Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-04-09
THE UNDERTAKEN.
From the Russian Of Alexander Serguevitch
Poushkin !

L
heaped into the hcarse, and pair of lean
horses dragged it along for the fourth
time from the Basmalaia to the Nikits-
kaja, for to the latter street the under
taker was removing with all his house
hold Having closed his old shop he
nailed notice to the door to the effect
that the premises were to be sold or let,
and started off on foot to his new abode
He was surprised to find on approaching
the little yellow house, which had so long
taken his fancy and which he had at last
bought for considerable sum, that he did
not feel in good spirits. Having crossed
the threshold and finding his new abode
in great confusion he sighed at the recol
lection of the old howell, where during
eighteen years everything had been con-
Quoted with the strictest regularity, and
he scolded his daughters and the maid-of
all.work for their dilatoriness, and set to
assisting them himself Order was soon
established; the sacred image-ca,e the
dresser with the crockery, the table, sofa,
and bed occupied the corners assigned to
them in the back room; in the kitchen
and the sitting-room was placed the mas
ter's handiwork, which consisted of cot.
fms of all sizes and colors, and the cup
boards were filled with mourning cloaks
and torches. Over the gate appeared a
sign board, representing cOrpulent
Cupid holding reversed torch, with the
inscription: Here are sold and orna-
mented plain and painted collins; collins
also let out on hire, and old ones re-
paired" The girls retired TO their room,
and Adrian, having inspected his dwell
ing, sat down by the window and ordered
the samouar to be got ready.
The enlightened reader is aware that
both Shakespeare and Walter Scott repre-
scented their grave-diggers as cheerful and
iocose persons, in order to strike our i'm
agination more forclbly by the contrast.
Out of regard to truth, however, we can
not follow their example, and are CON-
PEELED to admit that the disposition of our
undertaken fully correspondent with his
mourntul calling. Adrian Prohorotf was
habitually sullen and thoughtful. His
silence might occasionally be broken for
the sole purpose of scolding his daughters
when he had CHANGED to find them idle,
gazing out of the window at the passers-
by, or asking an exorbitant price for his
goods Of those who had the misfortune
land sometimes also the good fortune) to re-
quire them. Thus it happened that Adrian,
now slipping his seventh cup of tea, was
as usual sunk in melancholy reflections
He thought of the pouring ram which
fell at the very outset of the retired Brig
adiers funeral the previous week. Many
mourning cloaks had shrunk in conse-
quence, and many hats had been spoiled.
He toresaw unavoidable expenditure, for
his old stock of mourning attire had fallen
into pitiful condition. He hoped to
charge a good round sum at the funeral
| &C Tr,1h iptc al v.yifn hn
had now been nearly year at deaths
door. But the old woman lay dying at
Rasgoulai, and Prohorof feared lest her
heirs, Notwithstanding their promise,
would neglect to send for him all that dis
ance and would come to terms with the
nearest undertaken.
These meditations were Unexpectedly
disturbed by three Freemason-like taps at
the door.
"Who is there?" asked Prob off.
The door opened, and man in whom
the German artisan was recognized at
glance walked in, and cheerfully APP
preached the undertaken.
Pardon me, my dear neighbor," said
he, in that Russian dialect which we can
not listen to without smile. Pardon
my intruding upon you'll was anxious
to make your acquaintance. l am
bootmaker, my name is Gottlieb Schulz,
and | live across the street in the little
house facing your windows Tomorrow
| celebrate my silver wedding, and came
to ask you and your daughters to dine
with us in a friendly way"
| The invitation was accepted with good
will. The undertaken asked the boot
maker to sit down and take cup of tea,
and thanks to the cordial disposition OF
Gottlieb Schulz their conversation soon
became friendly.
"How does your trade prosper?" asked
Adrian.
Ah-he-hew answered Schulz, $50
so; | cannot complain, although my
goods are, of course, different from yours;
live man can Go without boots, but a
dead man cannot do without coffin"
"Very true" remarked Adrian; chow
ever, if the live man has not got where
with to pay for his boots one cannot take
it amiss in him if he goes barefooted, but
a dead beggar has coffin gratis"
In this manner they conversed for some
time. At last the bootmaker rose, and,
taking leave of the undertaken, renewed
his invitation
The next day at twelve o'clock precise
ly the undertaken and his daughters
passed through the wicket of the newly
bought house on their way TO Neighbor
Schulz. ! shall not describe either the
Russian caftan of Adrian Prohorof, or
the European attire of Akulina and Daria,
departing in this respect from the now
so prevalent custom among novelists. l
do not, however, consider it superhuous
to remark that both young ladies wore
yellow bonnets and red shoes; this they
did only on grand occasions.
The small dwelling of the bootmaker
was filled with guests, who chiefly con
sisted of German artisans, their wives,
and their workmen; of Russian employees