Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-12-03
\ EussiIn Legend.

There was once young Russian prince
who was as cruel as Russian princes alone
can be. lie mads nothing Of insulting
and abusing any one; he would nthleSSly
lead the chase across the fields Of yOIlg
corn which were the peasants only hope Of
subsistence. and make nothing of tramD!ing
down women, feeble Old meu or childrea
If they were in his way.
GA one occasion, being more than half
intoxicated, he saw beautiful child play
IN the road before the dO0r of poor peas
ants hut. and rode deliberately over It, and
when its mother with frantic cries rushed
fOrlh and lifted it from the ground. Il WIS
quite dead. The poor wOman's grief was
so great, the dead child was 50 beautiful,
and tire wrath Of those who witnessed the
scene was so intense. that even the cruel
prince could no. be quite indifferent to
what he had done.
Having watched the woman for a while
he drew his purse from his pocket and rode
toward her.
Here" said he dropping it into her
lap, ''here is money enough to make YOU
gich anoug other peasants. Doubtless You
have more children. or will have. They
are always plenty. one more or less, what
does il matter! See, now, You are rich,
sop crying
But rs he spoke, the woman lifted the
purse in her hand and flung il in his face.
Take back yo1r blood money she
said. '-Mv child WA worth more to me
tAan all ihc gold in Russia. But listen
insoien, prince a poor pesSaH. woman
can do no haral. but she can see the harm
thai is coming My mother was a wise
woman. also can see into eternity. The
horscthat has been the death Of nv child VIII
be the cause Of ycurs ere long. les. lie
Will rid the world of yo;-th:,lS heaven.
!, u written. ! read il. Go. and leave
ne with my dead.
As the woman spoke the prince turned
pale. He was very supers' iciUUs. and the
beljcfn prophecy was strong in those days
Without making on answer, lac rode away,
Ills followers at his bidding scattered the
contents Of his pursc amongst the crowd,
who At once CHARGED their curses in,o
cheers. AMI the broken hearted woman was
icit alone.
IS f3- ;hc prince. he rojc home - fasi
rs hc could. and So great was the i.rprcs-
sion made by the w0r-s the poor peasant
mother had uttered. that ne at once ordered
lis horse, 4 great fayoTite, Of which he
had been fonder than he ever was 0f any
living human being. TO bc sen, away tp 4
distant portion Of the country. The ami
nal y-as to b. carcd Tor rs thoJgh il ve:o
were a human teing: a house vas 10 he
bull. for him and he was 10 he closely con
fined therein, If ho, the prince, hIns--if,
e7,c VISITED th4, country. pi cpITsc these
orders were strictly ohcycd. The fay1rifc
s'ecd went into sort Il ROYAL exile. and
the prince uscd 20 ride other horses, when
he iranplcd down other peasants cOvn.
People remembered the prophecy how
ever. and many secretly hoped for is fGl-
dlme1'. TIE unhappy mother had The
rcpl alton for S15t OF second sight. be-
ieyed in by those Of hcr nation.
However, tine passed Oh. ! var wen;
hy--wo-thrcc-four The fifth cane.
Durin. all time tie prince had heard M
tiaiurs Of his banishcd favori;e. \, last he
iaduiryd about him and heard that he had
beea dead for long while. L1Ziness and
overfeeding had killed him
$50 crie! the prince, ''hc will not he my
death At least, : dead horse can Kill no
& hoiy.
And then. as though the creature were
an enemy who had been thwar;ed in some
evil iatcni. the desire 10 sec his dead body
snd triumph eve. 1t, seized uno1 his E:as
ter
Attended by d great train, he set OGt foi
the place where tac horse had lived ald
die.l. The remains had been laid, with re,
spec, in sor; o, tomb bulk for the pr
pose.
set me see them, crie,l the prince
His word was law. The tomb was open
Ell. Ollv the skeleton OF tie poor beast
remained. hui inside this the prince s.ocC
with al absurd look of triumph upon hi
counienance.
$50 cried he. "You were to be NY
death; were You? All, ah, yol cannot ru1
away with ne now nor throw me. Set
how quietly you allow me to kick yOu.
As he spoke he bestowed upon the skul
of the dead animal disdainfui kick. Bu
on the instant. his laughto. turned into &
cry of anguish, and his cOuriers saw hin
writhing on the ground in agony; clos
about his legs was twisted back and hid
eous object with fierce eyes and dartin:
, head. Il was a vcnomous serpent whicl
had coiled itself within the hollow Of III
! skull Of the dead horse, and which kick ,h
| prince had given aroused to wrath.
, The sting proved deadly. Ina few hour
the prince was dead. They bore him honl
, to be buried in the tomb of his fathers. y
one grieved for him; and at her door stOo
] the peasant whose prophecy had been ful
filed. Other children now playes at lac
E knee, but she had not forgo. her nlurdere
little one.