Sleepy by Anton Chekhov Summary

Varka is a thirteen-year-old orphan, working as a nursemaid and assistant for a couple with a child. The couple operates a public house. Varka's duties include chores all day, such as caring for the fire, fetching beer, and preparing food. Her night hours are spent rocking the child, an infant who cries incessantly and cannot be consoled. Varka spends the night hours trying to stay awake by staring into a green light and cooing to the infant. As she is deprived of substantive sleep throughout the entire day and night, for days at a time, Varka is always dozing off. The master and mistress of the house treat her with apparent contempt and abuse her in minor ways, such as calling her names, hazing, slapping her head when she sleeps, and refusing to allow her adequate rest...