Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-10-07

"Goin peace and God be with you
Brother Anessi. Only please don't
marry a widow: but wed maid"
"Why, Sister Vasilisa, some widows
are very handsome and bewitching, as
we'll as rich"
''Ah! Brother AneSsi, D widow
heart is like the Winter which neither
gives light nor warmth and only sways
by wind; but the maiden's heart is like
the summer sun which warns and
lightens, full of the fragrance of gentle
breezes.'
Anuessi babe farewell to his sister,
and went to Moscow in search of a
wife. Here he met many fair maids
and widows, who so charmed him that
he knew not which to choose, for all
seemed good and handsome.
At last a bewltching widow so fasci:
mated him that he gave her his heart
ana hand and bore her to his home.
Some time passed, and one day Anessi
was sitting on the verandawith his fair
wife. Suddenly his notice was attracted
by the poultry cackling; ana a hen said
1--WE have not been fed to-day"
A rooster replied: 'They have for
gotten us. suppose
Says the hen. Il will crow, so as to
remind them of their negligence. for
care hungry
Pray, don't crow, If you value your
lite, replied the rooster; for. if you, a
hen, should crow, they will say there is
death in the house, and will chop off
your head on the doorstep; but if crow
why then we will be ted
Anessl, on hearing this parley,
laughed, and ordered the chickens to be
fed.
"What are you laughing at!'' asked
his better half
Nothing. Just something that
came into my mind" answered Anessi
But the wife was not satisfied with
this answer and she pressed him again
to tell her why he had laughed.
''Let me alone, wife, l do not know
myself why laughed"
But the more he denied her the more
she insisted on his telling her the reason
Saying: you don't love me or you
would tell me-
AT last, Anessie in des pair SAID to her:
Know, then, that if | tell You the
reason shall instantly die"
HIS wife, however, did not care for
that: but urged him to tell her. not
outstanding.
Il will have to have coffin here, for
if | tell the secret l shall surely die
She Immediately sent to the under
takers for a coffin, and having placed
it before him, said: Here. tell me
and die"
The husband lay down in the coffin,
and looked around him for the last
time, with tears IN his eyes and said:
Before | tel! you let me say my last
prayer. for | won't live moment after
| disclose it.
well, then, hurry up, replied the
wife.
Meanwhile, the rooster had found
grain, and, as is usual with fowls, be-
gan cackling. The hens Immediately
him, crying: What have
you got there? Tell u.s."
"Get along with you! Do you sup
pose l am going to let you know every
hinge Indeed, not. l am not such a.
DOL as my master, who connot manage
'ne wife, but is going to die because he
cannot refuse her anything. l can
manage the whole crowd of you; for, if
'ou don't behave. l so a. you with my
'eak, and you fly around pretty lively"
During his prayers he heard this He
quickly sprang out Of the coffin, and,
Matching up a cane lying near by, he
aid it about his inquisltive wife saying:
Heartless woman! will not be such
fool as to die for you. Truly, now =
ee the sense of my sisters advice:
DON'T mary widow!!'' :
After this his wife never asked him {
gain to divulge his secrets.-N. Y.
INDEPENDENT.