The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-23
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NJ dc Molinari, 4 well.known contributor
to the Paris journal deS DebdtS. has repuo.
ished series OF letters written from Russia
in 1860, which are very entertaining.
Among the most amusing OF them IS one
ON religion in Russia. Here, for instance,
il an cdi,ying legend OF st. Nicholas ana
how he outwitted st. Elias: Once upon q
time there lived farmer who never laiieo
to keep the st. Nicholas holy. Oiteh' too'
he rccited iitanies in honor OF that sa'nt'
and burned him many tapers. bus CT.
Elias he somehow neglected, and was even
90 ill.adyised MS occasionally to work on
his day. Now, it Glanced that on one
bright afternoon Saints Nicholas and ELIAS
were taking walk together. "See, my
brother" quoth the first. pointing, TO
the farmers land, "what spieh-
did crop; and in truth the man deserves It,
for he honors the saints Humph !"
quoth the neglected saint. 81 am not quite
80 sure; and when have spoiled his crops
with a little hail. perhaps he will learn to
remember St. Elias" The saints thereupon
parted little sulkily, and Nicholas went to
seek the farmer, and bid him sell his crops,
as they stood. to the priest OF the parish OF
St. Elias. The farmer did, and the crops
had hardly become the property OF the
priest before q storm Of hail completely
ruined them. OF course Nicholas and Elias
took another walk, and Elias pointed out to
Nicholas the damage done. "Ithink have
cooked your farmers goose.' MY FARM
er's! Nay, my brother, it is the goose Of thy
own priest that thou hast cooked" EXpla-
nations follow. Poor pope!" says Elias.
"Never mind; viii soon set his fields
to rights Nicholas now runs off, and
bids the farmer buy the crops back again.
The farmer repairs to the pope'S house.
"Alas! reverend Father" he begins. '' ii
is a terrible visitation OF heaven, this.
Well, suppose we share the losses-1 take
back my crop and return You the hall OF my
money :" The pope, delighted at the mans
good nature or simplicity, eagerly consents,
and in few days bitterly regrets the bar
| gain, for the crop has been mracuously re-
stored to more than its pristine beauty OF
appearance. Third walk of Nicholas and
Elias, the latter learning with disgust that
the full ears he admires belong to the
farmer. "Well, I'll he even with him."
adds the saint. Let him put as
much rs ever he likes on the threshing-
Heor: he shall beat out each time mea-
sure OF wheat, and no MORE Nicholas
now runs of, and instructS the farmer to
mt only shcaf ut time on the threshing-
floor this advice being conscentious!y fol-
lowed, each sheaf produces measure. The
farmers barns no longer Slfflcc nm; he
builds new ones. and they are all filled.
Fourth walk OF Nicholas and Elias, and
manifest irritation OF the sighted saint at
the prosperity OF Il man who has never
troubled his head about him. AT length
the truth dawns upon him. "Why, Nj
cholas, it must be you who tell the farmer!''
MY dear Elias What an idea! That
l. "Well, well; I'll make that farmer
remember me-" "How?" "Catch me tell
ing you" Nicholas was now alarmed for
his friend; but he had a ready wit, and
gave him some excellent advice. Next morn
ing, accordingly, the two saints CHANGED
to meet the farmer, who bore great thick
taper OF q rouble's worth in his right hand,
and miserable little one not worth a CO.
peck in his left. eli. my man." called
out Nicholas, "whither bound?" "To
offer this big taper at the shrine OF blessed
St. Elias" "And for whom is the small
one?" .That? Oh, that's for st. NichO-
las" "There Elias" says Nicholas, "you
accused me of secretly protecting the far
mer; you now see how likely that was to
be true" And there the affair ended, for
st. Elias, pleased with the big wax candle,
also took the farmer under his protection;
while the farmer ever after observed the fes-
tival Of both saints with equal idleness, and
doubtless with equal draughts OF vodka.