Question

summary of the story a day in a country

Answer 1

'A day in the country' is written by Chekhov. It pays homage to an unsung hero, a homeless cobbler whose name is Terenty.  In the beginning of the story a beggar girl named Fyokla, who is 6 years old comes running through a village. The village is preparing for an approaching storm. She addresses everyone as “uncle”. She is searching for some particular person. She finally finds Terenty in the kitchen-garden. He is a “tall old man with a thin, pock-marked face, very long legs, and bare feet, dressed in a woman’s tattered jacket”. He does not look like a hero.

                But Fyokla is searching desperately for someone to help in freeing her brother Danilka, whose hand is stuck in a tree. Terenty does not give importance to the approaching storm and talking reassuringly in fatherly tones he goes to free Fyokla’s brother.

                The story tells us that Terenty “answers all questions, and there is no secret in Nature which baffles him. He knows everything”. The writer further adds that indeed “all the villagers, generally speaking, know as much as he does”. But the difference is that Terenty is willing to share his knowledge and time with the two orphan children. The children love him for this reason.

                The two children retire to a deserted barn after spending the day with Terenty. And Terenty goes to the tavern. Chekhov further tells about Terenty's sincerity and love for the two orphan children. Terenty comes back later and puts bread under their heads making the sign of the cross while they are asleep. In this way Terenty is tries to make the lives of Fyokla and Danilka a little better than his own.