The Western advance., 1874-03-28

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lowly calling, managed to secure the
special goodwill of his host. He had
served in this capacity for five-and-twenty
years, faithfully and honestly, like the
postman Of Pogarelsky. The fire of
1872, which destroyed the chief capital;
annihilated also his yellow Matchbox.
But as soon as the enemy was expelled a
new one appeared in its stead: it was
gray, with small white Doric pillars, and
Yoorko was again seen pacing before it.
Almost all the Germans who lived in the
vicinity of the Nikitsky gates knew him,
and some had even CHANGED to spend the
night of Sunday to Monday morning
under his roof Adrian fastened to make
his acquaintance as he would that of a
man of whom he might stand in need,
sooner or later, and when the guests took
their seats at dinner, they sat next to
each other. Monsieur and Madame
Schulz and their daughter Lottchen, who
mad seen but seventeen summers, while
dining with and entertaining their guests,
assisted the cook to wait upon them
Beer flowed. Yoorko ate for four; Adri-
an did not cede to him; his daughters,
however, stood on ceremony. The con:
versation, kept up in the German Ian
guage, was becoming louder and louder.
Suddenly the host begged for a few mo-
ments' attention, and drawing the cork of
a sealed bottle exclaimed in loud voice,
IN Russian: "The health of my good
Louisa" The so-called champagne
sparkled. The host tenderly kissed the
fresh face of his forty.year helpmate,
and the guests drank noisily to the
health of the good Louisa "The health
Of my amiable guests!" exclaimed the
host, opening a second bottle. And his
guests thanked him, and again drained
their glasses Here toast followed upon
toast; the health of each guest was drank
separately; they toasted Moscow and an
entire dozen Of little German towns, all
corporations in general, and each one in
particular; they drank to masters, and
they drank to foremen. Adrian drank
sedulOusly, and was so elated that he him.
self proposed some jocular toast. Sud-
| denly one of the guests, a fat baker,
raised his glass, and exclaimed: TO the
health of those we work for--unserer
Rundleute" This proposal, like all the
others, was joyously and unanimously
applauded. The guests saluted each
other, the tailor bowed to the bootmaker.
and the bootmaker to the tailor, the
baker to both; all to the baker and so on.
Yoorko, in the midst of these mutual
salutations, exclaimed, turning to his
neighbor:
What now drink, sir, to the health of
thy dead ones.'
All laughed, but the undertaken, con-
sidering himself affronted, became sullen.
Nobody noticed him; the party continued
its carouse, and the bells had already
rung for vespers when all rose from the
table.
The guests dispersed at late hour, and
most of them were elevated. The fat
baker and the bookbinder, whose face
appeared as if bound in red morocco, led
Yoorko between them to his box, carry
ing out in this case the Russian proverb:
4 debt IS rendered honorable by payment.
The undertaken returned home tipsy and
wrathful. Why, indeed" reasoned he
aloud" why is my craft worse than any
other? Is all undertaken, then, brother to
an executioner? What had the heathens
to laugh at? Is an undertaken a Christ
mas harlequin? meant to have asked
them to a house warming, to have given
them feast; but let them wait till they
get it. And l shall now invite instead
those for whom work, my orthodox
dead"
"What, sir?" said the maid, who was
pulling off his boots; "what dost thou
talk about? Make the sign of the cross!
To ask the dead to house warming!
What horror?'
"By -, shall ask them," continued
Ad,'ian; II shall ask them at once, for
tomorrow. Pray come, my benefactors,
come to feast with me tomorrow evening:
l shall entertain you with what God has
given me-" So saying the undertaken
tumbled into bed, and soon began to
snore.
1t was still dark when Adrian was
reused. The merchant Truhin's wife had
died that very night, and special mes.
senger had been sent on horseback with
this intelligence The undertaken gave
him tencopeck piece for glass of
spirits, dressed in haste, took droshky,
and drove to Rasgoulai. The police
were already stationed at the gates of the
house where lay the defunct; trades
people were going in and out like
ravens at their prey. The corpse
lay on a table, yellow as wax
but not yet disfgured by decomposition.
Relations, neighbors and friends crowded
around. All the windows stood open,
candles were burning, priests were read
ing prayers. Adrian went up to Truhins
nephew, young merchant in fashion,
H.
candles, pall and other funeral furniture
would be delivered with all punctuality
and without fail. The heir thanked him
absently, saying that he would not bargain
about the expense, but should trust implic-
lily to his conscience. The undertaken as
usual swore that he would not overcharge;
exchanged significant glance with his
workmen, and started off to make the nec-
essary arrangements. The whole day
was spent driving to and fro between
Rasgoulai and the Nikitsky gates: to-
ward evening, all being arranged, he set.
tied with his driver and returned home.
ward on foot. 1t was q moonlight night.
The undertaken had safely reached the
Nikitsky gates. At the Church of the
Ascension our friend Yoorko hailed him,
and on recognizing the undertaken wished
him good night. 1t was getting late. The
undertaken was approaching his house
when he suddenly fancied he saw some
one nearing it, open the wicket, pass
through, and disappear. "What can this
mean?" thought Adrian, "Who is it
wants me again? Can it be thief? Do
lovers perhaps visit my silly girls? It
bodies evil!" And the undertaken was on
the point of calling his friend Yoorko to
come to his aid. Just then some other
person approached the wicket and was
about to enter, but, on becoming aware
that Adrian was nearing hurriedly, this
person stopped, and raised his cooked
hat; Adrian fancied he knew the face, but
was not, in his haste, able to examine it
closely. "You were coming to me-" said
Adrian, breathlessly; "do me the favor to
step in"
uNo coromon;os fr;ordv ,,;d .h