Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-09-27

sleep in winter-the broad clumsy bed
with its patchwork coverlet, are all
there. and there, too, on the opposite
side Of the room, is the huge painted
chest, barred and banded with iron,
which IS the Russian peasants pride
and glory, in which he keeps his Sun
day clothes, and whatever valuables he
may possess, and upon the painting
and decorating of which he otter
pends a sum which it must have
! him many a hard days work and many
a eupperless night to raise.
But even III their first hasty survey
of the surroundings, my eyes have
time to remark one object, which is the
very last that one would expect to find
under the roof of a Russian peasant,
whose sole weapon Is usually the short
ak wish which he chcps his firewood.
puts together his furniture, builds his
log-hut, and occasionally splits the
head of his wife, or father just op-
posite where / sit, hanging upon nail
III the wall, is large pistol, evidently
unused for a considerable time, to
Judge by the rust which covers II. Our
friend, the star Jska, following the di-
rection of my glance, gives a signiti-
cant chuckle.
FThere's something to look at,
BARN, " says he noddlng in the direc-
ton of the weapon. g You don't often
see those toys in our shops, do you?"
"WeIl, indeed, brother, it's hardly
the sort of thing one would expect to
see so far from the town. Do you keep
it to shoot the tarakans [cockroaches
WITH"
My host gave a hoarse believing
laugh, at this not very brilliant joke,
echoed by the shriller treble of his
wife; and crossing the room, takes
down the pistol from its perch, and lays
it on the table. Some letters branded
into the stock catch my eye, and hold
ing it up to the light, [ read "April
II, 1863" [ look inquiringly at my
entertainer for the answer to this enig-
ma.
'FI wrote that" says he, with the air
of Coriolanus, "Alone [ did it." "I
can write, and read too, or [ shouldn't
be starosta now. All ! the first time [
wrote my own name, [ felt as grand as
lila Murometz -
The worthy starosta's enthusiasm
somewhat tries my gravity, though [
had already seen the same thing once
and again during my travels in the in
terror. The Russian peasants reverence
for Hthe power of talking by making
marks in a book" is almost supersti-
tious and [ recollect being considera-
bly, amused at oyerhearing a rough
hewn fellow, with whom [ had lodged
IN one Of the remoter villages, after re-
citing, to an attentive circle, my feats
in walking, running, climbing and leap
ing, wind up with, And he knows how
to writel"
"That was the day that I got this
pistol, ;" pursues my Amphitryon; "and
good service he did me that day If it
hadn't been for him [ should have lost
a good handful of money, and mayhap
my life into the bargain!''
"Ah! how did that happen?" ask I.
'HThis is just the time for q good
story; suppose you tell me about it
before I turn in"
Nothing loath, my host knocks the
ashes out of his pipe, recharges it, and
clearing his throat vigorously begins
BaTin, that I had a cousin. YaSilli
Maslof by name, who instead of stick
ing to the village, as { did, was all for
getting away to one of the great towns,
thinking to push his way there, and
pick up money as you would gather
muchroOns in the wood. And sure
enough, one day he went off to Mos
COW: and after time, ] got word that
he had managed to find work in one of
the big German shops on the Kouznet-
ski Most, Che was famous hand at
wood carving and such hke), and that
he was getting on pretty well; for as
our prOverb says, "Heaven helps the
helpful man., and Yasilll was always
one to stand on his own feet. And af
ter that I had no news of him for a
long time, and was beginning to forget
all about him, when, all of a sudden,
there comes to me one day big pack
! age Of bank-notes, and q letter with
them, saying that Vasilli was dead
/ (may he gain the kingdom of heaven y
and had left me all the money he had
saye-some two thousand roubles or SO,
/ (about $780, which was a great wind
fall to poor fellow like me-"
+ "You should just have seen him that
day, BARN, chimes In, laughing, the
lady of the house, who had Just finished
her preparations for my further accom-
mediation. "When he opened the pack
eft, and saw the notes he stared about
him like dog that's lost his master;
and all the rest Of the day hewent about
as if he didn't know where he was.n
/ " Well, you needn't laugh at me, Vas
ihssa," retorts her huaband, with a
broad grin ''you kept on counting the
notes yourself for an hour or more, and
never counted 'em right after all .
And the two laugh in lusty chorus.
" You may be sure, BARN." he con-
tinues, turning to me, "that [ wasn't
long in inviting my friends to come
and rejoice with me over the good luck
that God had sent; and by7 in the eve
ming [ had already for 'em-the tea urn
boiling, the black bread and bacon
laid out, dish of salted cucumbers,
and half gallon Of Evolka' (corn- bran
dy) into the bargain. Just as I'd fin
ished laying out the table, (my wife had
gone out to buy some sausage), there
came knock at the door Thinks l.
There are my guests come already;
and [ went to let them in. But when
L opened the door, (heaven preserve
us y what should [ see but three men
III black masks, and the foremost OF
EN- with pistolin his hand-this very
same pistol that's lying on the table
now
"Oho that pistols a trophy taken
from the enemy, them" remarked l.
This begins to get interesting. Go on.
pray"
g m not going to say WASH fright
ened, pursues the starosta. 81 was
frightened, and very badly frightened,
too, can tell you. But before [ could
say word, the foremost backguard
clasps his hand on my shoulder, and
says to NE, III voice that sounded as
If it came down the chimney, Hand
over that money you got this morning
quickly, or [ will send you where you
won't come back again and I heard
the pistol click as he cooked it. Well,
as you know, When needs must,
there Z no time foI, brnuI,oCr I>oo, e,, 7