The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-02-13
$50 I,
80 Your mother,p cried the dwarf, "what

'' Your mother,p cried the dwarf "what
can she do for you and INigaRii ssf
She taught me to be ehonest, and trust in
God" said Peter. Ie dera Fl.
At the last word, he felt he heavy bag of
rubles thrown on his feet. The red fire
light sank, and with it the old dwarf van
ished and long moan sounded through the
ruins Peter knelt down in the darkness,
and said his prayers ; before he finished, the
rising moon was scattering the mist, and by
its light he saw what the fire did not show
him-a traveller lying at no great distance,
as if he had fallen from the sledge. Peter
ran to him; he was sound asleep and COv-
cred with a good fur mantle. So carefully
replacing the money-bag under the cushion,
be ran for help to the nearest cottage. Five
strong peasants assisted Peter to carry the
traveller home his sledge with all it con-
tained, also found room III the log-cabin, for
the poor horse had broken his neck, by fall
ing on the slippery snow. Old Roskln said
she never heard such snoring as the stranger
practiced that night but the next morning,
he awoke, we'll, and much astonished.-
Peter explained how their acquaintance had
commenced, presented him with all his
travelling chattels safe and entire, even to
The empty flask which had contained three
pints of Livonian brandy.
The travellers own story set forth that he
was Lithurian merchant on his journey
TO collect debts and purchase wooden yarn
in the province that the mist of the brandy
had bewldered him; and that of the ragged
dwarf he knew nothing. No hospitable in
vitation Of its lord, however. could induce
linn to take rest and refreshment at the hof;
but he presented forty rubes TO Peter, hall
that sum to the parish church, purchased a
peasants horse and took his departure. Ii
must have been through that Lithuanian
merchant that the tale of Peters adventures
oozed out, even before the arrival of Fathe,
Michael but, far from being warned, the
boyar swore that Peter had slandered his no.
bIe house, refused all offers for his cottage
ground, and vowed to take great revenge
by marrying him to Ratinka the day aftel
Christmas.
Old Roskin had made up her mind to re
tire unincumbered, with her forty rubles, fol
Father Michael's pleadings on their part hat
failed but on Christmas-night, festivitie;
ran so high, that the hof was set on fire, ant
burned to the ground. Very little OF goods
dp'legacy was saved; butystumping step:
~efel heard to 90 in before the family, to the
hunting-lodge on the edge of the forest
Ehere' tHey tOOk refuge. IueOuOle NlChleWtH
sold to the Letskis their cottage ground, fo
ht.was in want of rubles; and pitch-gath
vet, who came to help at the fire, and wa
afstranger, having consented to marry Ratin
ka. Peter and Niga did dance at her wedding
which preceded their owna a whole week, tc
eschew the boyar's displeasure.
The peasants, of course, rebuilt their lord
house, but the wealth and dignity Of it wa
trter, and Count Ratschoff was seen there N
fhote. 1t was believed, however, that tn
s4iest who came in Peters sledge, was hap
My transferred, with a quantity OF oil
'>iethes and utensils, in which the boyar pait
Radnka's promised portion, to the cottag
st The pitch-gatherer, where the peasantry
asserted, peace was uever afterwards known
Regarding its precise nature, neither Pete
por his neighbors could ever be certain; bu
when abundant harvest or profits of an,
kind are gathered in, the good people of Ii
vonia still hope that none of the sledge
may bring home Trouble the house. ~ Id
.aI 7 --- .GUoIT
-, The First and Last Duel in Illinois,