The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-09-29
IN PROSPERITY FORGET NOT THE
POOR,

One of the Russian folk tales may in
terest my readers.
An old man had three sons, and the
only property he left them on his death
was a small vegetable patch, in which
he had raised vegetables sufficient for
their own wants. His last words to his
sons as he was dying were:
''Boys, never turn away a hungry
man from your doors. Help the poor in
all your changing circumstances of
life"
The boys promised to remember his
words. They continued to raise vege-
| tables on their patch and divided them
/ equally, each either selling or consum-
/ ing his portion.
One day an angel from Heaven was
! sent to go and see how the brothers
were living and provide them with bet
ter means of subsistence. The angel
assumed the form of poor beggar, and
/ coming to the eldest brother, who was
wedding the garden, begged for an
/ onion.
"You can have one of mine," replied
the young man, cheerfully. 81 can not
give you any more, as the rest belong
to my brothers. I"
The supposed beggar thanked him
and went away.
The next day the second brother was
attending to the trimming of the gar
den. The angel also came to him in
the shape of a poor pilgrim and asked
for cucumber.
''You are welcome to have one out of
my portion" he replied, giving him a
fine one. 1.-THE rest belong to my two
brothers"
The pilgrim expressed his Rgratitude
and continued his journey.
The third day the youngest brother
ended the garden. The angel took the
form of poor laborer and asked for
something.
.You are welcome to what own,
Dadushka Il. e., Uncle). ''Here is one
pf each kind of vegetable that belongs
10 me-" he replied, filling the laborer's
lat with the different vegetables.
On the fourth day the angel took the
prm of monk, and coming toward
anset to the hut, found the brothers all
;home.
"Blaslavi Batuska,'' (t.e., bless us,
Ather) they exclaimed, rising and
ssing his hand, a mark of respect
own all the Russian clergy. "Pray
b seated at our humble repast;n and
thy hastily put the best of everything
thy had on the rude wooden table.
l'What are your means of subsist-
epe, my friendP" inquired the monk,
aer he had partaken of the evening
NAL.
tSlaya Bogha," dc, thank God)
relied Ivan, the eldest, ''we have
enugh to eat from our little garden,
wlch, peace to his soul, our father left
us We take the housekeeping part,
attnding to the vegetables by turns.
Tp of us go to work in the neighbor-
in farms, while the third remains at
hne. We thus earn a few 'kopecks'
(Innies) and those we divide equally,
al invest in clothing or what we need. !"
The monk rose to take leave, and the
yang men offered to accompany him
aioss the lonely steppes Il. e., field).
Athey walked along, the monk said
tothe eldest: '1van, what would you
Lii to have in this worldpn
All! Batuska,' i.e., Father) he re-
pill, 81 should like to be rich farmer
an own fields, where I would raise
eros of wheat that would make me a
happy man."
Ae monk made the sign of the cross
wit his staff, and lo large comfort
abl farmhouse stood before them,
fell of golden wheat nodded their
heas in the evening breeze, laborers
werseen returning bearing sheaves of
ripgrain, and as they passed Ivan,
they saluted him with: .Dobroy
veter, royzeyin'' De, Good evening,
masr).
I'll monk turned and said to him:
"Nd you have what you wished for,
stopnd live here, and don't forget to
be 9erous to your fellow men"
Tn taking the two younger broth
ers, went with them further.
chat would you like to haveP" he
askeof Feodor
havsheep and cattle of every species.
Thayould be my great joy"
III monk again made the sign of the
croswith his staff over the steppe. and
in ainstant thousands of sheep, goats
and en- covered the field. Shepherds
werdnging their evening songs as they
drovtheir flocks into the folds. A
dairyppeared in which some women
werenilking the ewes, others were
measing the milk, collecting cream
: and liking cheeses. There was also
a slauter house and people were busy
eyeryIere, and on seeing Feodor they
raisedheir caps and saluted him as
their lster.
''Heyou have your wish fulfilled .
said tImonk. @All this belongs to
you. u are master. Live and pros.