The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-10-12
"a LITTLE RUSSIAN SERVANT.


age, bent over an embroidery frame. The
young girl rose, Frustrated herself thrice be-
fore her mistress, then getting up. remained
standing, her hands hanging by her aide, her
head slightly bsnt forward under the investi-
eating gaze OF the countess, who, through her
eye-Glass, closely scrutinized her.
SIT is the new girl, your highnoss," answered
the head lady's maid, coming forward with the
air of importance that thirty years employment
gives to no matter what functiunary 'sShe il
the darghtor Of Foma, of the village of Ike
nine. She is come in her turn to pay her faith
er's obrok-hs is in Moscow"
"Ihese peasant girls can do nothing" said
tho countess, with a wcaried air; s'what do you
expect to get out of this one?"
she doesn't embroider badly, your high
ness; pray look yourself. She can be put to
tho emhrodcries-not to tho ground, but to
the trimmings. This is for the toilet table of
Madamo 10 Comteesa"
Tho noble lady, who could hardly see. being
short-sighted from her birth, examined the
embrndery frame go closely that the tin of her
nose Grazod tho cloth.
girl" -'' ''1A y '-''''
Tho little girl advanced, and the countess in
spected her as infinitely a. sho had done the
embroidery.
How pretty she is! What's your namo?"
"Mavra.n
The word came like o breath from tho rosy
lipe.
'sYou must speak louder if you want us to
hear you, " said the head lady's maid, angrily
Mavra turned her large, blue, startled eyes
toward her, lot thom drop, md said nothing.
sit down toyour work. SAID the countess.
amused ut hor new toy. With quick, grace.
tul movement tho young girl resumed her seat
on tho wooden chair, aud, the needle firmly
held bctw con her agile fingers, went in and GU,
or the stuff with that short, sharp noise that
stimulates the action Of the hand.
Ihats right; you may go on" said the
countess, hor nerves irritated by the regularity
OF tho movement
Then, turning her back upon the young girl
and trailing the heavy, sumptuous folds of her
dressing gown along the carefully-washed p,ne
wood floor, she disappeared through the door.
which was RESPECTFULLY closed after her by the
head lady.s maid. The countess, an accom-
pllshed mistress OF . house, made practice of
paying daily visit to this room, which was re-
served for the women of her service. Mayra
was lett alone in the workshop, a large, we'll
lighted chamber, furnished simply with tables
and chairs for the l,so Of tho innumerable
women and girls invariably attached to the
how to maintain their rank In that blessed time
OF serfdom. At this hour the workroom was
empty. Some Of the women were washing.
othors ironing, some cleaning and turning up
side down everything in the private apartment
the countess had just left The young peasant
girl, with her needle urlifted, rested her ruddy
hand upon the edge of the frame and looked
around her
What muliitudcs of embroidered gowns, with
their rich lace trimmings, hung there on the
wall, waiting some sill: repairs What end
less petticoats, with t;i~.. ornamented tiounces,
room. What countless lace caps, worn hardly
an hour, pinned TO pincushion az large as .
pillow, used only for this purpose; and there.
IN q basket on the corner of the table. what
piles. of cambria chemises, delicately
piped and plated, trimmed with yaleu-
ribbons And all this for one per
SOD. Sithout counting the silk stockings
IN tfat other basket and the rings by dozens
worn by the countess on her thin fingers In
this world of living b inys under Gods heaven,
what importance given to one person, that
needed so many Other persons to servo her,
and how the notbingness OF ,leso was mala
more emphatic By the dominance of tia,
M2vra tat Monder-sricken. The head ladys
maid coming into the room found her still in a
state OF stupefac!ion, stupetied above oil ut
having ma!o these reflections.
well, you ara lucky" she ga; ID to her, with
boastful look. "Our countess took O fancy 10
you ut the first 6 ance; you arc now ON the list
.1f embroidorers. You may thank God for it
1t IL not often the countess takes fancy like
that at first sight"
SIS she, thel, unkind?" 1nnocent'y incurred
the girl.
unk'nd! Oh, no; capricious. like all mis-
trcsses, but the kindest lady IN the world. aud
generous. Besides. this is rich house: moth
ing is countcd-nothing at all This Is better
5nan your VILLAGE" continued Dacka, proud of
. belonging to such noble masters, and DESTROYS
" impressing on the mind of the simple peas
ant girl the importance and dignity Of the
functions shc was promoted to.
1T il more beautiful" replied Mavra, bend
Ing intently over her work.
1T was lucky, they taught you to embroider.
o'se you would have bacn soht 10 the poultry
yard to feed the cocks and hens nnd look after
!ho calves. How did you learu:'
my mothor Taught me; she was formerly
III service; she was a dvorovala in the time Of
tho late countess. She married peasant"
"&h!" said Dacka, ~ thought your manners
were not quite those Of a peasant girl; il yaur
mother was in service, that's another thing
Come, take cup of coffee with NO. PropaIe
tao coffee pot and make basic before the others
come; cau't ask everyone, you understand f"
+. 10 Mavra there was but little difference be-
tween the iaba of her father and the workro. IN
of the seignorlal mansion. Here, as there, her
life was spout assiduous work from sunrise
to sunset There, her mother, an auserc,
somber woman, like most village matrous, 10
whom life had proved no light matter; here,
the iauy's maid, often srq,nbling, but a. tim,s
ference. between the two modes of life consisted
of the daily visits OF the countess, who gener-
ally said nothing, but passed with solemn Sill.
through this roomful Of silent, aweetricien
women. But one thing was lacking to Mavra,
and this nothing could replace-thc ..vcuin..
hour of rest which she used to spend by tho
fountain when sent TO draw wafer for her
mother, on the threshold of their cabin watch.
ing the spring rain falling soft and warm, melt
ing the snow so quickly that its thickness
might be seen visibly diminishing; or, again. in
the month of May, atanuing at the edge of tie
forest. listening to the nightingales singing on
the deilcate, golden branches of the pertumed
birch tree.
Winter passed fairly well, but when the frat
breath of warm air set the melting STOW
streaming down the roofs, which again tile
nights frost trans ormed into long stalactites
Office, Mavra felt a strange, vague aching i'll
her heart The house was overhcated, and
the close. nauseous air made her sick. What
would she not give TO run as of old over the
noors, to sec il the moss were beginning to
appear under the crystallized transparent car
pet of snow!
.sWhat's the matter with this little girl?"
asked the countess one day. as she stopped be-
fore the frame at which tho young peasant girl
was diligently working ssSne was as fresh as
rose, and now she has grown yellow. Do
you feel pain anywhere, Mavra!"
Mavra raised her blue eyes to tho noble lady
who, for the second time in her life, deigned
to address her, and replied in her low voice:
Nowhere, your highness"
"Then why are you 80 Yellow"
81 don't know, your highness."
The countess dropped her ego glass, and
looked Kindly ut the young girl.
II know" said she, after moments pause;
'the child wants air. She came here from
hcr village, aud has passed the whole winter
STOPPING over her frame. Henceforth, little
girl, you must get out into the fresh air twice
q day. aud must learn the service OF my bed
room: this will give you exercise"
Thereon the countess quilted tho room, fol-
lowed by Mayra's grateful eyes, now filled with
tears. From that day Mavra wnrshippel the
countess; to approach her, to touch what she