Morris tribune., 1880-12-16
NURSE MARPHA.

lovely young woman used to be seen walk
ing on the Boulevard Nikitskoi nearly every
day, and wearing q rich peasants dress.
She accompanied two charming little girls
of four or five years of age, and was her.
self followed bya footman in livery. Pas
sers-by stopped still in front of her, struck
by admiration. Common folks were con-
tented only to stare at her; gentlemen more
boldly came near to the children, patted
their heads, then asked the beautiful peasant
girl her masters name, and whether she was
free or slave.
She invariably gave the same answer: 81
am slave. I belong to General Gertzoff,
and these two children are his daughters
am their nurse"
A day rarely passed without her being
questioned. She was really remarkable for
her beauty; her pink and white face, blood
and milk, as the Russians say, was oval, and
of pure Greek type; the eyes were blue,
the eyebrows full and well marked, remind
ing one of the words of Russian song
''Thy sable eyebrows" the teeth shone be-
tween the coral lips; the golden hair, in two
| long braids, fell to her feet, and her quick,
graceful carriage made her most attractive
woman and a priceless slave.
She kept to the costume Of her village,
according to fancy of her masters; it con-
sisted of shirt in silk damask, either red
or blue; of a wide-sleeved linen chemise,
embroidered in red thread, and diadem
| head dress which matched the skirt; round
the neck, and by the generals express COM
mand, she wore several rows of amber beads,
pure and transparent as burnt topaz About
four o'clock she brought the children home
to house on the boulevard. built between
a court yard and garden.
The generals wife lived alone in this
house. She led very quiet life, being al
ways delicate and in i'll health, while the
general spent his time in st. Petersburg, or
made frequent journeys to Paris. He had
established in the house-so as better to
watch and provide for his family, andin ac-
cordance to the customs of the day-a sort
of counting house, in which were received
the money and provisions coming from the
numerous villages he owned. Several
clerks we're employed there all day long.
The head clerk was Prohor, whose duty it
was to write every day most minute account
of everything that took place in the house,
not forgetting the smallest detail.
These clerks and the house servants were
all of them slaves, and were about forty in
number. The general was never at loss
for footmen He owned twelve thousand
souls, and much landed property in some of
the richest departments.
From time to time the general came and
spent few days with his wife and children,
leaving soon again for ST. Petersburg, where
he enjoyed perfect liberty.
His wife, owing to her state of ill-health,
never opened her lips about these continued
absences from home; but bore with perfect
resignation her husbands neglect. She was
very fair haired, thin, and sickly looking.
Her own slaves worshiped her, her hus-
| forf bro1,oh hor fhoxy no
been spared many cruel punishment.
Marpha, the nurse, the beautiful servant
was one of her favorites; for, not being able
herself to look after her children. she had
entrusted them to the young girl almost
from their birth. One day, while he was in
Moscow, the general was sitting in his study
with one of his brother officers, Colonel
Dimitrieff. Both were smoking long cherry
wood pipes with amber mouth pieces, and
talking business, when Marpha entered the
room with the children, who had come tt
wish their father goodnight. The colone
stood dazzled by this wonderful beauty. HI
said to the general, after she had left the
room:
Look here, Boris, I have something tc
propose: will give you my cook, Bazile
who has just finished his apprenticeship a
the English club, and any one else you please
exchange"
NO, won't" replied the general, in hi
rough tones.
Well" went on calmly the colonel, will
you have my favorite coachman, Paul, whc
trains horses so well, the sewing woman
Daria, and as balance, my beautiful chest
nut stallion, Emir?"
"Be quiet; neither for ten horses, nor ter
slaves, however talented they might be,
, cried the general. ''The girl is sweet ant
good; my wife is delicate, and unable tt
look after the children; if I did not have
this nurse, could never live quietly ava,
from home. Do you think am blind
; Marpha would have been ages ago with M
, in Petersburg if could find some one K
take her place over the children. I consid
! er it very deserving sacrifice on my part
! and one am not much in the habit O.
making"
E But You are soon going to take COVER
ness for them, said the colonel.
: Certainly. ! am expecting Swiss CIR
= this month. She is coming from Geneva
J But, for all that, should never feel cas-
= unless Marpha were near my daughters
Who knows these strange women? The
are good enough for teaching children, bu
: not for taking care of them. Besides, m
4 wife would never consent to your havin
. her; so never mention the subject again
: please. To make up for it, give You tn
! choice Of any girl you please among m
= slaves, and I will make you a present o
her"
mo, thanks" replied the colonel, %
wanted this one, and no other"
A few days afterward the general left 70
q ST. Petersburg, and the house went on il
Is the usual way. Marpha walked, as usual
n with the children on the boulevard; sh
g sometimes drove with them to the Petrous
i ky Park; at other il mes she would go t
8 town with them, o shop, by order Of he
n mistress, who scarcely ever went out. Sh
: would often buy silks in shop of tn
&c Illinka. The master of this shop would al
70 ways serve her himself, with great attention
i house. Prohor, the clerk, will note you
1t proposal in the daily report, and you Wi
i soon get an answer. / myself think tina
ic Marpha would be happy with you; you ar
II spoken of as sober and business like.
n would, therefore, gladly sacrifice myself
n however it might pain me to have her
le leave me. viii call her in, and you ca
le speak to her"
II Marpha came in, blushing and not quit
Is unconscious of what was going on,
le "Marpha, said the generals wife, "thi
j. honest tradesman here wishes to purchas
and marry you. will stress on Prohor
N report by writing myself to the general,
le this marriage is not displeasing to you"
is Marpha hung her head and became q
ID red as poppy.
is "Shall n" asked the generals wife again
le Marpha fell on her knees and kissed he
N hand, saying:
re Write, sondGrina-I shall pray God FL
ut you ell my life.
vr The man also knelt and thanked the LADY
ID She sent for Prohor, the scribe, and sal
Id to him:
in Write to his excellency that Sidrof, th
le tradesman, wishes to marry Marpha, and
" willing to purchase her for two thousan
rs roubles.
l. Are you willing to pay so much?" sh
asked, turning toward the merchant. "Th
ID general win not part with her for less; b
j. has only just sold the confectioner, Illii
le for thousand roubles. Marpha is wort
at more"
IN "As much as your excellency pleases