In Those Days: The Story of an Old Man

An elderly beadle's preparations to send his son into military service prompt an extended reminiscence that moves from childhood fears and village rumors to the deaths of siblings and the strains of domestic life. He recounts encounters with conscription practices, local religious customs, mourning rituals, and neighborhood gossip, using anecdote and reflection to mix wry humor with quiet regret. The narrative stitches together episodes of small‑town routine, personal loss, and communal solidarity, portraying the speaker's loneliness, stubborn pride, and the ways memory reshapes ordinary events into a life story.