The Cecil Whig., 1843-03-25

SCENE IN "A RUSSIAN .M.}.N-
STOW.

~ long table, which divided the
room lengh,hwise, and wrapped in the
tnncd sheepskin, which covers alike the
Russian, the Finlander, and the iuhab-
tant of the Baltic provinces, stood man
with short, black, curling beard ard
quick piercing glance, bmiIy engaged in
0npackng and displaying the various
contents Of the huge pack; while around
him with every variety OF active and pas
sive curiosity expressed in their counte-
nances, wsre c"ngregated group of ie-
male houset old servants. The Younger
women wore their hair-generaIIy mosl
proiuse in Quanlity-carriulIy braided,
and disposed around the head. not un
like picture by Raphael; while the ma,
uons OF the party wele distinguished by
high helmet shaped cars of every colour.
decorated behind with long flowing rib
bons. Some OF these neat-handed Phil
Uses were already employed in Il close
examination Of the folds ol Size, or print,
or rolls of soft woIlen material, which
the pedIar was unwra1plmg. while Others.
less ycnlursomt stood leaning with their
elbows on the latle. in perfect wonder
ment OF the treasures, or whispered some
Joke at their h"iler companions expense.
which. though it eIicilcd much n,irlh al
the time, might not erhaps APPEAR quite
90 witty If translated here. On the other
side oi The room. in irregular groups, sa'
az many as twelve or fourteen spinnerS,
ali enrohcd IN gay striped p' l'lc' ais OF
native Manufacture. with coarse cloth
jar kets, shorl-wastfd, and of dull grew
or blue colour. although few Of the
number, tacitIy comtessing they were too
hot, fact which this warmth. loving.
nor rhtln People very rarely admit. had
thrown Oh Ihs upper garment, displaying
thereby 10 view their coarse crimped shifts,
all embroidered with mere or less abour
N coioulcd silks, or studded with slender
spangIes. Al Of these spinning nymhS
wore their long hair, utterly uncu bed by
cap, comb, or ribbon, III smooth rope-lIke
tre,sts on their shoulders aud bosoms
Ii would seem. indeed, as if this national
coliinre, wore among the lower peasantry
by nan and woman alike, had been adop-
led expressly to favour the uslionaI Gual j.
iy-(or we will not call it viriue-or
bashiunass; for not only do the women Of
all ages hang their heads in the presence
Of asnperior, 4, an angle sufficiently acute
for their pendant locks efiectuaIly to hide
tier blushng Coun'enances, but even the
male peasants themselves, in moments Of
particular embarrassment, by no means
disdaip 10 fall back upon the same ready
protection. Occupying considerable
space al one end of the room was an m
mense stove bull, Of arge slabs Of bricks,
whose colours, varying through all the
shades Of red aud brown, seemed cnble-
matlcAl ol their temperature. At this
slou, kitchen girl, altired much i'll the
same costume as her spinning sisters. was
busted alternately putting in and taking
out the large dark rye loaves, which hard
ly differed in appearance from the logs
which fed the fire. On the same side was
a door leading TO smaller apartment
which communicated with the outer air,
IN The open portal of which stood ,w
sturdy peasants. with their sandaeh feet,
long coats gi,det at The waist, and flowing
locks; while behind them were seen
couple more engaged in sharpening their
pixies preparatory 10 seal hunt. Such
were the many tenants of This room.
But one yet remains tt be mentioned, and
one whose appearance. TO gentle eyss,
was more interesting than that of all the
l,, al ,l, tI, Il
we have described, and thrown into deep
light and shade by high window, sa, a
youthful female figure; 50 youthful, in
deed, that it seemed impossible that the
sleeping child which hung in kind of
sling before her should he her own. But,
on looking in her face, a certain languid
expression. which bespoke the cares OF
the matron and mother, though clothed
in the round contours of the tenderesi
girlish youth, was distinctly visible
Her beauty was great,-in truth, too great
to be Iu ly appreciated by the company in
which she now sat; for she was pale as
marble, her features we're delicate and re-
guar, and her large violet-blue eyes gazed
upon the spectator with all unconscious
pathos, as if lamenting the little sympa-
thy they fouud. Her dress was poor.-
even la,tered; an old Kasaroieo, or half
cloak, lined with fur, hung negligenlly
upon her, and barely covered her small
round arms, and nothing betrayed her
real origin except her head. which was
bound in a ,urhan of indubiiable Hebrew
form. This also told her history; for in
the mixture Of loftiness and gentleness