The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-03-31

ity. keep in their hands the greater part
of the revenue 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, filed
the air with bitter lamentations. Dogs
were barking, and our unhitched horses
were shaking their collars covered with
tiny bells, while other bells were being
fastened to the harness of the fresh ami
mals,,he whole forming an inexpressible
confusion of sounds, made up chiefly of
sharp notes. l stopped my ears.
Suddenly | saw the Jews who were
removing the furniture rush precipitate.
ly from the windows aud the door. A
flood of white smoke filled the house as
they quilted it, and red light appeared
in the background. The interior portion
had just caught fire. A comparative
hush at once prevailed.
Such moment has always something
solemn about it.
at burns beautifully" said the tall Cos
sock soldier, who was standing beside
the clad in his gray overcoat.
| stared at him; he was quietly smok-
ing a short little cnerry pipe. With
short arms he contemplated the confla-
grafton with undisguised satisfaction !;
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 look of CONSERVATION. He
tore his hair, and his little crisp curls
frisktd about in the wind from the
impetuosity of his movements.
"Woe! repeated the Jews in chorus.
II have forgotten my aged mother! !"
cried the unfortunate man.
A burst of laughter from the Poles an
swered him.
81 thought her with you" said he to
his wife, who was standing aghast, with
her youngest child in her arms.
"Where is she 2" cried some one
With hopeless look, he pointed to
the house and covered his head with a
portion of his robe.
The laughter stopped Though Jew
ess, she was still woman.
"She is in the chamber to the left said
he. sit is not yet on fire. Save her, my
friends, added he, in voice full of an
guish.
The friends who had aided him up to
that moment glanced at the flames, then
looked interrogatively at each other and
remained silent.
$50 for her yourself !" exclaimed boy
in the crowd
81 will give half of what am 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
gentlemen!"
He spoke now to the Poles. No one
moved. TIE tall Cossack gave a start,
then hesitated, and finally went and
planted himself before the butcher, stag
gering a triie as he did so.
'.No tricks !" said he, his pipe still in
his mouth. "What will you give ME to
go in there !"
lie pointed to the house, now almost
entirely wrapped in flames.
"Five silver roubles, my friend, five
roubles. BY the God of Abraham, five
roubles !"
"That's nothing" said the Cossack
"But there's no time to bargain. You
hear you people, cried he in n loud voice
''he says five roubles !"
A murmur of assent ran through the
crowd.
but YOU must bring her back will
you, said the Jew, clinging to the sol
dier's sleeve; ''if you do not you get
nothing"
"Imbecile," growled the Cossack, 81
am not going in there for pleasure
Where is your old she goat of mother
"Upon the bed in the corner of thu
chamber to the left.
Good !" muttered the Russian. "Witl
Gods help" cried he, in a ringing tone
| And at bound he leaped upon tn
steps.
The whole population of Roudnia hel,
their breath. The soldier made the sig
of the cross and vanished in the smoke
Your horses are ready" said the po,
tilion to me, az he clambered into hi
his seat.
wait" said |, in low voice.
My friend had rejoined me and wa
watching like all the rest for the denou'
ment OF this drama.
The Cossack reappeared surrouude
by flames. He bore the old Jewess
> his arms in half fainting condition, an
yet held his pipe in his teeth.
A triumphant acclamation salute
him.
"Here's your old woman !" said he
the jew
, At that moment the whole house bur
: into flame with species of explosion
but the conhagration no longer interestt
anybody, All eyes were fixed on Il
= Cossack.
a 'Uome," said he, ''pay me-
; "WhatV stammered the jew "nov
2 Wait until have found place of safe
for my family"
i "Notricksl" roared the Cossack, ,thres
II eningly. "Pay me on the spot, or"
From a habit of fear, the butch
y threw his hands before his face but 4
Cossack had no thought of striking hir
!, he simply fixed upon him eyes full
growing anger. Blinded by his avariC
y the jew took no heed of this he slow
= took from his bosom greasy wall
opened il with whine, rummaged