Moments Supplementary Reader Chapter 10 The Beggar

According to Lushkoff, Olga used to scold him but then she grows sad and cries for him. She sheds tears for his sake. She expresses sympathy and kindness towards him. She used to chop the wood for Lushkoff. It is her words and kind deeds that inspires Lushkoff to change. Thus, Olga saves Lushkoff.

When Sergei sees the beggar, he remembers that he has met the beggar two days ago in Sadovya Street. He also remembers that he had called himself a student who had been exiled from the school. When Sergei noticed that the beggar was wearing different overshoes one high and the other low, it confirms his doubt.

The beggar does not work for Sergei because he is hungry or needs work. He agreed to work simply from pride and shame. He is also convincing Sergei of his innocence by following him. In this way, he avoids the police also. He has been trapped by his own words. That is why he agrees to work for Sergei.

The beggar does not wish to work. He prefers begging to working because it brings easy money. Besides, he knows no work nor has skills to do some work. Above all, his drinking habit also makes him unfit for work. Therefore, he does not wish to leave begging.

Olga, at first, keeps ridiculing his feebleness. She scolded him, she also shows him how to work. But she keeps on crying, for the beggar’s sake. She is sympathetic to him and even does all the chopping etc. just to make him receive the money. Thus, she keeps the beggar away from the chopping assignments.

Sergei feels very happy to see Lushkoff a rich and successful man. He thinks himself responsible for transforming Lushkoff from a drunkard into a well-to-do successful man. That’s why he calls Lushkoff his Godson.

Lushkoff thanks to Sergei for providing him the much needed protection. He also thanks to Sergei for his kind words and deeds. He thanks to Sergei from his heart for helping him meet his cook, Olga who transforms and thus, saved Lushkoff.

According to Lushkoff, Olga used to scold him but then she grows sad and cries for him. She sheds tears for his sake. She expresses sympathy and kindness towards him. She used to chop the wood for Lushkoff. It is her words and kind deeds that inspires Lushkoff to change. Thus, Olga saves Lushkoff.

According to Lushkoff, Sergei helps him by taking him into his protection. He helps him with a job and money and kind words. But Olga helps him by expressing sympathy and kindness and concern for him. She works for him ho that he gets money and chance to reform. Thus, she is different from Sergei.

How Can We Abolish Begging?
For most of the beggars, begging has become a habit. Many people with sound health and in their prime become beggars. Even if they are given a chance to rescue themselves from this miserable existence, they would still feel uncomfortable and would go hack to their old habit of begging. It is, indeed, a knotty problem in our society. In order to abolish begging, we must stop indiscriminate alms-giving because begging leads to many social evils. Only those who are crippled, helpless, or homeless should be given alms. Further, the Government should start its own institutions, where widows, orphans and other helpless people may find shelter. This will prevent them from joining the profession. The Government should also pass laws, which should make begging by persons, below a certain age a crime.

Practical Suggestions on Social Menace of Begging on.

There is no doubt that begging is a blot on a nation’s pride. People begging for alms at traffic signals and streets do not boost a nation’s pride. We need to stop this social menace. First of all we should not give alms at public places like roads and streets. Whenever a beggar is spotted he/ she should be taken to some care homes where he/she can be taken care of. All those who are able to work must be given some work so that they earn their livelihood decently than indulge in begging. We should give them some time to improve and provide them physical, emotional and psychological support. By doing this, we can stop the menace of begging.