Learn Russian with Summer People by Anton Chekhov (Дачники)

Literal translation: On the railway platform a pair of newlyweds were walking back and forth. He was holding her by the waist, and she stood close to him, and both were happy.

Story translation: The newlyweds were walking back and forth on the railway platform. He was holding her by the waist, she stood very close to him, and both looked happy

Literal translation: From behind the cloudy breaks, the moon was looking at them and frowned: probably, she was envious and annoyed about her boring virginity, that no one needed.

Story translation: From behind the clouds the moon was looking and frowning at them; it seemed that she was unhappy and confused about her boring virginity that no one could care less about.

Literal translation: 
The motionless air was thickly saturated with the smell of lilac and bird cherry. Somewhere, on the other side of the rails, the corncrake shouted...

Story translation: The motionless air was full of the scent of lilac and birdcherries. Somewhere from the opposite part of the railroad a corncrake was caw-cawing...

Literal translation:
- How good, Sasha, how good! - the wife said. - Right, it's possible to think that all this is dreaming. You, look how cozy and tender this forest looks! How lovely are these solid, silent telegraph poles! They, Sasha, enliven the landscape and they say that there, somewhere, there are people ... civilization ... Don't you like it when the wind blows weakly into your ears the noise of the coming train?

Story translation: “Sasha, sweetheart, it is so beautiful here, so nice!” his wife said. “See, how tender and cozy this forest looks! How nice these solid silent telegraph posts are! Sasha, they make the landscape look so vivid and they also say that somewhere there are people, there is civilization… Don’t you like it when you hear a weak sound of a faraway train?”

Literal translation: 
- Yes ... What, however, your hands are hot! It's because you're worried, Varya ... What were they making for dinner tonight?

Story translation: “Yes… By the way your hands are so hot! That is because you are nervous, Varya… What are they serving for dinner tonight?”

Literal translation: 
- Okroshka and chicken ... Chicken for two of us is enough. For you they brought sardines and balyk from the city.

Story translation: “Cold root beer vegetable soup and chicken. Chicken is enough for two of us. They also brought you sardines and smoked fish from town.”

Literal translation: The moon, as if she was snugging sniffing tobacco , hid behind a cloud. Human happiness reminded her of her loneliness, her lonely bed behind the forests and valleys ...

Story translation: The moon hid herself behind the cloud as if she smelled tobacco. Other people’s happiness reminded her of loneliness and lonely bed somewhere behind woods and valleys…

Literal translation: - The train is coming! - said Varya. - How nice!

Story translation: “Train’s coming!” Varya said. “How beautiful!”

Literal translation: 
Three fiery eyes appeared in the distance. On the platform came the head of the station. On the rails here and there signal lights were flashing.

Story translation: Three fiery eyes appeared in the distance. The chief of the junction came out on the platform. Signal lights flashed here and there.

Literal translation: “We will escort the train and go home,” said Sasha and yawned. - We live well with you, Varya, so good that it's even unbelievable!

Story translation: “We’ll see the train off and then go home,” Sasha said and yawned. “We live such a happy life together, Varya, we are unbelievably happy!”

Literal translation: The dark monster crawled silently to the platform and stopped. In the half-lit wagon windows sleepy faces, caps, and shoulders flashed  ...

Story translation: The dark monster soundlessly crawled to the platform and stopped. In half lit windows flashed dreamy faces, hats and shoulders…

Literal translation: - Ah! Oh! - it was heard from one wagon. - Varya with her husband came out to meet us! Here they are! Varenka! .. Varechka! Oh!

Story translation: “Ah, ah!” exclamations came from one of the windows. “Varya and her husband came out to meet us! Here they are! Varenka! Varechka! Ah! Ah!”

Literal translation: Two girls jumped out of the car and hung around Varia's neck. They were followed by a full elderly lady and a tall, skinny gentleman with a gray beard, then two gymnasium students loaded with luggage, and then a governess behind the schoolboys, and a grandmother behind the governess.

Story translation: Two little girls jumped from the wagon and hung on Varya’s neck. After them appeared a stout old lady and tall skinny gentleman with grey sideburns, then two high school boys, loaded with luggage and accompanied by their governess and grandmother.

Literal translation: - And here we are, and here we are, my friend! - began the gentleman with the beard, shaking Sasha's hand. - Tea, I've awaited! Probably scolded uncle for not going! Kolya, Kostya, Nina, Fifa ... children! Kiss cousin Sasha! Everyone to you, all the brood, for a day or three, four. Hope we're not constraining? You, please, without ceremony.

Story translation: “Well, here we are, here we are, buddie!” the gentleman began shaking Sasha’s hand. “You look like you’ve been waiting for us for a long time! You probably are mad at me for not visiting you! Kolya, Kostya, Nina, Fifa… kids! Kiss your cousin Sasha! We came to you for three or four days. Will this do? I hope it won’t be a problem, we all are simple people”

Literal translation: Seeing his uncle with the family, the couple was horrified. While the uncle spoke and kissed, a picture flashed through Sasha's imagination: he and his wife gave the guests their three rooms, pillows, blankets; balyk, sardines and okroshka were eaten in one second, cousins were tearing flowers, spilling ink, making noises, the aunt spend whole days talking about her illness (tapeworm and pain under the spoon) and that she was born Baroness von Fintih ...

Story translation: Having seen the uncle with his family, the couple got horrified. While the uncle was speaking and kissing, a picture appeared in Sasha’s imagination: he and his wife would give to the guests their three rooms, their pillows, blankets; smoked fish and sardines are eaten up in a second; the cousins pick flowers, spill ink, cry out, the aunt talks all day long about her digestive problems and that she was born baroness Von Fintikh…

Literal translation: And Sasha already with hatred looked at his young wife and whispered to her:

Story translation: And Sasha started looking at his young wife with hatred and whispered:

Literal translation: -They came to you ... damn them to hell!

Story translation: “They are here to visit you, damn them!”

Literal translation: - No, to you! - She answered, pale, also with hatred and with malice.

Story translation: “No, you!” she answered, pale from hatred and fury. 

Literal translation: - They are not mine, but your relatives!

Story translation: “They are not my relatives, but yours!”

Literal translation: And turning to the guests, she said with a friendly smile:

Story translation: And, turning to the guests, she said with a friendly smile: 

Literal translation: - Welcome!

Story translation: “You are welcome!”

Literal translation: The moon floated again from behind the cloud. She seemed to be smiling; she seemed pleased that she had no relatives. And Sasha turned away to hide his angry, desperate face from the guests, and said, giving his voice a joyful, complacent expression:

Story translation: The moon again flew from behind the clouds. It seemed she was smiling and was happy not to have any relatives. And Sasha turned so that his guests would not see his angry, desperate face and said, giving his voice a joyful and kindhearted expression:

Literal translation: - Welcome! You are welcome, dear guests!

Story translation: “You are welcome! You are our precious guests! You are welcome!”