Litchfield enquirer., 1867-01-17
: -IE9E-ae -!l 2 3@- ---'..7 -34 fasss3s65-
 A RUSSIAN PRIEST 1T, CARDS.

of Russian Life before arydwauring the emancipation of the serfs,'' in which the author hot only gives his experience of serfdom, but also sketches of social life in Russia The following expose of the priest hood, we should hope, for the sake of reli zion, is somewhat exaggerated:
 Where is the Pope, Vassilia?' said.
 '' Wonder, pointing to the room I had so lately left. af." Playing still? It is too bad
 'To be sure; 1t is nothing. I have known master play two days and night at stretch But it is now time for service and must tell him.
 '.I pushed past him into the room. It was Sabbath morn, half an hour before ser ] vice, and the men who were to officiate sat round the table with flushed faces, eager looks, dishevelled hair, and rufled attire. Candles were burnt down to their sockets. daylight streamed in through the shutter less windows. The brandy and wine bot ties were empty: A great jug of 'ghuass' was on side table, old cards Uttered the painted floor, r,and the atmosphere was reek- ing with the fumes of the 'papeross,' for smoking was still going on I saw at a glance that the tide of luck had left the Englishman. The priest was buoyant; he was fiat.
 They are winning it back he said to me as entered I have had three hun dred, now I have but fifty
 "'Ay, said the tall priest, and this game will get that back also; it is for fifty-is it not?" ........ ....,u.-..-.. .-. ..
 'sThen the clerk entered, and advanced with as little show of concern as if the ex- hibition was fit and usual preparation for the church rites, and, after reverentially crossing himself, intimated to the priest in chief that in half an hour it would be his time to goin to commence the services.
 "'Very good, Vassiia my son. Don t disturb me now, but listen; come back ex- actly three minutes before eight
 "I hear and obey,' said Vassilia, and vanished.
 'I cannot say these men were drunk; on the contrary, they seemed more sober than they had been when I left them at two o'clock; but the demon of the play held them in his grip; they were as fresh for it and as absorbed as if they had only played for two or three hours. My remonstrances and approximations were thrown away, and in indignant curiosity sat down to watch the end. The priest and his partner lost. Pins and his partner won another fifty. The next game was to be double or quits, the deal made with fresh pack: and, as I sat in full view of the tall priest, I could see his face brighten up, and a look of in- .telhgence pass between him and his part her. At this moment the dechchock again entered. 'a-.E
 Three minutes to eight o'clock
 All but the tall priest threw their cards on the table and rose saying
 GA fresh deal after service
 No, no, he said, keep your hand part ner; shall keep mine-it is good one; and we shall play the game after our return Here, Nassilia, give me towel, wet; that will do. Now my robes. There, that comb; and now go every one to your posts I shall be there presently.
 "Thus saying, he proceeded with firm step to the church by the private entrance As he left the room I saw him place his good hand of cards within his sacred robes, under the inside fastening He was evi- dently determined not to lose sight of his trumps, and carried them off on his person into the church. l ran round to the front entrance, and was just in time to witness the commencement of the service. Itis a wonder judgment did not fall upon the chief priest. And it did in a way. At one part of the service, just as he was stepping on the platform, he put his hand inside his robe to pull out his handkerchief, and as he pulled it out the cards came also unbid- den, and fell scattered over the altar floor. This would have paralyzed any ordinary man; but that priest never winced for a moment. He looked coolly at the cards, 1 then steadily at the people, as much as to say you all see that; take notice of 1t. l shall tell you about it by and b." He then continued the services. At the close he pointed to the cards-then beckoned to a little peasant boy, with shock head of white faxen hair, dressed in shirt of coarse linen and trousers to match, not very clean, who had been crossing and bending beside poor peasant woman, his mother.
 "'Come here, boyr
 ''The boy went
 Turning to the congregation, he said: I shall give you lesson you will not for get in some time. You see those cards ly- ing on the floor. Do you think l put them there for nothing? We shall see. What is your name, my boy?'' "'Peter Petrovitch.'
 ,." Well, Peter Petrovitch, go and pick up one of those cards you see ou the floor and bring it to me. There, that will do Now tell me, Peter Petrovitch, what card is this?' =
 s''The ace of spades, said the boy, with ready knowledge. a
 "'Very good, Peter Petroviteh,' bring me another, that's good boy. What card is that?'
 ,;'s' C The queen of spades, said Peter.
 How we'll you know them, Peter Pe- trovitch! Bring another. And what may that one be.
 '''The ten of hearts.
 sFsThat will do, Peter, the son of Peter. Now turn round and look at this picture. Can you tell me what saint it represents?
 4'The boy scratched his head, then shrug- ged his little shoulders lifting then up to his ears, then scratched his head again, and said: Va naes nigh. q don't know:
 ".Now look at this one. Who IS thls?''
 s'The same answer.
 "sAnd this?' % sQ9
 e1 cannot tell "sThat will do, Peter, the son of Peter you may go to your mother. Turning to the people, he continued: Do you know now for what purpose put these cards on the floor? Do you not think shame of your, selves, tell me-say, is it not. disgraceful and scandalous that that nice whlte-halred boy can tell me in moment the name ot every card in the pack, and yet he does not knov tha novoo of ono of tha blessed SalntS!