The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-05-30
Yasilt, the Gold en..--A Russion Story

The stoi J in question is one which at
least one. nalf Of the company have prob-
ably heard dozen times already but the
Russian, like the Turk, can enjoy good
story as thoroughly the twenticty time as
the first; ANA all bend eagerly forw ard: as
our host commences:
''You must know, then, Brothers, that
there lived in. Holy Russia, many, many
yearsago, q man teho was 20 rich that to
reckon his wealth would have been like
counting the grass Of the steppes.; He
lived in q house rs big Al, yonder church,
and had acarriage 'fneFithsn our, District
Inspectors; and all the dishes: .on his ta-
bic were Of gold; and hes kept troops of
servants in gay liveries, and drank, costly
wines from beyond the sea, and had white
bread for breakfast every morning; and,
insshor, he was such q great man that
everyoae called him *:"vasili, the Gold:
en-" I .lFiies?;i ~
"But to my mind, Vasili, the iron
would have been letter name for him !,
for his heart was like flint. If 1 dis
,ablel soldier. came ,limping along the
road, or poor, Shalt starved pilgrim
crawlcd to the door to beg for aims. all
he got was kick, aud 'be off out of this
you dirty fellow And, worse still, though
his own sister (who was as poor as he was
rich) lived in d miserable hut at his very
door, and was almost crij Piled with theu,
matism, he never offered to help her a BIT
and, indeed, he had more than once
thr eatened Ito pull down her hut alto
gether, saying, that he wouldn't have
such pig.sty near his door: -:
swell, at last Vasili's heart was 50 lift.
ell up by his great riches that he .eaid to
himself. There is no man worthy to he
my guest; will invite our Lord himself
to come aud sup with mel So he brought
out all his best dishes and richest wines.
and put his servants in their gayest liv:
cries, and spread q carpet on the steps Of
his house, and waited for our Lord to
come ana lie his guest. >';' a.: :: i,
GAIL day he sat watching and waiting
and whenever fine carriage appeared in
the distance, or d troop Of Korsemen in
uniform came dashing along, he thought,
This must be He' But carriages and
horsenlent went by, t nd still no guest. At
last, Just as the sun was setting, q poor,
thin, weary looking man came slowly up
to the door; and he showed his bleeding
Fleet, and crayel charity in Gods ma me.
r. but Vasiltwas angry at waiting so
long in vain ;-and hesthrust him raldely
away. ssying: 'Bego1E to my SISTERS hut
Eyondet ;}you and she Will beswen match
Es ei': a., Az: And the 1egsaF to.oed::away ~a<E
rNext morhii.g there s:ood; at v asili's
door aNoman Whose; 2face was like his
Esisters but instesd being crippled, ste
was straight a. Rrenadier Sand instead
Eof rags sht wore u, dress worth ''fou,
(rubles t$3) yard. SIC held out he,
hand to him and eaid: :
1 'Brother, ,asstrsngd thing has befallen
7 me-: Last night 8 begRar 1ame Ito MY
/ doo1, ND I gaye MntRKt 1had. AS ", "a
! sat eating, suddenly Eis4scssbecane like
! the great pitslrec-&baveathe. alterIin GU,
church, and 6s laid his hald softly or
my bead, Saying: 'InasEuch as, ',yt
did unto oneof the inst of these, W did
! unto Mel" AID with.t that I became a.
you see me hoN.' .,i-n
+. "Then Vasili tore bis hair, and: cried
bitterly: That was He, then! and He
might have given ME some grear gift if i
mad known Hint, I" :Fp":ii
*But 1 solemn voice anis,w,i;eered from or
high; Only they can know Him who art
lowly and humble a. He WI ~;
AND instantly ell Vasili's riches and
grandeur melted as snow melts In the
sunshine, and no one pltied him but hi,
: kind sister; who tended him lovingly ill
he died. So you zee, brothers, that th'
old proverb is true: