In this farmstead, a man often appeared, or, better, a devil in human form. (St. John's Eve, p. 5).

Wondrously, the moon shines. (The Night Before Christmas, p. 35).

The poor deacon didn't even dare to show his pain by coughing or grunting when the heavy fellow sat almost on his head and stuck his frozen boots on both sides of his temples. (The Night Before Christmas, p. 37).

He was not one of those old people who make a nuisance of themselves, eternally praising the old days and denouncing the new. (Old World Landowners, p. 135).

And which is stronger in us, passion or habit? (Old World Landowners, p. 152).

Pity never possesses us so strongly as at the sight of beauty touched by the corrupting breath of depravity. Let ugliness make friends with it, but beauty, tender beauty . . . in our thoughts it is only united with chastity and purity. (Nevsky Prospect...