The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-05-25

"You know our horse is dead, !"
said the elder.
eve cannot afford to buy anoth-
err" said the younger.
Eyes," said Nikita, providence
seems to have been hard on
You. We are told that the
Lord chastens those he loves"
"Lend US the money to buy q
horse" cried the elder.
1--WE will all pray God to bless
you, forever and everi" cried the
younger. The whole family, wo-
men, children, and infants who
were standing by, now fell upon
their knees before the head of the
family.
The old man put his hand inside
his shirt, and patted the little bag
that hung around his neck by q
string.
.'May the Lord take pity on you,''
he said, 81 can do nothing for you"
sob fatherI our protector, our
benefactor, our dear father !" they
all cried, in that note of supplica-
ton which rises full octave high
or than the highest note of the great
est tenor, E'help US, take pity on
usr
With a gesture they could all un-
derstand, Nikita stopped his cars.
The supplication ceased.
"There are jews" said the old
man, "you must borrow"
He sat down at table; and no one
said another word, for a Russians
respect for the head of his family is
so great that no one dared to push
petition or remonstrance further,
nor did any one dream of stealing
his little property. Most likely his
sons called him, behind his back,
Old Nick, dog in the manger, and
whatever else is Russian for ex-
pressions of that kind, but no one
was wanting moment in deferen-
tial consideration.
They went to the Jew. Nikita
said truly, "There are plenty of
Jews in Russia" There are plenty
there and everywhere. The best
part of the poor peasants earnings
finds its way into the clutches OF
the Jew.
A new horse filled the old stall in
the stable, and things went on as
before, except that the economy OF
the family was more severe than
ever. Nikita, however, insisted up
on having all the comforts he was
accustomed to.
sit was not my fault" he OBJ
served, "that the horse died. l
want my kyass and my tea, as l
have always had it."
His daughter gave it to him
eating less and toiling more. But
it was not she who fell i'll. Poetic
al justice does take place sometimes
it was Nikita.
One evening he remained too
long after the sunset on the bank of
the river. He had high fever In
the night, and a severe chill the
next day, when ne lay on top of
the enormous stove, shiveriDg I'M
der a great pile of cloaks and sheep
skins. Two or three days passed.
He got no better. Now and then
he called for drink in a hoarse
voice, when the little grandson,
left to wait on him, wonld give him
the kyass-jug. The sick man would
eagerly drink the sour beverage,and
turning round, without a word OF
thanks, would go Off into q dOZe
again.
The fourth day his condition be-
gan to alarm the family. The Rus
sian peasant seldom takes much no
tee of the sufferings of any mem
Der OF his household, and very rare
ly any of his own. The spirit of
fatalism and unlimited resignation,
which is the most marked feature
in his character, leads him to look
on sickness and death as disagreed
BILE but inevitable things, to be &C
cepted like change oftemperature,
q storm of wind, or any other &C
cidcnt of the seasons. But Nikita
was the head of the family. His life
was more precious than one of their
own. His eldest son proposed to
him to bring the midwife. Don't
smile, O sons of citiesl for the
world turns round. Our modern
question about women doctors was
practically settled once upon time,
was unsettled about one hundred
years since, aud has now come up
for reconsideration. 1t is the mid
wife-the Sdye feqnme-who sets the
broken bones, binds up important
wounds, gives simple remedies for
human natures various ills, in re-
mote villages, not only in Russia,
but in more civilized countries even
at the present day.
"The devil take your midwife"
snarled the sick man. 'ETime enough
to send for her when l am dying"
ats not SO very far to town"
put in the second son at length,
Suppose we go and get the dotor."
Nikita hardly let MIN finish his
suggestion before flung a wooden
bowl at him, which had contained
some Cruel. The missile struck him
on one side of his head, and the
poor fellow stood half-stunned and
quite bewildered by the effect of
his kind words, wiping some drops
of the cold cruel from his face with
the sleeve of his jacket.
"The doctori Yes, indeed! You
must be very anxious to see my
precious money pass into other
hands-my money that took such
pains and care to scrape together
You would not think of paying the
old thief for coming here to see me ?
You would all of you come waiIing
about your poverty to me, and say
ing piteouslY, Father, we haven't
got a cent-he cured YOU Deuce
take you, every one of youp
Nikita fell back as he said this,
and spoke not another word that
day. His breathing was so difficult
that the family got frightened. This
time they sent for the priest.
"Bah he's not very sick" thought
Father Jakim, the moment he saw
him. "He is more out of temper
than anything else. Let us see
what's the matter with him."
He drew near to the stove, sat
down upon q stool, and spoke to
the old sinner.
'.Nikita VIassief," said he solemn
Iy, 'I've come to see you, to speak
of the mercies.of the Lord and his
divine compassion"
"Good evening, good evening, /"
growled the patient, savagely.
You are very sick, my poor old
friend. God has punished you at
last. I told you you were not lay
ing up friends for yourself when
trouble was at hand. You see
what happens when we put of too