Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22

PRAYER being over everybody took his seat
at the table. A bottle Of vodka was pro-
cured and the customary ''round treat" &C.
companied by many good wishes, was made
by Gordei himself. Then followed the sup
per. The boestch, the kutia and the pirogi
that followed each other in rapid succession
were equally attractive and delicious. In
spite OF my assurances that was doing JUS
tice to the supper, was continually urged
by both Gordei and his wife mot to stand
on ceremony" and to help myself
There is plenty more in the
pot" uttered Mrs. Gordei in a tone
which was evidently calculated to
disperse my fears as to the supply. I as
sured her that was we'll aware of the fact.
And here I can scarcely refrain from adding
that the kind-hearted simplicity of the Rus
sian peasantry is asSuredly the most ANUS
ing as well as attractive featule OF their
character. Whoever has happened to be
among them know what it is TO refuse their
klieb-dli, or hospitality. A greater insult
than this there is none.
The night, though bitterly cold, was most
magnificent. The bright moon centered in
3 cloudless sky, and surrounded by myriads
OF stars, shed its soft light upon the vast
boundless distance. A grander picture than
bright Christmas night in Russian vii
lage is indeed hard to imagine. 1t seemed
to me us though nature itself Joined in the
celebration Of the greatest OF Christian
holidays.
THE CAROL SINGERS.
While 1 was strolIing about the little
streets, accompanied by Gordei's son, my
attention was attracted by crowd of para
boks and dicokas, gathered in front OF
little hut. Upon approaching the crowd l
beheld a young man of 90 evidently the
leader of the circle, step forward and in a
neat little speech explain to the occupants
Of the hut the object of their call. "We
wish to gladden. your souls. good people, ="
he said. I'VE wish to sing to you of the
wonders of Christ, our Lord, who dwells
among You. We wish to impr-" Here
the mere Christmas song began, and the
words of the improvised orator could be
heard no more. It was the koliedooka, or
the Christmas carol. 1t is customary among
the young peasantry of Little Russia to go
out on a Christmas Eve on a koliedooka.
This habit is strictly observed. AS soon as
church is over the young dicokas, as we'll as
paraboks, assemble when parties of eight or
ten are made up. After each party selects
a certain section Of the, village for their
koliedooka they all start out. The kolie-
dooka is sung in the following manner.
Placing themselves in front of gate or
window, or, as it often happens, entering
hut, they begin in cheerful and ringing
voice.
Jesus is with us. good peoplel
h0lV sDirit
Hallelujah
Forever be generous. good people,
To the poor and crippled
HallelujahI
Forever be generous, good people
And don't forget us, who come to cheer your
souls with this holy song OF Jesus, our Lord
These last words. which are spoken and
hostess, who cheerfully presents the singers
with whatever she can afford. Fresh-baked
rye bread, sausage, few eggs or piece
of pork generally constitutes the rejection.
Any such fare is cheerfully accepted by the
singing party, who, after depositing it in their
Christmas bag, carried by one of them over
the shoulder, and thanking the hostess for her
generosity, start out for the next izba or hut,
where the same ceremony is repeated. 1t
draws toward midnight by the time they get
through with their koliedooka. This Gus
tom of koliedooka on Christmas Eve, traces
its origin to the close of the seventeenth
and the beginning OF the eighteenth century,
when the Kozachestoo, or tribe of Cossaeks,
all along the shores of the Dnieper and Don
we're in their prime. S. S. SKIDELSKY.