Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-10-12
A LITTLE RUSSIAN SERVANT.
"Who's thats"asked t

head slightly bsnt forward under the investi-
eating gaze Of the countess, who, through her
e-eaass, closely scrutiniZed her.
sit ia the new girl, your highuess, answered
the head lady's maid, coming forward with the
cir Of Importance that thirty years employment
gives to no matter what functionary. ''She is
the daughter Of Foma, of the village of Ike
nine She is come in her turn to pay her faith
er's obrok-he is in Moscow"
These peasant girls can do nothing" said
tho countess, with wearied air; ''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 Acknowledgement to the ground, but to
the trimmings. This is for the toilet table Of
Madame la Comtesse."
The noble lady, who could hardly see, being
ehort-sighted from her birth, examined the
embroidery frame SO closely that the tip Of her
nose grazaa the cloth.
''Ttat's not bad, she said ''Come here, little
.srl"
The littlo girl advanced, and the countess in
embroidery
How pretty she isl What's your name:"
''Mayru."
The word came like breath from the rosy
lips.
'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, let them drop, and said nothing
''Sit down toyour work" said the countess,
amused at her new toy. With quick, grace
full movement the young girl resumed her sess
on the wooden chair, and, the needle firmly
held betW cen her agile fingers, went in and out
OF the stuff with that short, sharp noise that
stimulates the action Of the hand.
"Thats right; you may go on." said the
countess, her nerves irritstad by the regularity
Of the movement
Then, turning her back upon the young girl
and trailing the heavy, sumptuous folds of her
dressing gown along the carefully washed pine
WOOD floor, she disappeared through the door
which was respectfully closed after her by the
heau ladys maid. The countess, an accom-
plished mistress of u house, made q practice Of
paying daily visit to this room, which was re-
served for the women of her service. Mavra
was lett alone in the workshop, largo, we'll
lighted chamber, furnished simply with tables
and chairs for the use Of the innumerable
women and girls invariably attached to the
service OF those uoble ladies who know so we'll
how to maintain their rank in that blessed time
Of serfdom. At this hour the workroom was
empty. Some Of the women were washing,
0thers ironing, some cleaning and turning up
side down everything in the private apartme ut
the countess had just left. The young peasant
girl with hel needle urlifted, rested her rudy
hand upon The edge Of the frame and looked
around her
What multitndes of embroidered gowns. with
their rick lace trimmings, hung there on the
wall, waiting some Sill repairs. What end
less petlcoats, with tn..4 ornamented hounces,
all freshly ironed, OH cords along the huge
room. What countless laee caps, worn hardly
an hour, pinned to a pincushion as large a
pillow, used only for this purpose; and there,
III O basket on the corner of the table. what
piles of cambric chemises, lel!cately
pipod and plated. trimmed With Valen-
10, ta1 x-;%I .-,~.><
ribbons And all this for one per
son, without counting the silk stockings
in that other basket, and the rings by dozens
worn by the countess on her thin fingers. In
this world of living bvings under Gods heaven,
what importance given to one person, that
needed SO many other persons to serve her.
and how the Dothngness Of these was made
more emphatic by the dominance Of that.
Mapra SAT- wonder-stricken. The head lady's
maid coming into the room found her still in u
state Of stupesactiGn, stnpefied above all at
having made these reflections.
well, yon arr lucky" she said to her, with
q boastful look ''Our countess took fancy TO
You at the first glance: you are now On the list
OF embroiderers. You may thank God for it.
1t is not often the countess takes fancy like
that at first sight,
SIS she, thea, unkind?' lnnocent'y inquired
the girl.
Unklnd! On. no; capricious, like all mis-
tresses, but the lindest lady IN the world, aud
generous. Besides, this is rich house: moth
ing is ccunted-nothing at all. This is better
than your village" continued Dacka, proud OF
belonging to such noble masters, and tesirous
ant g!rl tho Importance and dignity OF the
functions she was promoted to.
1T is more beautiful" replied Mavra bend
ing iDtenty over her work
IL was lucky they taught you 10 enlbroider
else you would have been seut to the poultry
RI n "a l,a md In. +
:h,s calves. How did you learn?'
My mother taught ME; she vas formerly
IL service; she was a dyolovala III the time of
the late countess She married peasant"
AM" said Dacka, II thought your manners
were OF q1,ite those of peasant girl: il Your
mother was in service, that's another thing
Como, take cup Of coffee With me. Prepare
TIC coffee pot and make haste before the others
:unlo; can't ask everyone, yon understand
70 Mavra there was but utlle difference be-
iWeCa tho isba of her father and tbs worarOt IN
OF the selgnorlal mansion. Here, as there, her
to sunset. There, her mother, an austere
solnber woman, like most village matrons, to
winn, life had proved no light matter; here,
The LADY, maid, often grumbling, bnt at times
kind and even condescendins, The chief dir
ference between the two modes OF life consisted
of the daily visits of the countess who gener-
ally said nothing, but passed with solemn air
through this roomful of SILENT awestricken
vernon. But one thing was lacking to Mavra,
and this nothing could replace--the eycnip &
hour Of rost which she used to spend by the
fountain when sent to draw waller for her
mother, on 5he threshold of their cabin watch
ing the spring rain falling soft and warm, melt
ing tho snow so Quickly that its thickness
might 30 seen visibly diminishing; or, again, in
the month OF May, standing at the edge Of tie
forest, listening to the nightingales singing on
the delicate, golden branches Of the perfumed
birch tree.
Winter passed fairly well, but when the first
breath OF warm air set the melting snow
streaming down the roofs, which again tue
nights frost trans ormed into long stalactites
OF ice, Mavra felt a strange, vague aching in
her heart. The house was overhested, and
this close, nauseo1s air made her sick. What
would she not give to run as of old over the
moons, 10 see il the moss were beginning to
appear under the crystallized transparent car
Pc, of snoWi >'~"
asked the countess one day, as she stopped be-
fore the frame at which the young peasant girl
was diligently working esSne was as fresh as
rose, and now she has grown yellow Do
you feel pain anywhere, Mavra"
Mavra raised her blue eyes to the noble lady
who, for the second time in her life, deigned
to address her, and replied in her low voice:
Nowhere, your highness."
'"lhen why are you 40 yellow:"
II don't know, your highness."
The countess dropped her eye glass, and
looked kindly st the young girl
II know" said she, after moments pause;
ssthe child wants air. She came here from
her 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. and must learn the service OF my bed
room; this viii give you exercise i: WI
Thereon the countess quilted the room, fol-
lowed by Mavras grateful eyes, now filled with
tears. From that day Mavra worshipped the
countess; to approach her, to touch what she
had worn. TO serve her, to reoeive her orders
dexterity was the great JOY Of this humble girl
Her mistress, wrapped N all this gorgeous lux
ury, the element Of which had been so long
nder her eyes in the Workroom, appeared 10