The story of L.N. Tolstoy about the difficult fate of the horse - "Xolstomer".

The story was conceived in 1856, when the horse breeder Alexander Stakhovich told Tolstoy the story of the trotter named Holstomer, which took place from the Horseshoe Factory.

The old and sick gelding Holstomer tells his story to the other horses in the herd. He was a thoroughbred stallion, but had a breed defect - white spots.

Since childhood, due to its coloration, Holstomer was considered a «second-class» horse, although it was very fast. One day he fell in love with a mare, after that the stable boys castrated Holstomer, he became a gelding. It was given to the stable boy, later the owner, who feared that his horse was faster than the earl’s, sold Holstomer to another, then he changed hands many times.

Holstomer talked about Officer Nikita Serpuhovsky the most. Holstomer spoke enthusiastically of him, although it was Serpukhovsky who crippled the horse, chasing it as he hurried for the abandoning mistress.

Later, Serpukhovsky will visit the last owner of Holstomer, having already descended and squandered his fortune. The story concludes with a description of Holstomer’s death and the death of Serpukhovsky many years later.

The letter is in reverse of the postcard:

Dear Yakov Heinrich!

"I inform you that in all likelihood, we will leave 9.09 and arrive in Odessa 11.09 early in the morning, we want to take a trip to Lermont Sanatorium.

I’ll bring the postcards, but very little, as they said that now there are almost no amateurs. I’m not writing anything because we’ll talk soon.

My and Anastasia Yakovlevna, greetings with good wishes to you and Nina Georgievna. With respect.

29.08.1988".