Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-02-06
A Ru.sian Legend.

There was once a young Russian
prince who was a. cruel % Russian
princes alone can he. He made nothing
Of insulting and abusing any one; he
would futhlessly lead the chase across
the fields Of young corn which were
the peasants only hope OF subsistence,
and make nothing OF trampling down
women, feeble old men, or children. II
they we're in bis way. r.....-..,
On one occasion, being more than
half intoxicated, he saw beautiful
child playing in the road before the
door OF o peasants hut, and rode de-
liberately over it, and when its mother,
with frantic cries, rushed forth and
lifted 1t frona the ground it was quite
dead. The poor woman's grief was. SO
great, the dead child was SO beautiful,
and the wrath of those who witnessed
the scene was SO intense, that even the
cruel prince could not be quite indif.
ferent to what he had done.
Having watched the woman for q
while, he drew his purse from his
pocket and rode toward her.
Here" said he, dropping il into
her Jap, here is money enough to
make you rich amongst other peasants.
Doubtless you have more children, or
will have. They are always plenty,
one more or less, what does 1t matter !!
See. now, you are rich, stop crying"
But as lie spoke, tile woman lifted
the purse in her hand and flung it in
his face.
"Tako back Your blood money" she
said. My child was worth more to
me than all the gold i'll Russia. But
listen, insolent prince. a poor peas
ant woman can do no harm, but she can
see the harm that is coming. My
mother was wise woman, / also can
see into eternity. The horse that has
been the death Of my darling will bo
the cause Of yours ere long. Yes, he
will rid the world Of you-thank
heaven. 1t is written. / read im Go,
ana leave me with my dead" ....r.
AS the woman spoke the prince
turned pale. He was very superstitious,
and the belief in prophecy was strong
in those days. Without making answer,
he rode away. His followers at his
bidding scattered the con tents of his
purse amongst the crowd, who Mt once
changed their curses into cheers, and
the broken hearted woman was left
alone. 4' ID. L.
As for the prince, he rode home as
fast as he could, and so great was the
impression made by the words the
poor peasant mother had uttered, that
he at once ordered his horse, q great
favorite, of which he had been fonder
than he ever was Of any Living being,
to lie sent away to distant portion Of
the country. The animal was to be
cared for rs though it were q human
being; house was to be built for him,
and he was to be closely confined there
in il he, the prince himself, ever yis-
tied that portion of the country. OF
course these orders were strictly
obeyed. The favorite steed went into
u sort of royal exile, and the prince
used to ride other horses. when he
trampled down other peasants corn.
People remembered the prophecy,
however, and many secretly hoped for
its fulfllment. The unhappy mother
had the reputation for a sort of second
sight, believed in by those Of her ma.
ton. .-.
However, time passed on. A year
went by-two-three-four. The fifth
came. During all this time the prince
had heard no tidings of his banished
favorite. At last he inquired about
him, and heard that he had been dead
for long while. Laziness and over
feeding had killed him. ...t. ....t
$50" cried the prince, he will not
be my death, at last A dead horse can
kill nobody. ..N., IN.
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 his master.
Attended by great train, he set ont
for the place where the horse had lived
and died. The remains had been laid.
with respect, in sort of tomb built
for the purpose. t...... ........
Let me see them" cried the prince.
His word was law. The tomb was
opened. Only the skeleton of the
poor beast remained, but beside this
the prince stood with an absurd look Of
triumph upon his countenance. 81
80" cried he. "You were to be
my death, were you? All, ali you can
not run away with me now, nor throw
me. l defy you to bite me, or to kick
me: See how quietly you allow me to
kick your,
As he spoke he bestowed upon the
skull Of the dead animal disdainful
kick. But, on the instant, his laughter
changed into cry Of anguish, and his
couriers saw him writhing on the
ground in agony; close about his legs
was twisted black and hideous object
with fierce eyes and darting head. 1t
was venonous serpent which had
coiled itself within the hollow OF the
skull of the dead horse, and which the
kick the prince had given him aroused
to wrath.
The sting proved deadly. In a few
hours the prince was dead. They bore
him home to be buried in the tomb oil
his fathers. No one grieved for him;
and at her door stood the peasant
whose prophecy had been fulfilled.
Other children now played at her
knee, but she had not forgotten her
murdered little one.
A gentleman goes to an armorer's and