Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-01

ments, their fondness begins to manifest it.
self in more palpable tokens; they throw
their arms around each others necks, and
hug and kiss; and when their bliss has at
last reached its eliminating point, they hold
each other fast, beseeching and imploring
mutual forgiveness of any faults they may
ever have committed then they swear eter-
nal friendship, and VOW there is nothing they
will not do for each other. After this grand
contamination, their overweight feelings
find relief in tears. They weep like chill
dren, hug and kiss each other over again,
beg pardon in accents broken by sobs, make
all sorts of promises to their dear daddies
and little brothers, and then depart their sew
eral ways, all happy to their hearts content
except, of course, such of them as are
left lying under the table.
From the constant habit of begging par
don, to which the common Russian is adj
dicted in his natural state that is, when he
is drunk he has come to use the same phrase
in singular manner in his abnormal condi-
ton of sobriety. The only vernacular Rus
sian expression equivalent to our farewell
is proStchoi--(pardon me).
n NuSSlNN SIOkhs
Every one is familiar, in Imagination at
least, with the horrors of Russian winter /;
but it is not so generally known that they
are even more endurabe than the enormous
heat of the short fierce summer Malignant
tevers abound at that season, in consequence,
as we may suppose, on the late DR.. Fergus
sons theory, of the rapid drying up of the
foundations previously covering the almost
level surface of the whole country. The
Russians entertain some curious superstl-
tons respecting fevers, especially those OF
the remittent and intermittent kinds, which
they believe to be the work ola female sprite
called Lichoratka, who goes about at night
to select her victims nor are these notions
confined only to the populace. The follow
ing story was related to Won Littrow, by the
Bishop of Kasan, man universally esteem
ed for his probity and intelligence -
81 was twenty years of age, and secreta-
ny of the monastery of Simbrisk, the abbot
of which had great regard for me, and des-
in the butter week EASTER, heard the mer-
ry sound of music and dancing in the next
house; and though we were strictly forbid.
den to leave the convent after night-fall
contrived to slip out unobserved, and get be-
fore the windows of the ball room. 1t was
on the ground floor; but the windows were
too high for me to see through them from
the street With some difficulty, therefore,
and trembling lest l should be discovered,
climbed up high enough, and was able, to
my great delight, to peep at the Joyous par
ty among whom would so willingly have
been. But my enjoyment did not last long
for had hardly run my eye over the COM
pany, when suddenly there stepped out from
among them tall thin female, with a very
beautiful face, who, fixing her eyes steadily
upon me, walked straight up to the window
at which | was perched. Something instant.
| ly told me that this was the Lichoratka, o.
whom | had so often heard descriptions
and, Mortified at the thought, l dropped from
the window and stole home. went to BED
in an anxious state of mind, and woke, af
ter mldnight,-in fever. 1t lasted five
weeks, during which the good old abbot Wis
tied me daily, and treated me with the great
est tenderness. At the end of that time
feeling a need of more warmth, made my
servant fetch my old wof-skin, which | us
ed to wear in my winter journeys, and lay il
on the bed. The following night saw the
Lichoratka in dream, if indeed it was ;
dream, and not a reality. Her dress ant
appearance were just the same as when
had seen her five weeks previously. She
walked slowly up to my bed side, and, stan
ding over me, held out her hand in threat
ening manner, but, Immediately afterwards
drew it over her face and smiled: she theI
said, 'Phaugh how the skin stinks cam
stop here any longer; l will go to Yessipof
This was the clerk of the convent a strong
hale young man, who had filled my place
during my illness. When the abbot came
to see me next morning, told him the sto
ry, and he said it was token of my recov
cry. Seeing me smile somewhat incredu
lousy, he was almost angry, and earnestly
assured me that the fever would not return
corroborating the prognostic by great mum
Der of similar instances Being convinced
at last, and feeling at ease about myself
thought of poor Yessipof, who, perhaps, hat
come to trouble about me and my wolfskin
but the old gentleman comforted me by de
claring that in no case had he ever know
the Lichoratka to be so spiteful and a
once, to ease my doubts, he sent for the clerk
But we were both greatly shocked when tn
> servant returned with an apology from Yes
sipof, who was confined to his bed by Il vic
lent Lichoratka. The poor fellow was i'll a
the autumn, and we buried him in the be
) ginning of the winter"
/ Hundreds of such stories are to be hear
in every family in Russia and | woul
strongly advise every stranger who hear
them not to betray his incredulty, even b
a smile, if he would not be taken for an in
fdal or n fool