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

" Without suffering the slightest illness OF
receiving single wound, he traversed Russia
and Germany but when he reached the banks
of the Rhine, the sight Of the river recalled TO
him bis beloved Don. Although there is not
much resemblance betwcan the smiling German
stream and the dark river Of the steppes, yet
Wassili felt himself seized with sudden home
sickness, and determined to return to his village
He found no difficulty in obtaining his discharge
and set out with two of his sons; wnile VIC
went towards France. During this long expe-
dition, he had lost six of his sons, and hiteon
Of his grandsons. Some had fallen under the
sabres Of Murat's soldiers; others had died Of
fever in Germany.
Eight years afterwards, returned to our
stanitza, with a mutilated leg, and two decora-
tions on my breast. Death had carried of my
mother and several Of my relatives; but the
insincible Wassili yet lived, and found bim
seated, as usual, in the chiwney2coruer. smoking
| his pipe and drinking his brandy. Asformerly,
he shut himself up every day with the image Of
the Virgin, and frequently rode to visit his mo-
hille. When his sons married, he bestowed on
each but q very small sum Of money; yet we
knew that during his long life he must have
amassed considerable sums, and we frequently
asked each other what he could have done with
with them.
One day he was present at the baptism of
one of his great-grandchldren all the men,
bers Of our family and a number of friends
were assembled. Just as the Priest was plung-
ing the child into the water, Wassili uttered a
terrific cry. The Virgins lamp, forgotten that
morning, had just gone out. Striking his hand
on the wound which he had long ago received
on the forehead, he fell on the ground, and in q
few minutes was dead. We Immediately dis
missed our guests, and, according to an ancient
custom, opened all the windows 1t was in
December; the wind was blowing violently,
and in one of its gusts it caught the curtain
that veiled the Virgins statue, and overthrow
the figure. While trying to replace it, we were
: surprised at its weight: it proved to be the
treasury of our grandfather, and being hollow,
\ contained a quantity Of gold pieces. This dis
9 covery led US to visit the tumulus, where, on
turning up the soil, we also found q considera-
= bic sum Of money.
81 have now given you description of my
s grandfather. The race of men of which he wal
the type is extinct amoag the Cossacks Oul
: hetman now inhabits palace on the banks o
r the Neva, and is the hereditary Grand Duke
J. The free, proud Cossacks now resemble register
ed and disciplined conscripts. My grandfather
h never received more than simple soldier cross
J, while l wear the decoration of St. Anne bu
h he was more respected than any Major or Col
n onel, and our brave Platoff held him in higI
II esteem.
k "My son resembles me still less than resem
}, bic my grandfather. Eddeated in the Colleg
is of Cadets at ST. Petersburgs he wears an ele
I, CANT uniform, cultivates dainty moustache
20 and talks of balls, theatres, French novels an
l. champagne. From the history of grandfather
fe from what you know of myself, and from th
lie predictions of my young heir, you may forr
to correct idea of the past, present and future
9, our Cossack tribes