The mountain Democrat., 1863-01-10
a = Russian COOK of the ..ola Faith

the cdp Itpunu, hdhcS tHc i9.''"t''~
amu,iug sketch nf cupi; calling ''"rSe'' a
"S,arrie verra;" "st.ri.e," o.d, "Ser'",
raith-oI1 filth. Her recommendation
was that "She would not steal.
The woman came She was Of >taid,
stern, even gloomy expression, about thir-
ty.five years old, was clean, and had a
| cowl OH her head which hid every hair.
All the time she remained with US | had
no evidence that she was not entirely bald.
From this maids armPits to her heels
we're two straight lines, so that her walS;
was quite as mysterious as her hair. Ex-
cept for the gloomy expression on her
face, her features we're good, and her eye
or | was much miStaken-showed q
kind heart, spite Of her habitual grimneSS.
She never smiled, jestcd nor laughed, but
We soon found that she was valuable.
Her work was always done to the minute,
and done we'll. We became rather st
tached to AnastAsia, and while keeping
her grim gravity unrelaxed, she evidently
softened to the younger members OF the
%-;'-- -J,J~'' SUsjD took amazingly to
the stern old lass. Give me q child for
finding out character covered up, whether
in smiles or gloJm. The children find it
out ay, and they bring it out. \ terrific
breaking of pots in the kitchen hst token
rlace five minutes after AnaStasia'S trst
installation. Mays, jugs, cans, brown
pots, plates and dishes OF various dimea-
sions she smashed into atoms at once,
saving "Cnclean! unclean." As this
was very likely fact, and the things
were of little value, she was rather en-
couraged than otherwise in this new work
| of reformation. "a new broom sweeps
clean, seemed true enough to her. Every
article in the kitchen, iron, wood, and
earthenware, had been horribly dctilcd,
was pooganic (unclean), was smashed and
thrown out She asked nobody's leave,
nor did she stand on the manner Of doing
| it, but did it. A new outfit was obtained
| from the ''econom," and as her religion
suffered her to cat with none Of Us, =
complete set Of dishes was got for her own
| individual use. No one burst lay finger
upon these on any prctense whatever. If
touched, they were smashed the next mo.
ment. Nor would she for the world touch
food out Of any dish or vessel which had
been used BY another. If a dog got into
the kitchen, and put his nose (as dogs
generally do) into half dozen pots and
dishes, whether these were her own par
ticular dishes or not, they were smashed.
The following conversation ensued one
evening upon hearing one Of these dread
full smashing bouts in the kitchen.
"What noise is that. my dear -
"0h, it is Anastasia breaking few
dishes. Never mind her."
Never mind her! wonder you al
low that old fanatic to go on 50; She will
ruin US in pots alone" (And assuming Il
fierce look, l shall 60 and turn her out
this moment"
mo you won't. Listen: this woman
is a level. She breaks few dishes, it is
true, but her religion seems to demand it.
| suppose il also tells her TO be honest,
for she is so. You told me not to exam
inc her box, but for all that have done
so many time. She always leaves the
key in it. 1t contains nothing but an old
Bible, in the old church characters, which
| could not read, and few clothes. Not
a veslige Of my property could ever find.
That is not all the other servants either
don't or cannot steal BY hundredth part
as much as formerly. Her breakage does
not amount to a 1.-THE Of the-old robbcries.
Now, say, shall she DC turned out 2"
Certainly l prefer the smasher to the
thief"
Nov come to the kitchen; hear she
has gone cut. wish to show you some
thing"
We went to the kitchen, and there my
wife pointed out to me that all the uten.
Sils in which any food was left or kept
had cross made Of chips laid across the
top. Bread was in course Of making,
and the sponge was set On the top of
the dough q cross was also drawn with a
blunt edge.
Now" said madam, "aIl that is to
keep witches out Of the food"
yesterday she told me that during the
previous night the cat had been very un-
easy, and bad gone mewing about for =
long time. She got out of bed, and drew
the edge Of knife three times around
the cats head, after which it was quiet
and went to sleep directly. She had cut
the throats Of the witches which we're tor.
menting the cat, and had fastened them.
selves about the cats head"
A great sacrifice had yet to be made to
the starrie vera. Cooking pots might be
made Of the cOarSest eerthenware, or por-
celaiD-it mattered not If they were de-
filed, either they must 60, or the cook
would go; that was the fixed alternative.
We had given party. Sanderson was
there, Defour was there, Pins was there,
the count and many others. Each gen.
tleman had brought his favorite four-fDot-
ed companion and protector. Some had
two. These dogs were, during supper,
lying about the room. / thought, in
common hospitality, it was but right that
should feed my friends dogs, and pro-
posed to give them great feast Of broken
victufais before they were taken from the
room. No sooner said than done plates,
dishes, tureens-Of our choice Wedgwoo
were filled with what dogs like, and
put before our expectant neighbors. 1t
was delightful to see how the strong fell
lows wagged their tails, and Tapped their
jaws, and crunched the bones, and relished
the dainty feast; but in the midst of all,
to our great grief, the starrie vera open.
ep the door, and looked in for some or
ders. She saw the deilement; her face
assumed a more grim look than had ever
seen on it. In moment felt that my
wife's pet crockery was tried and con-
demned past all reprieve. Dogs had de-
filed it. Madam looked at me with a
What'Shall-I-Do expression; and re.
piled with another look Of Take-It Easy.
And-Let.It.Go. 1t was a sore struggle,
but prudence triumphed over crockery:,
The servant was invaluable. 1t was not
she bnt the crockery that might be re-
placed. But oh is there lady in Eng.
land who does not sympathise with my