The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-05-03

lsraelltes, who. by reason OF tnell
commercial ability, keep in theil
hands the greater part Of the reye'
nue. of the unfortunate people, who
are generally very poor, and are
still further impoverished by the
system of usury largely in vogue in
Poland. ~
The wife and children OF the
butcher, seated in the centre of the
square, filled the air with bitter lam
entation. Dogs were barking, an d
our hitched horses were shaking
their collars, covered v)th tiny bells,
while other bells were being taste n
ed to the harness of thu fresh ami
mails the whole forSai1g an mex
pressibIe confusion of dDunds, made
up chiefly ofsharp notes. ! stopped
; my ears.
Suddenly / saw to Jews who
were removing the flsnitnre rush
precipitately from the iuindows and
the door. A flood of white smoke
filled the house as thV Quilted it,
and red lightappearstin the back
ground. The interior partition
had just caught fire. "A compara-
tive hush at once prevailed.
Such moment has siways some
thing solemn about it.
at burns beautifully calmly
said tall Cossack soldier, who was
standing beside me clad in his gray
overcoat.
stared at him; he WAS quietly
smoking a short cherry pipe. With
hanging arms he contemplated the
I confagration with undisguised sat-
isfaction, but the swapping of his
eyes showed that he had taken too
many glasses of brandy.
"Woe! woe!" cried the voice of
the butcher. He was in the middle
of the square, and was gazing at his
groaning family with 3 look of con-
sternation. He tore bis hair, and
his little crisp curls frisked about in
the wind from the inpetuosity Of
his movements.
"Woe~ repeated all the Jews in
chorus.
l have forgotten my aged moth
er p cried the unfortunate man.
A burst of daughters from the
Poles answered him.
II thought her with you," said he
to his wife, who was standing aghast,
with her youngest child in her
arms.
where is She" cried some one.
With a hopeless look he pointed
) to the house, and covered his head
with a portion of his robe.
The laughter stopped. Though a
. Jewess, she was still a woman.
"She is in the chambefto the left, y
said he. 1T is not yet on fire.
Save her, my friends" added he, in
voice full of anguish.
The friends who had aided him
up to that moment glnnced at the
flames, then looked interrogatively
at each other, and remained silent.
60 for her yourself !" cried a boy
in the crowd.
II will give half of what Pm
worth to whoever shall save her."
cried the butcher, wringing his
hands. Half, yes half" repeated
he, excitedly. "Save the poor old
woman, my friends. my good gentle
men"
He spoke now to the Poles. No
one moved. The tall Cossack gave
! start, hesitated, and finally went
and planted himself before the butch
er, staggering trifle as he did so.
"Notricksw said he his pipe still
in his mouth. "What willyou give
me to 60 in there?"
He pointed to the house, now al
most entirely wrapped in flames.
-Four silver roubles, my friend,
five roubles. BY the God of Abra-
ham, five roubles I'
That's nothing" said the Cossack.
"But there is no time to bargain.
You hear, you people" cried he in a
loud voice "he says five roubles "
A murmur of assent ran through
the crowd.
'But you must bring her back
with youl" cried the Jew, clinging
to the soldiers sleeve +; ''ifyou don't
you get nothingl"
"Imbecile |" growled the Cossack,
II am not going in there for pleas
ure! Where is your old she goat Of
mother ?"
Upon the bed in the corner of
the chamber to the left"
"Good!" said the Cossack. "With
Gods help !" cried he, in ringing
tone.
; And at a bound he leaped upon
the steps.
The whole population of Roudnia
held their breath. The soldier
made the sign of he cross and van
ished in the smoke.
"Your horses are ready" said the
position to me, as he clambered in
to his seat.
"Wait l"said !, in low voice.
My friend had rejoined me and
was watching, like all the rest, fol
the announcement of this drama.
The Cossack reappeared, sur
I rounded by flames. He bore the
! old Jewess in his arms in a hall
! fainting condition, and yet his pipe
in his teeth.
A triumphant shout GREETED his re-
turn.
Here is your old woman said
he, to the Jew.
At that moment the whole house
; burst into flame with species ol
explosion, but the confagration nc
longer interested anybody. All
eyes were fixed on the Cossaak.
Come" said he, pay me-"
, WHAT" stammered the Jew
+ now /? Wait until / have found q
, place ofsafety for my family"
no tricks y roared the Cossack
threateningly. PAY me on the
spot. or"
) From habit of fear the butcher
| threw his hands before his face
but the Cossack had no thought o.
! striking him he simply fixed up
on him eyes full of growing anger
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