The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-18

There was once young Russian prime
who was rs cruel as Russian princes alon
can be. lie made nothing Of insultn
and abusing any one; he would ruthlcssl
lead the chase across the fields Of voun,
corn which were the peasants only hope O
subsistence, and make nothing of tramplin
down women, feeble old men or childrel
ii they were in his way.
On one occasion, being more than half
intoxicated, he saw beautiful child play
IN the road before the door Of poor peas
ants hut, and rode deliberately over 1t, ant
when Its mother with frantic cries rushct
1orlh and lifted it FROM the ground. 1t wa
quite dead. The poor wonan's grief wa.
50 great, the dead child was 80 beautiful
and tho wrath of those who witnessed tho
scene was so intense, that even the crue
prince could not be quite indifferent tc
what he had DONE
| liaving watched the woman for while
nc drew his purse from his pocket and rode
toward her.
Here" said he. dropping it into her
| zap, mere is money enough to make you
rlch amoug other peasants. Doubtless YOU
nave more children, or will have. They
are always plenty, one more or less, what
docs 1t matter3 See, now, you arc rich,
stop crying"
But rs hc spoke, the woman lifted the
purse IN her hand and flung it in his face.
Take back your blood money" she
said. "My child was worth moro to me
than all the gold in Russia. But listen,
insolent prince. A poor peasant woman
can do no harm, but she can see the harm
that is coming, My mother was a wise
woman, l also can see into eternity. The
horse that has been the death of my child will
De the cause of yours ere long. Yes he
will rid the world of you-thank heaven.
1t 's written: read it. Go, and leave
nc with my dead"
AS tho woman spoke the prince turned
pale. lie was very supcrsticious, and the
Deiletm prophecy was strong in those days
Wltnout making an answer he rode away.
Ills followers at his bidding scattered the
contents OF his purse amongst the crowd,
who at once changed their curses into
cheers, and the broken hearted woman was
left alone.
AS for the prince, he rode homo as fast
as he could, and so great was tho imprcs.
sion made by the words the poor peasant
mother had uttered, that lie Mt once ordered
MS horse, great favoritc, of which lie
had been fonder than he ever was Of auy
living human being, to be sent away to n
distant portion Of the country. The ani-
nal was to be cared Tor rs though 1t were
a were human being; house was to be
built for him and he was to be closely con.
fined therein, If he, the prince, himself,
ever visited that country. OF course these
orders were strictly obeycd The favoritc
sliced went into sort of royal exile, and
the prince used to ride other horses, when
nc tramplcd down other peasants corn.
People remembered the prophecy, how
ever, and many secretly hoped for its full
pnl repaatlvn ri fnc unhappy sais y mother had the
licvcd in by those Of hor nation.
However, time passed on. A year went
by-two-thrcc-four. Tho fifth came
During all time the prince had heard no
tidings of his banishcd favoritc At last he
inquired about him and heard that ho had
been dead for q long while. I.azincss and
overfeeding had killed him
$50 cried the prince, ''hc will not be my
death at least! A dead horse can kill no.
body"
And then, as though the creature were
an enemy who had been thwartcd in some
evil Intent, the desire to see his dead body
and triumph over 1t, seized upon his mas
ter.
Attended by great train, he set out for
the place where the horse had lived and
died. The remains had been laid, with re.
spcct in sort Of tomb built for the pur-
pose. i.
'Let me see them," cried tho prince.
His word was law. The tomb was Open
cd. Only the skeleton Of tho poor beast
remained, but inside this the prince stood
with an absurd look of triumph upon lis
countenancc.
''So!" cried he. "You were to bo my
death; were you? All, nh! you cannot run
away with me now nor throw ME. Sec
how quietly you allow me to kick youl''
AS he spoke he bestowed upon the skull
of the dead animal q disdainful kick. But
on the instant, his laughter turned into
cry OF anguish, and his couricrs saw him
writhing on the ground in agony; close
about his legs was twisted black aud hid
eous object with ferco eyes and darting
head. 1t was q vcnomous serpent which
had coilcd itself within the hollow Of the
skull Of the dead horse, and which kick the
prince had given aroused to wrath.
The sting proved deadly. Ina few hours
the prince was dead. They bore him homo
to be buried in the tomb of his fathers. No
one gricvcd for him; and at her door stood
the peasant whose prophecy had been full
filled. Other children now played at her
knee, but she had not forgot her murdered
little one.