The Necklace

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  “SHE WAS one of those pretty, charming young ladies, born, as if through an error of destiny, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, appreciated, loved, and married by a man either rich or distinguished; and she allowed herself to marry a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. . . .  She had neither frocks nor jewels, nothing. And she loved only those things. She felt that she was made for them. She had such a desire to please, to be sought after, to be clever, and courted.” —THE NECKLACE Guy de Maupassant    France, 1884 (pic by Grok) Read this short story here:  https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/the-necklace

International Women's Day (Russia, Ukrain)

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Друг мой! Позвольте задать вам самый важный вопрос на свете, от ответа на который зависит чем будет полна для вас вечность - радостью или тоской. Этот вопрос - получили ли вы спасение? Речь идет не о том, хороший ли вы человек и принадлежите ли вы к какой-нибудь церкви, а о том, получили ли вы спасение? Уверены ли вы, что попадете после смерти на небеса?

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Дорогий мій друже! Дозволь поставити тобі таке питання, яке перевищує всі цінності твого життя. Від правильної розв'язки цього питання залежить твій стан у вічності: чи буде він щасливий чи сумний?
Говорячи коротко, питання зводиться до того: "Чи спасенний ти?"
Зрозумій це питання! Бо справа не в тім, що ти, може, є членом якоїсь церкви. Це річ зовнішнього порядку. Але сутність питання полягає в тім: Чи спасена твоя душа?

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Follow this link for an English translation.

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