The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-18
A Russlan Logend.

, . 4. .I ~
There was onca yopng Russian
prince who was cruel as Russian princes
alone can be. he made nothing Of ia.
sulting aud abusing any one he would
ruthlessly lead the chase across the aelds
of young corn which were the pensants'
only hope ofsubsistence, and made moth
ing oftrampling down women, feeble old
men, or children, IL they were in his
way.
On one occasion, being moro than
half intoxicated, he saw q beautiful child
playing in the road before the door Of 4
peasant's hut and rode deliberately over
1t, and when its mother, with frantic
cries, rushed forth and lifted it from Ethe
ground, it WIS quito dead. The pCor
woman's grief was 60 great, the desd
child was so beautiful, and the wrath of
those who witnessed The scene was no IN.
tense, that even the cruel prince conld
not be quito Indifferent to what he had
done.
Having watched the woman for awhile
he drew his purse from q pocket and ap.
preached her.
Here" said he, dropping it into her
lap, "here Is money enough to make you
rich amongst Other peasants. Doubtless
you have more children, or win have.
less, what does L matter? See now now yoii Sa
are rich, stop crying" .
purse in her hand and flung 1t In his
face.
"Take back your blood money! she
said. MY child was worth more TO mo
than all the gold In Russia. But listani
insolent prince. a poor peasant woman
can do no harm, but chs can see the
harm that is coming. My mother was a
wise woman. I also can sec into eterni-
ty. The horse that has been the death
of my darling will be the cause of yours
ere long. Yes, he will rid the world of
you, thank heaven. It 10 written. L
read it. Go and leave me with my.
dead"
AS the woman spoke the prince turned
pale. He was very superstitious, and
the belief In propccy was strong In. those
Gays. Without making answer he r0doI
away. His followers at his bidding scat
tered tho crowd, who at once chahgedl
their curses to cheers, and the broken
hearted woman was left alone.
AS for the prince, he rode. home as fast
as he could, and 30 great was the impress.
sion made by the words the poor peasant
mother had uttered, that he at once or.
dered the horse, q great favorite, Of
which he had been fonder than he ever
was Of any living being, TO be sent away
to O distant portion of the country. The
animal was to be cared for ~ though
It were human being; kouse was TO
DO built for him, aud he vas TO be close.
~ confined IN 1t, IT he, Che prince, him-
self, ever Visited thsssy portion of the
country. Of course, these orders were
strictly obeyed. Gie favorite steed Wars
into sort Of royal exile, aid the prince
used to ride other horses, when he tram.
pied down other peasant's corn.
People remembered the prophecy,
fqlflment. The unhappy mother had
the reputation for, q sort of second sight.
believed in by those of her nation.
However, time passed on. A year
went br-tsso-three-four. The fifth
came During all this time the prilce
had heard no tiding5 of his banishe1 IA
vorite. at least he inquired about him;
and heard that he had bcen dead for a.
long time. Lazlness and over feeding
had killed him.
$50, = cried the prince, che will not be
my death ct last ! A dead horse can kill
nobody" &
And then, as though the creature were
an enemy who had been thWarted In
some evil intent, the desire to see his
dead body and triumph over it, seized
upon its master.
Attended by a great train, no set ont
for the place where the horge had iiee&,
and died. The remains lad been iai5,s
with respect, in 9 sort OF tomb built for
the purpose.
nLet me see then,,n cried the prince.
His word was law. The tomb Whs
opened. Only O. skeleton of the poor
beast remained, but beside this the pEince
stood with an absurd Int nf sEslsa;.. II. e. ;.i.l
upon his countenance. -
$50" cried he. aYon werot 70 bs my
death, we're your Ah, ali! you cannot
run away with me now, nor; throw mo.
See how quietly you allow me 10 kick
As he spoke he bestowed upon the
skull of the dead animal a disdainfhl
kick. But, on the instant, his laughter
turned to O cry of anguieh, and his e6l.
riers saw him writhing ON the ground Ii
agony; close about his legs was twist
ed black and hideous object with ferca
eyes and darling head. It was q gsno-.
mons. serpent which hal coiIed itsalft
within the hollow OF the dead horse, aud
which the kick the prince he5s giyea
aroused TO weath.
hours the prince was dead. They bofS
him homo TO be buried in tho tomb OF
his father. No one gEieyed for him;
and at her door stood the peasant whose
,kna, E.lE H.. IN