Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-01-24

steaming millet Cruel, huge quarters Of pork
are set roasting on the spits, while glittering
heaps of silver tench, scarce withdrawn from
the waves, lie waiting to be watered down
with draughts Of sparkling mead; and large
sacks Of dried plums, emptied on to the
ground fill the air with their fragrance re-
jOicing the warriors hearts. For the Kosak
finds no fruit as sweet as the purple plum, no
potagc to be compared TO milct Cruel, no
meat as sayor.r as pork, nor fish as delicate
as the tench. And, the repast being ready,
they gather round the fires in groups; Che
horns are lAed 10 overlooking with fiery
spirits, and irothy mead sparkles In every
goblet. They eat and drink, and laugh and
shout, and make merry; and the Attaman
eats and drinks d makes MERRY with the
rest; but every and then his eye wan
ders from the glowing fire and the good cheer
spread before him, and no holds tie goblet
unempted ia his hand, while his gaze search
es the far horizon.
AS the night grows darker the merriment
wakes faster and more furious; horns are
emptlcd with lighnng-like rapidity; the At
taman Is pressed 10 sing, and the kOsaks join
In the chorus. Then they dance their ma
tiOnal dance each man with his hands on
the launches; they bound they stamp, they
clank their spurs together till the ground
trembcs and the voice of the mighty river Is
no longer head. Agile as frogs, alternately
cr0uchiug on the ground and lcaping into the
air, their plats OF hair swing backward and
forward with every movement, heads and
heels change place With incOnceivabe swift
ness till many one drops asleep in the
midst of a sUmefsault.
BY the time the stars are all shining in the
heavens, the riverside is thckly strewn with
PROSTATE figures; and except for one or other
who murmurs ia his dreams curses against
the inhdel Turk there is silence in the camp.
Then the Attaman rises slowly from beside
the lOw-bunng camp fire, and stepping eau
uOusy through the ranks of slumbering
warriors goes to rouse his faithful stecd and
though he has been dancing and making
merry, his eye IS not drowsy; and though he
has qualfed OF the spirits and of the mead,
his step is not unsteady.
lie mounts and speeds along faster than
the wind - the banks of the river; faster
and yet faster where the waters, cleaning
pale In the starlight murmur and sob mid
the reeds and nothing living is astir save the
wild fowl, startled, perehance, from her nest.
IL.
A wooden house, whitewashed, and with
matched roof, standing against dark oak
forest shines dazzling white in the moon.
light
1t is midnight, and every one within is
aseep-no, not every one, tor a solitary light
bnrns at one easement and woman PAGES
up and down a large room.
The room has got heavy wooden beams
an 4tIft
chimney place. The woman has got black
eyes and rosy, curved lips, and "a waist that
Is round and firm She Is young and bcaut-
full but with the beauty Of q young matron
not tlat of a maiden. She resembles the
rose which is open but not yet oyerblown, or
the berry which is ripe without being past its
prime She wants buta smile 10 make her
beauty perfect; but she smiles not; her white
brow is drawn together in an anxious frown,
and a sigh escapes from her heaying breast
The spinning distatl cast on the ground and
the ndistIrhed couch speak alike OF mind
too i'll at rest % be soothed by work or sleep.
Behind a curtain beautiful boy of four is
wrapped in slumber, his cven-draWn breath
ing the only sound to be heard in the quiet
room. But presently another sound breaks
the sileuce-the dogs outside have given the
alarm, and bark turiously MS the galloping
noise of horses hoots is heud drawing near.
till a well known voice restores them to 81
lence, and the doors are thrown open wide to
admit the master of the house.
In mother moment llandzia, the Attaman-
ycha (wle of an Attamanl is in her huS-
bands arms.
Dearest husband! what joy to see thee
again. Say wilt thou sHya while with us"'
but short, but short. my dearest. come
but 10 see II thou art we'll, TO kiss thee but
once, and then say farewell such is the
fate OF the kosak The King orders me to
march against the inddels; simple Kosak
cannot disobcy him, still less am Attaman.
liWdfa dearest dry thy tears. III God per
mIts / shall return here safe and well; If fate
has dccrctd that | shall remain youdcr I'M
der mound of earth, remember wife that
thou art the mother of my child, and bring
him mp t1 be- brave and worthy hosak.
Farewell, farewell my heart blecds to leave
you both but dare NOT iu-tG'
lie bcuds once more over his sleeping child,
holds his Witc for one instant more TO his
heart and Is gone again; while I,nndzia sinks
down sobhjug near the couch of her son.
I'm.
The Kosak army have set forth on the
march-a-ht Thousand as gallant men as
ever welded the sword and the Muce. The
popuhcn salute them loujlym theirp3ssage,
and many maiden heart follows thomoye
the frontier
And now they have reached the encmy's