McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-05-29

ferrous plant-that, il placed in the
water the day before Easter, it would,
if the possessor should be destined to
good fortune in the future, bloom and
put forth all its beauty before morning.
Being little jew, you may wonder
why Peter was pinning his faith to a
legend of the day scored to all Chris
tians. But Peter knew very well that
the Jewish Passover, and in the matter
of this legend the two were one in his
mind. It seemed to him beautiful
and wonderful story. He had brooded
over it and dreamed over it till he had
come to feel that his life would only
truly begin on the day when his Jericho
Rose should bloom. This day when he
walked up Broadway, his mind filled
with all sorts of wild and pretty fam
cies, was Saturday, and the next day
would be Easter Sunday; he had heard
it several times for of the few English
words he had yet picked up, these two
were so familiar that he recognized
them instantly.
Day was waning and night was COM
ing on; but still little Peter kept on, for
he feared the dreadful policeman and
dared not stop for q moment. Though
so weary that his little frame was rack
ed with pain, he still kept walking-on
and on and on, pocket edition of the
Wandering Jew. The street lamps
were lighted and the electric lights
shone with pale, moon-like radiance;
and then Peter bethought him that the
night would be gone and his oppor-
tunity for testing his good fortune lost
till another year. Worn, weary, sleepy
and hunger, that thought still super
seeded all others. Might he dare to beg
for shelter at some house, and leave to
put his sacred rose in cup of water?
Fearing and trembling at the thought,
he stood still moment and looked
about him. He had been walking
since morning, and he was now far
beyond the Central Park. A short
distance further stood a fine
large mansion, and little way
from it what seemed smaller but still
handsome building, which he could ap-
proach by means of a gate that stood
partly open. With wildly beating
heart, Peter entered by this gate and
went toward the small building; he
could not bring his courage to the
point of approaching the large one.
The small-sized building turned out to
be stable, as he found on entering, in
his search for some one to ask help OF
in his extremity. Being there, and a
pile of fresh straw in corner just in
front of him, the temptation to rest
just for moment was not to be resist
ed. Poor little fellow he had not
known till then how tired he was; and
after having tumbled down among the
fresh, clean straw, he felt as if he never
could get up again. He would rest
just for few minutes, he thought, and
then, refreshed and emboldened, would
60 on to the large house, and beg for
cup of water and leave to lie all night
in the stable. At least he would try,
and, Notwithstanding his queer Eng
lish, he hoped to make himself under
stood. Then he felt for his Jericho
rose, and found it safe. How delicious
ly soft and warm the straw was! What
luxurious bed it made! Unconscious
ly his little body stretched itself out :;
then all was delightful Inconsistencies,
and little Russian Peter slept as if he
had taken contract to do the whole
Seven Sleepers in his own small per-
son.
Hours must have passed. To Peter
it seemed but minute, though he
thought it was the morning sun that
shone in his eyes. With mean of de-
spair he startedup; ''for this" thought
he, sis the morning of Easter Sunday"
But the glare was brighter and stronge
than sunrise, and there was a loud
cracking and terrible smell of smoke
Peter rushed to the door, which still
stood open, and there he saw that the
wing of the great mansion was in
flames. He understood in an instant.
Fire was spelled the same to all eyes,
Russian or English, when the devour-
ing element used its own printing press.
Peter flew toward the house; but there
was no sign of life about it, and all the
world around seemed asleep, save him.
self. He rushed to the front door and
seized the bell-pull, and with all the
might of his two wiry little hands
dragged at it till the sound of its loud
summons could be heard out in the
street. But no one answered. Oh,
how hard it was to awaken happy,
sleeping. comfortable people! Peter
tried again. Clang, clang, clang, went
the bell. Then, with one tremendous
effort he gave an extra pull. The wire
broke, and the handle tumbled out of
his hands. At the same moment an
enraged servant tore open the door,
dragged Peter into the hall and boxed
his ears, but in the next instant gave
him a good Irish hug and kiss, in
forming him that he was ga blessed
jewel Of an angel" The glare of the
fire could be seen now through the
open door, and the woman soon COM
pretended the situation.
Then all was confusion. An alarm
was sounded from the nearest station.
Peter felt himself borne hither and
thither; scorched by flames and satu-
rated with water; choked with smoke
and deafened with shouts. But as long