a good clout on the back, but she said angrily:`Peasant! Ignorant lout! You don't know how to behave with ladies! If you love me you will kiss my hand; I don't allow you to beat me.'
`This is a blasted existence!' thought Fyodor. 'People do lead a life! ”

“ Blockhead! You don't know how to make boots! I'll beat your ugly phiz to a jelly! Why have you come?'
`For money.'
'What money? Be off! Come on Saturday! Boy, give him a cuff!'
But he at once recalled what a life the customers used to lead him, too, and he felt heavy at heart, and to distract his attention he took a fat pocketbook out of his pocket and began counting his money. There was a great deal of money, but Fyodor wanted more still. The devil in the blue spectacles brought him another notebook fatter still, but he wanted even more ”

“ He would long ago have flung aside his work and gone out into the street, but a customer from Kolokolny Lane, who had a fortnight before ordered some boots, had been in the previous day, had abused him roundly, and had ordered him to finish the boots at once before the morning service.
`It's a convict's life!' Fyodor grumbled as he worked. `Some people have been asleep long ago, others are enjoying themselves, while you sit here like some Cain and sew for the devil knows whom ... ”

“ But when Kuzma Lebyodkin from Warsaw, a master-bootmaker, met himand said:`I've married a rich woman and I have men working under me, while you are a beggar and have nothing to eat,' Fyodor could not refrain from running after him. ”

“ He pursued him till he found himself in Kolokolny Lane. His customer lived in the fourth house from the corner on the very top floor. To reach him one had to go through a long, dark courtyard, and then to climb up a very high slippery stair-case which tottered under one's feet. When Fyodor went in to him he was sitting on the floor pounding something in a mortar, just as he had been the fortnight before.
`Your honour, I have brought your boots,' said Fyodor sullenly. ”

“ You mustn't sing, you mustn't play the concertina, you mustn't have a lark with a lady ... Pfoo!' He had no sooner sat down to tea with the lady when the evil spirit in the blue spectacles appeared and said:`Come, Fyodor Pantelyeitch, I have performed my part of the bargain. ”

“ To save himself from accidentally falling asleep, he kept taking a bottle from under the table and drinking out of it, and after every pull at it he twisted his head and said aloud:
`What is the reason, kindly tell me, that customers enjoy themselves while I am forced to sit and work for them? ”