Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-09-23
A SOUL WITHOUT A BODY.
A Russian Legend.
From Appleton's journal.

1t was midday. The beating of a
drum announced that the police had
something they wished to make known,
and consequently a concourse of the
good people of the city of Keiensk
gathered around the public crier. We
will give the announcement as nearly
literally as possible: "To-day, near
the village of Markovkin, a corpse has
been found The same is of the male
sex, has gray eyes, dark complexion,
a long, somewhat eagle like nose,
light brown hair and shaved chin
The authorizes of Keiensk desire to
know to whom the body belongs. If
relations or the owner himself should
be found, they or he will report at the
above-named village, where the exami-
nation will take place."
Three weeks elapsed, and no one pre-
sented himself. The coroner took a
physician and his old clerk Sevastian-
ovitsch. and repaired to the village in
order to complete the examination and
comply with the law governing such
cases. The owner~of the village re-
ceived the commission kindly, and of
fered them the Inequalities of his
house, The old clerk, however, was
compelled by law to pass the night with
the body, which was to be opened the
following morning; his refreshments,
therefore, were sent to him, and they
were accompanied by bottle of good
wine and liberal allowance of
schnapps. After he had arranged his
papers for the following day, SEBASTIAN
ovitsch began to eat and drink, and to
think over the past-how he had been
an unimportant parsonage, but had
early distinguished himself, had &C.
quired position, modest fortune, etc.
AS for his little fortune, it is true, in
acquiring it, he had sometimes resorted
to means which Stunned publicity. but
what Of that? Sevastianovitsch is
we'll to do. When he, with such and
similar thoughts, had been occupied an
hour or so, had swallowed the last drop
of his drinkables, and was about to
give himself up to new dreams, sud
denly a voice on his left side was heard
to say: -
g Father Ivan Sevastianovitsch, [ en-
treat that you will hear me"
Persons IN Office are thus addressed
In Russia by their interiors.
Seyastianovitsch, reminded of his Of
fee by these words, put himself, &C
cording to his wont, promptly ir writ
ing position he seized his pen, bent
over his paper, and, without looking
around, asked, in his most sonorous Of
fetal tone:
"What do you desire %
"You have in the name of the author
tiles, summoned the owner of the body
found IN the village to present him
SELF"
"Wellr'
The body belongs to me-
StWell y
< You will not find me ungrateful,
if
:" Was the deceased your servant 2"
No, Ivan Sevastinovitsch, the
body is mine, my own body"
"Ah 20
s. You can easily imagine how incon-
venient it is to be without a body. II
beg that you will give me your assist
ance as soon as possible.
You can count On my aid, but the
mandates of the law must be obeyed.
We will call the witnesses, and make
The examination at the earliest hour
possible. The extra trouble. you will,
of course"
"Oh, give yourself no uneasiness on
that point. Give me my body, and you
can count with certainty on fifty
rubles. ?
At these words Seyastianoyitsch
raised his head, heavy from the effects
OF wine and schnapps, as though he
would look in the face of the speaker
to see if he could believe him; but he
saw no one
Come in, come in" said he.
" Whatdo you want foreman out there
for?"
" Why, am here near you," said the
voice.
Sevastianovitsch trimmed the wick
OF the lamp and rubbed his eyes, and,
as he still saw no one, he murmured:
" What, the devil! am blind? I don't
see you, my friend"