Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-13

Ihis occurred about the middle Of the last CEN
tury. My grandfather was then young, but
already renowned for his intrepidity. He mar
rled three times, had thirteen sons and one
daughter, who was my mother.
wish ! could describe to you his appear
ance as it remains engrayen on my memory
Fancy broad-chested man of six feet high,
with Herculean shoulders, bronze-colored Wis
age, thick beard falling on his breast, and
large eyes, whose strange expression few could
sustain unmoved; head covered with thick,
curled hair, and surmounted by fur cap,
adorned with a ravens feather. He used to
ride q halfwild horse, whose name nearly reach
ed the ground; and he was universally pro-
claimed the best rider Of the Don, and the most
skillful manager of the sabre and the lance.
Z" His numerous grand d-chileren felt for him
respect, largely mingled with fear. Before the
catastrophe which was SO near ending fatally
for him, he was gay, jovial, fond Of singing
and dancing but after it he became taciturn
and gloomy. He loved his grand children, es-
pecially myself, but his affection was manifested
not by caresses, but by frequent presents.
"Near my fathers cabin he caused to be con-
structed on piles more spacious habitation.--
In niche in recess in the principal room, he
placed an image Of the Virgin. 1t stood on
wooden pedestal, and it was yelled by silken
curtain. Before it lamp burned night and
day, and around it were suspended crowns of
flowers, and various ornaments in gold and sill
YER. My grandfather required that whoever
came into his house should pause and make the
sign of the cross before his venerated niche, and
after every meal, we children were commanded
to do the same. Woe to him who should neg
lcct doing SO shall never forget the terror
felt one day, when my cousin Michael, a child
ten years old, while amusing himself with q
sling, by chance, hit the Virgins pedestal with
stone. Our grandfather countenance as
somed diabolical expression, his eyes sparkled,
he gnashed his teeth, and seizing the boy by
the hair, he dashed him ou tside the door,
Some time afterwards, Michael was found
drowned. Some of our family said it was a
chastisement from God others did not scruple
to assert that my grandfather himself had
thrown him into the water. He was certaiuly
quite capable of doing it.
"From that day, Wassili kept stretched across
the room, in front of his altar, cord, which
no one was permitted to cross. He himself al
ways trimmed the lamp. He had particular
respect for Mobile, which stood at some dis
tance from his dwelling. He planted u cross on
it, and forbade us to approach it. Althou 81
this tumulus was covered with rich thick grass
his shepherds dared not let their sheep approach
it. Wassli often went there, but always il
the most gloomy weather. When the thunder
rolled, and torrents of rain descended from blacl
clouds, then we used to see him saddle his horse
wrap himself in his bourka, and hasten TO hi
mohille One of my cousins, Peter Tgurof
an especial favorite of his, wanted one day t.
see what attracted the old man towards this an
cient place of sepulture, and nearly lost his lif
through his rash curiosity. Remarking on
morning that our grandfather was paeparing t
set out, he went by stealth across the steppt
and hid himself among the thick grass, at tn
distance of a few PAGES from the mysteriou
mound. My grandfather soon arrived, rod
around the tumulus, then ascended it, tied b
horse to the cross on the top, and taking
hatchet from beneath his cloak, began to tur
up the soil. Peter made some inyoluntar
movement my grandfather perceived him, an
threw the hatchet at his head. The child ha,
PLY avoided the blow, escaped at the top of h
speed, and during more than year dared nj
re-appear before the terrible old man. Fro
his recital, we conjectured that Wassili hi
treasures hidden within the Mongol tomts.
"He followed Sawaroff in his campaig
against the Poles and in each battle signaliz
himself by his impetuous bravery. When t
Russians marched against the French in TIA
and Germany, lie was, by his age, exempt fro
serving. But when, in 1912, Napoleon cross
our frontiers. when the Gar summoned all |
subjects to the defence of their country, WI
sill declared that he would 60 to the war.
committed his house to my mothers care chal
ed her expressly not to allow any one to d
proach the holy image and to keep the Virgil
lamp continually lighted.
e He set out, accompanied by his thirtt
sons and fifty of his grandsons, and joined
army of Kutusof before the battle of Borodi
AS he could neither read or write, he could
enrolled only among the officers bu t
hetman, Platoff, gave him the command o
squadron. served under him as q private /
dier, although | had already made two ca
paigns, and attained the rank of lieutenant.
; my grandfather was then ninety years o
yet he showed all the vigor Of a young man
While pursuing the French during their retire
he bore without a murmur wind, cold, fatigr
: and privations. To see the old man, his Ii
:. lance in his hand, riding through heavy sn
u storm, you would have said that his mus
u were covered with buffalo skin.
&c In the morning he used to rouse US all Fl
o the bivouac with voico that sounded afal
:. like the roaring of bull. The Tguroffs enr
o ed in his squadron used to assemble around
10 every night, and offer him the spoils they
l. taken from the enemy Sometimes he dvi
l. these prizes equally among them: sometime
y reserved portion for himself, He cared Ii
& for silver but when he was presented wi
; few pieces of gold he seized them with an ca
W hand, and a smile of satisfaction lighted up
ID face. To procure him this JOY, we frequel
risked our lives for we loved him, wonde
'e old man that he was, and felrproud of plea'
y him, In the commencement Of the campa
d. we used to slay without mercy, all the Ere
IN soldiers whom we found defenceless but
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