New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-05-05
HOPELESS LOVE.

AAA6AAS' Auo C41A1co were lull vi Joy
and re-echoed to a great distance;
their brazen voices steadily gained in
volume, and the bell-ringers, proud of
their privileges OF announcing to the
faithful the most beautiful Christian
festival OF the year, sought to outrival
each other in the spirit with which
they accomplished the work.
Younggirls in handsome attire, and
all begarlanded, were hurrying to
church in joyful bands. They took
their places at the further end behind
the youth and old men. Their red
bodices, their blue or checkered petit
coats, their long tresses falling below
the waist, and interp..ainted with null
ticolored ribbons-all formed a
strangely effective picture. And mer-
riment, the merriment of YOUTH
frank as the freshness OF their COM
plexions, shone in every face. All the
tapers were lighted. 1t was indeed
the Great Day,-the day that the Man
God, who suffered for the triumph OF
truth, and who died for our redemp-
ton, arose from the dead.
Therefore it was the day OF universal
Joy, the day of forgiveness Of injuries,
the day that every one becomes kind;
for it was the feast of truth and of
Christian love-and peace entered into
the souls of all.
"Christ is arisen!" cries the priest.
''rruly He is arisen" reply hefaith-
full. And everybody kisses.
It was in Little Russia. I had been
only two months in the country, and
consequently knew very little OF the
customs, or rather of certain pecul-
iarities in the manners of the Little
Russians, which distinguish them from
the populations of the central prov
inces. In Little Russia they are more
frank in their ways and much merrier
on joyful occasions than we other
Russians are. Women have neither
the prudery nor affectation OF prudery
our Muscovite women have. There
fore I felt quite surprised when the
daughter OF my host, the Cossack Le-
vica, came to me and gave me the pas
chal kiss.
"Christ is arisen!" she said.
'Truly He is arisen!" l responded,
returning her kiss.
But as had purchased a little pres
ent for her Easter gift-a very modest
little present, nothing more than
little gold ring,-I slipped it upon her
finger and put an Easter egg in her
hand.
"see! my little hostess" Iexclaimed;
shere is an Easter egg-a red egg-and
here is a ring for souvenir
She looked at the ring. She seemed
to be surprised, dumbstricken, and
only after a long minute she asked:
els it real gold?"
"Pure gold," I replied.
"But then-why dost thou give it
me?"
$50 that thou mayst remember me
when am gone away"
"But a real gold ring
~ bought it expressly for thee-keep
it as a souvenir OF my gratitude for
the hospitality | have enjoyed at thy
house,
"Well, if it is that way, am thank
full to thee, young gentleman
And she left me that she might adore
the holy images.
The priest-preceded by the deacon,
who carried in his hand huge taper,
decorated with bright, colored ribbons
through the aisles. The
priest paused before the images to
perform the incense ceremony; then,
turning to the faithful, who at his
approach separated into groups, he
swung his censor, and saluted them
with: "Christ is arisen!" And all the
groups, one after the other responded:
Truly He is arisen;' The priests
candle was decked with great bouquet
of flowers. The Easter hymns rolled
out in a burst of Joy.
"Christ is arisen! Death by His death
is vanquished; and to them that were
in the tomb hath He given life! Let the
heavens praise Him with joyful praise
let all the earth be joyful-let all the
universe, visible and invisible, celebrate
this great day. Christ has arisen from
the tomb-O Joy eternal"
Mass was over. And the bells began
to swing. The Easter cakes were bless
ed.
"Wilt thou come to eat the Easter
cakes with us, or wilt thou 90 to the
priests house?" asked Mariana, as l
was leaving the church.
cat thy. house. my pretty child.
Thou knowest l like not to eat with
those whom ] know little Of
Half an hour later / was seated at
the table in the house of my excellent
host, the Cossack Levlca, and the
family repast was merry indeed.
X
Day began to dawn, and the sky
promised us a lovely spring day. No
body thought Of sleep. Mariana pro-
posed to me to 60 with her to the vii
lage, where she wanted to give some
Of her girl friends an Easter greeting.