They went
for the sake of all, and for Christ's truth--against all with which
our malicious, false, avaricious ones have captured, tied, and
crushed us. My dear ones--why it is for you that our young blood
rose--for all the people, for all the world, for all the workingmen,
they went! Then don't go away from them, don't renounce, don't forsake
them, don't leave your children on a lonely path--they went just for
the purpose of showing you all the path to truth, to take all on that
path! Pity yourselves! Love them! Understand the children's hearts.
Believe your sons' hearts; they have brought forth the truth; it
burns in them; they perish for it. Believe them!"
Her voice broke down, she staggered, her strength gone. Somebody
seized her under the arms.
"She is speaking God's words!" a man shouted hoarsely and excitedly.
"God's words, good people! Listen to her!"
Another man said in pity of her:
"Look how she's hurting herself!"
"She's not hurting herself, but hitting us, fools, understand that!"
was the reproachful reply.
A high-pitched, quavering voice rose up over the crowd:
"Oh, people of the true faith! My Mitya, pure soul, what has he
done? He went after his dear comrades.
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