Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-02
Russian Polk Lore.


TnE rich pOetical treasure, buried IN
lhe tales, songs and sbazbas Of Russian
folk lore has Of late attracted tho atten-
tiOn Of many Of the ablest European
philologists and poets. Among these,
Rambaud and w. X. 8. Ralston have
published standard works on the sub
iect- And in order 10 give the reader
come idea Of the lyric tales Of Russian
folk lore we copy here one Of the latter,
selected from Mr.. Ralston's book, "The
Songs Of the Russian People"
In q certain country there lived a
King; and this King had a daughter
who was an enchantress. Near the
royal palace there dwelt a priest, and
the priest had boy Of ten years old,
who went every day 10 an old woman 10
learn reading and writing. Now IL hap
pened one day that he came away from
bis lessons late in the evening, and as
he passed the palace he looked in at one
Of the windows. At that window the
Princess happened 10 be sitting and
dressing herself. She took off her head,
lathered il with soap, washed IL with
clean water, combed It's hair, plated its
long black braid, and then put it back
again in its proper place. The boy was
lost in wonder.
What a clever creaturei" thinks he.
"a downright witch"
And when he got home he began tell
ing every one hoy he had seen the
Princess without hef head.
All Of a sudden the Kings daughter
fell i'll, and she sent for her father, and
strictly enjoined him, saying:
"If die, make the priests son read
the psalter over me three nights run
ming"
The Princess died; they placed her in
a coffin, and carried it TO church. Then
the King summoned the priest, and
| said:
"Have you got a sonP"
"I have, your Majesty
"Well, then," said the King, "let
him read the psalter over my daughter
three nights running"
The priest returned home, and told
his son TO get ready. In the morning
the priests son went to his lessons, and
sat over his book looking ever so gloomy.
"What are you unhappy aboutP'
asked the old woman.
" How can help being unhappy when
am utterly done forP'
"Why, what's the matter? Speak
plainly"
"Well, then, granny, I've got to read
psalms over the Princess, and do you
know she's witchp"
"I knew that before you did! But
don't be frightened, there's knife for
you. When you go into the church
trace circle round you; then read
away from your psalber and don't look
behind you. Whatever happens there,
whatever horrors may appear, mind your
own business and go on reading, read
ing. But if you look behind you, it will
be all over with you'll"
In the evening the boy went to the
church, traced a circle round him with
the knife, and betook himself to the
psalter. Twelve O'Clock struck. The
lid of the coffin flew up; the Princess
arose, leapt out, and cried:
"Now III teach you to go peeping
through my windows, and telling peo-
pie what you sawl"
She began rushing at the priests son,
but she couldn't anyhow break into the
circle. Then she began to conjure up
all sorts of horrors. But in spite of al
that she did, he went on reading and
reading, and never gave a look round
and at daybreak the Princess rushed al
her coffin, and tumbled into it at ful
length, all of heap.
The next night every thing went on
just the same. The priests son WASN'T
bit afraid, went on reading without q
stop right up to daybreak, and in the
morning went to the old woman. ShC
asked him:
"Wel! have you seen horrorsP"
"Yes, granny"
at will be still more horrible thii
time. Here's a hammer for you anC
four nails. Knock them into the foul
corners of the coffin, and when you be,
gin reading the psalter, stick up thu
hammer in front of you"
sIn the evening the priests son wen
to the church, and did every thing jus
as the old woman had told him. lively,
O'Clock struck, the coffin-lid fell to tn,
ground, the Princess jumped up and be-
gan tearing from side to side, anC
threatening the youth. Then she con
iured mp horrors, this time worse thar
before. 1t seemed to him as if a firI
had broken out in the church; all tht
walls were wrapped in lamesl But h,
held his ground and went on reading
never once looking behind him. Jus
before daybreak the Princess rushed Il
her coffin. Then the fire seemed to g
out Immediately, and all the deviltr!
vanished.
In the morning the King came to tn,
church, and saw that the coffin wa
open, and in the coffin lay the Princess
face dOwnwerd.
"What's the meaning of all thisP'
says he.
The boy told him every thing tha
had taken place. Then the King CAV
orders that an aspen stake shoul'
be driven into his daughters breast
and that her body should be thrust int.
hole in the ground. But he rewarded
the priests son with heap of none.
and various lands.-OrieRtdE Churc
Magazine.
o-e----