In a secluded park away from the city, an old man and young man sit on a bench. The young man stands up and the old man tells him to sit back down. The old man talks about how in Russia, the people don't smoke pipes like the American people. The old man further comments on the young man's mood and says that the young man is unhappy. The young man explains that he is just tired, but the old man says that he is not fooled and that he knows the young man is not happy because he doesn't have a job. The young man asks the old man if he has a family and the old man explains that he has one son, but used to have four other children and a wife. However, they died or were killed during war. The old man tells the young man about Russia and his life there, as well as the store he owned when he was 18. The old man explains that his name is Samuil and that his mother once introduced him to a pretty girl named Sara, whose father was their rabbi. The old man explains that he begins to grow fond of Sara and that they get married after 3 months. However, one day, the old man's store burned down. The old man explains that he was distraught by the destruction of his store, but that his wife encouraged him to open another store after their wedding. Soon, they have build their new store and the two have two children. However, their new store soon floods and the old man is distraught again. Despite this, the old man explains that he eventually built more stores and that he and his wife had 5 children in all. As the old man thinks on his life, the young man asks him for another cigarette and the old man gives him the entire packet, but takes one for himself. The old man continues his story and explains that Russia went to war with Japan and that the war created pogroms that hunted Jewish people down. The pogroms killed his mother and his wife's parents. The old man believes that God was testing his family. The old man then explains that the war killed his sons, but his son Boris stayed home because the army didn't want him due to his poor eyesight. After this, the old man secluded himself and this caused his wife to cry. Then 2 months later, his wife died. The old man talks about how his son, Boris, encouraged his father to go to America. Boris ends up getting married to a kind woman named Olia and they have children. The old man asks the young man if he has a family and the young man explains that he has a wife and two children. The old man ponders about his life and explains that he is excited to have grandchildren someday so he can teach them violin and tell them stories. The old man tells the young man that America is not the same as Russia and that he is thankful that his grandchildren will be born in America. Then the old man gets up and walks away.