Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-08-16
THE ATTAMAN,
ADAPTED FROM THE POLISH

tial figures The grazing aocks have had
to make way for soldiers and steeds; alike
the flowers and the ripeniDg grain have been
trsmpled under foot and mingled with the
voice Of the rushing water comes the neigh
iDg Of horses and the clank Of arms.
For many days past the country had been
alive with horses and men; from all diree-
tons, all sides, solitary riders had been seen
vending their way across the desolate
steppes, now and then joining together in
little groups Of threes and tours as their
prsctised eyes recognized a eomrade in a
distant speck on the horizon or distinguish
ed lance through the brushwood of copse
all eonyerging toward one point, all ami
mated by the same motive. Red kaiPaES
were spotted over the country as thiekly as
peoples among the ripening corn, tll all
were drawn together into one long garland
and the entire army assembled on the banks
of the river.
Il was the Attsman Kunicki, the father
of the kosaks, who had thus summoned to-
gether his forces, and when all were collect
ed, entering the assembly Of chiefs, he spoke
SIS follows
Noble chieitains! i have received an or
der from our master the King but without
your advice or concurrence neither can
nor will decide anything, and have therefore
resolved to inform you of it, and after the
reading Of the message We can then dehbe-
rate upon what answer Is 10 De given. Let
the Secretary produce the royal letter and
read II aloud:
Toe Ausuan, having finished speaking,
made way for the Secretary, who, taking
from his breast the letter wrapped in linen
cloth. VI folded the parchment and thus read:
Sieur Attsman Of Ukrsnis,
The dangers which threaten alike Chris
tisnity and the safety Of our kingdom have
decided US upon conducting an expedition
10 put a barrier 20 the Ottoman powers. For
this reason | have summoned you, Sieur
Attanan along with your brave Hosaks, 10
ioiu Us in the war 70 which we have pledged
being well known to US.
We therefore expect and desire that on
receiving our letter you will put yourself 81
the head of your troops, and, trsversing s!l
the provinces which recognize the Sultan
authority, will cut off the passage OF the IN
Gdels should they attempt 10 send reinforce
ments to headquarters.
You viii divide your forces as you think
best. and intrust the subordinate commands
10 those you deem worthy OF confidence.
Commenting you 10 the protection OF the
Almighty and counting on your Promptness
ard fidelity, your King and master.
JOHN Ill.
Dead silence followed the reading OF this
letter, but when the tongues are quiet the
minds are al the more busy AZ work, and
every brow was drawn together in thought
NSli perplexity. 1t was an ancient chlettsln
= 10 finally broke the silence, and stroking
his snow white beard thus spoke:
"My brothers and my lord Attoman, It Is
now late in the year, and this undertaking
ia a Difficult, and perilous one; It had, me
thinks, been more wise to await the coming
OF Spring but when the King has spoken
il il not for the Kosaks to hang back. There
fore. If it so please you, let US 90 forward 10
the name Of the Lord and seek TO destroy
the inGdel Turk.
noisy acclamations greeted this speech.
ITO war 10 war; Lead US forward, Ia
her Attaman against the enemy.
MY brothers" said hunieki, when silence
was again restored, III is now full nine years
since YOU did me the honor to elect me as your
Alderman and until now it has pleased the
Almighty 10 bless my sword with success and
70 enable me TO lead you VIGOROUSLY IN all
encounters with the enemy. When five years
AGO contrary 10 the ussges OF our peop.e. l
tool 70 ne a wife, wished 10 resign my 81
tbority and hand over the crane feather to
sone other man uniettered by family ties,
But Won. nv brothers you would not accept
nv demission. and so | remained your At
taman IS before, in which position | haT,
always stIiven 10 DO my duty toward you
and my country.
Lord cries Of Thou hast. thou hast
Father Attamanr interrupted him; then
he proceeds. =.
Il have always kept in mind that an At
taruan has no right 10 think OF hlmelt' ano
the moments have snssched from you to
press 10 nv heart my wife and child have
been few and far between. Now, however
hat our master, the King, summons US 10
= longer and more peEilous undertaking |
wish 70 ask YOU again whether you are IN
dead satisfied to place yourselves under my
Guidance? II you have more confidence IN
some other man, if yen have misglvlngs lest
the remembrance Of my home should MAKE
re les eager TO advance into the enemy
country. lest the thought Of my llandzla ;
dark ewes and the smile Of my little SawNs
should reader my vision less keen TO marx
a foe. you have only to speak and l am
ready to yield my place to Whosoeyer you
choose. accom- panying you IS your eomradt
apdi brother wherever my successor may
tbipk 6,. Let not 8 false regard for my
nsrson restrain you from expressing your
wishes. Whatever you decide Will De wei
chosen o.,
mi the Kosaks answered him as with one
,o;cs Ebich rises and swells Ike the rolling
GTo whom should we intrust ourselves i
M. N ,bse Father Attamsn? Is there an
otbsr man who can WELD his lance as thoJ
csnst "a lightly as 8 clerk wields ms pen
Wbosa sWofd can ike thine make the enc
mics heads to drop Ike oYsroloWn poPp.
gowarsP What other can swim like the Wink
5,ck and dive ike the otter under tue Waye'
oF ,be Duieper? Which man knows hoV
70 castigate a rebel with the Sat OF tbs
broadsword? And who can lead rs IS thoJ
hast done many time IN the Wild dance
against the Tartar hordes. Lad US nov
sSsipst the in6del Turk; We Will have nc
other Attaman but kunelsl.
Ard thew pressed around him, EN- orseiu
his feet and bis knees; they raised him Oh
heir shoulders, exclsiming, GLORY be 1
Cod Long hive our Attsman! Long Gv.
he Kosaks! Death TO the in6de!s' I'll
the banks Of the river reecho for milo
around with the sound Of their cries.
When at length Kunici has extrse'eC
himself from their embrace ne sP'AN
Bgsin:
$50 be It, my brothers; We shall star VII
che early dawn, and be far on our way er'
tt,e ann reaches ne summit Of the SKY. II