It was a fine day and my wife said to me, "Don't you think it would be nice to go for a drive somewhere out of town?" This seemed to be a very good idea, and we phoned our friends, an elderly couple, and asked them if they wished to join us. They said they would be delighted to go for a drive in the country and we arranged that we should pick them up on our way.
I pulled on my overalls and went to the garage to get the car ready. My wife was busy in the kitchen cutting up some sandwiches for the picnic. A few minutes later we called for our friends. As usual the husband had his fishing-rods with him. "Is there any particular place you would like to go to?" I asked them. "It's all Hie same to us," they said. "I suggest that we should drive to the place we liked so much last autumn. You can even do some fishing there," said my wife.
At first we were driving through a constant stream of taxis and lorries and had to stop a great deal before the red traffic lights to let the passengers cross the road. We were pleased to get out of town with all its deafening noise and dust and crowded pavements. We were very glad when the town disappeared in the distance.
It was a beautiful time of the year. Nature was awakening from her long winter sleep. The trees were filling with new life, the earth was warmed by the rays of the sun and the weather was getting gradually milder.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable time near the lake up among the hills. After such a journey one gets rid of one's headaches and insomnia for at least a month or so and is ready to work hard again. Yet we are always looking forward to other outings.
Dictation 11 In Autumn
Autumn begins in September and lasts till December which is the first winter month. The weather in autumn is not always the same. As a rule the first part of it is so warm and sunny that people call it the Indian Summer.
But this year the weather in September was different. The sky was usually covered with heavy clouds and it very often rained. I can recall only a few really pleasant days.
One of such good days was Sunday. I called on my friends in the morning and we all started to the forest which is situated not far from the town. None of us wanted to stay at home on this wonderful day.
As we were going to spend the whole day in the forest we took some food with us—bread and butter, cheese and even roast meal.
The forest is famous for its mushrooms, but that Sunday so many people had come there before us that we could not find a single mushroom. We only gathered some berries and picked several autumn flowers on the meadow.
We walked and walked and suddenly we found ourselves in the thicket. It was awfully quiet there. We did not stay long in the thicket as it was rather cold and wet there.
When we returned home it was already growing dark. Though we fell tiled we had all enjoyed our excellent walk. I went to bed at once as on Monday I had to get up early and hurry to my work.
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We were very disappointed that next Sunday was quite a different day, cold and foggy. It was impossible to go anywhere so we all spent this day indoors.
Dictation 12 In Abramtzevo
A friend of mine lives out of town in Abramtzevo. She is fond of the plaice and is always excited when she describes if to us. She says that many people call it the most beautiful place round Moscow.
It is situated to the North of Moscow on the bank of the Vorya, a narrow hut beautiful river. When you get off the electric train at the station, you are surprised to feel how fresh and cool the air is.
If you turn to the left you will find yourself in a wonderful pine forest which stretches very far.
The forest is very thick and you can always hide yourselfin the shade there when the weather is extremely hot. There are a lot of mushrooms and berries in the forest. My friend always gathers them together with her elder sister who knows the forest well.
I prefer to go to Abramtzevo on week days as on Sunday the trains are overcrowded — thousands of people are anxious to spend their free day in the country.
Abramtzevo is famous not only for its beauty but also for its museum. Before the Great October Socialist Revolution the place belonged to Mamontov. He had many friends among Russian talented painters, writers and singers and he often invited them to his place. There they rested, painted and discussed their work.
At present Abramtzevo is the favourite place of work of many painters. They come there all the year round as in winter the place is not less beautiful than in spring and in summer.
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