Favorite classic prose: "Firelight" - (Russian) Korolenko

A long time ago, on a dark autumn night, I was rafting on a spooky river in NorthwestErlia. The ship reached a bend, only to see a spark flashing under the peak of the black ray in front of it. The fire was bright and bright, as if it were right in front of you...

"Okay, thank goodness!" I said happily, "I'll be there for the night soon!" ”

The boatman turned his head and glanced at the fire behind him, and then rowed his oars disapprovingly.

"Far away!"

I didn't believe him, for the fire broke through the hazy night, which was clearly flickering there, but the boatman was right: in fact, the fire was still far away.

These dark nights are characterized by firelight: dispelling darkness, shining, close at hand, fascinating, at first glance, a few strokes to arrive... In fact, it is still far away! ......

We paddled for a long time on the inky black river. Canyons and cliffs, head-on, and then moved backwards, as if disappearing into the vast distance, while the fire still stopped in front of them, shining, fascinating,—— is still so close, still so far...

Now, whether it is this dark river shrouded in the shadow of the cliffs, or the bright light of the fire, it often comes to my mind. Before and after this, there were many fires, which seemed to be close at hand, and I was not only fascinated by them. But the river of life still flows between the two banks of the eerie forest, and the fire is still very far away. Therefore, it is necessary to paddle harder...

However, the fire... After all...... After all, it's ahead! ......