Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-02-08
THE POLES STORY.

set out from St. Petersburg one
fine evening in January, to join a stag
hunt, the next morning one hundred
and thirty versts distant. Five sleds,
occupied each by two hunters and
drawn by t'0iku flew one after the
other, like n rapid caravan, over the
grand highway which led to Moscow,
through NoygOrod Our Automedon,
his arms extended and his rsins rolled
around his hands, standing like the
driver Of on antique chariot, directed
his three horses, which were harnessed
abreast one of them trotting rapidly
between the two others, who galloped
on each side. We were stretched on
the seat, lying rather than sitting, com.
fortably wrapped in our pelisses, and
we counted on sleeping there as well rs
on luZuriouslv, cushioned ottoman. --
But we had reckoned without those ter.
rible oukh0bi, kind Of burrows, or
rather bitches wide cutters followed
in the road, deep enough for an equi-
page to disappear entirely in them, like
n fishing boat between the pillows of
the ocean. Thus kept awake by fire.
quent joltings, we assing on
each side of the road, after the manner
of the figures in the magic lantern
sometimes the pines or birch trees,
bending their branches like tired arms,
under the weight OF the scintillatlng
hoar-frost sometimes the black and
uniform isjoh of sleeping village. 49,
The night WAS clear and serene, and
cold in proportion. Under the siivery
rays OF the full moon, which had Just
risen above the horizon, the snow
sparkled like cloth studded with dia-
monds, sending back even to the sky
the reflection of the white shroud winch
covered the earth, and gave to all ma
ture It's immaculate tint.
NY bcd,fellow, or rather my COM
panion in the sled, was Pole, or, Mt
least a Russian of Polish descent
which was indi ated sufficiently we'll by
the termination Of his name ski, which
IA every one knowa, is equivalent to
the prefix dc of nobility. He had
smoked, without saying a word, as many
cigars, one after the other, as our car
over on his eide, and thought him
sound asleep notwithstanding the
pitching of the vehicle when suddenly
he raised the visor Of his otter-skin cap,
and looking at the moon, said, with a
burst of hoarse laughter
" Ali all There's Pan Twardow-
skir"
Who is this PAN Twardowsu 2
asked
Do you see, replied he, that lit
tie black man on the face OF the moon.
who raises his arms and opens his legs
like punchinello Z"
" Yes. Well ~
Well, that is Pan Tvardowski,
" Tell me the story, cried jmmedl
ately. There IS some legend under
meath this and am "a impatient for
your narrative as the Sultan Of The
Thousand and One Nights was for one
OF tho tales of Scheheramde."
Il" Very willingly, replied he, " il !
Gan get to the end Off but fear that
an oWkbobi will make me bite of my
tongue or that the icy wind will glue
my lips together as it has already glued
my eyehds, The night is diabolically
cold, and my teeth are like Jumps of ict
in my mouth"
He lighted new segar, to make III
the half dozen and rs soon "a the first
puts of smoke had warmed little hi.
stitfened lips, he asked
Have you read the Faust Of
Goeth.
Yes, answered but only in
translation. fer | have the misfortune
TO be ignorant of Germau a. | am of
thousand other things AMI ROD know
better than l. humble translator as
am of some masterpieces, al the dis
tauce which separates '
No matter, said he, interruptiag
me. :" tho form is Of no Importance
the substance il understood. SmCe yog
have read 'Farst, either ia the origifl