The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-07
The Generous Russian Peasant.

1t Is Impossible, even at this dis
tant period, to reflect without horror.
OH the miseries o. that year known in
Lower WOlga by the name of the
Examine Year." / remember the
summer, whose searching heats had
dried up all the fields, and the drought
had no relief hut from the tears of the
ruined farmer.
/ remember the cold, comfOrtless au-
tumn, and the despairlng rustics
crOwding round their empty farms,
with folded arms and.sOrrowful coun-
tenances, bordering on their misery,
instead OF rejoicing, as usual, ut the
golden harvest / remember the win
ter which succeeded, and reflect
with agony on the miseries it brought
with It. Whole families left their
homes to become beggars on the high
way. At night the canopy of heaven
from the pricing winds and bitter
frOsts.
In those days l lived on an estate
not far from Simbirsk, and, though
but child, l have not forgotten the
impression made on my mind by the
general calamity. In a village adj
Joining lived Flor Silin, a poor, labor
ing peasant man remarkable for his
assiduity and the skill and judgment
with which he cultivated his lands.
He was blessed with abundant crops,
and, his means being larger than his
wants, his graneries even at this time
were full of corn. The dry year COM
ing on had beggared all the village
except himself. Here was an OppOr-
tunity to grow rich! Mark how Flor
Silin acted. Having called the poor
est OF his ncighbOrs about him, he adj
dressed them in the following man.
ner:
"My friends, you want corn for
your subsistence. God has blessed
mo with abundance assist In thresh-
ing out quantity, and each of you
take what he wants for his family"
The peasants were amazed ut this
unexampled generosity; for sOrdid
prOpensities exist in the villabe as well
as in the populous city.
The fame of Flor Silin's benevOlence
having reached other villages, the
famished inhabitants presented them
selves before him, and begged for
corn. This good creature received
them as brothers, and, while his store
remained, afforded all relief. At
length his wife, seeing no end to
the generosity of his noble spirit, re-
minded him how necessary it would be
to think on their own wants, and
hold his lavish hand before ii was to
late. at IL written in the Scriptures, y
said he, "Give, and il shall be given
unto you"
The following year Providence
listened to the prayers Of the poor,
and the harvest was abundant. The
peasants who had been saved from
starving by Flor Silin now gathered
around him.
Behold" said they, "the corn you
lent us. You saved our wives and
children. We should have been
famished but for you; may God re-
ward you-He only can. All we
have to give Is our corn and grateful
thanks" 81 want no corn ut present,
my good neighbors," said he; ''my
harvest has exceeded all my eypecta-
tons; for the rest, thank Heaven, I
have been but a humble instrument"
They urged him in vain. NO."
said he, ~ shall not accept your
corn. If you have supertiuities, share
them among your poor nieghbors
who, being unable to sow their fields
last autumn, arc still in want. Let
us assist them, my friends; the
Almighty will bless us for it.""Yes,"
replied the grateful peasants, "our
poor neighbOrs shall have this corn.
They shall know that it Is to you
they owe this timely succor, and join
to teach their children the debt of
gratitude due to your benevolent
heart Silin raised his fearful eyes
to heaven. An angel might have en-
We'd him his feeling.-RnrUnasin.