The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-12-31
THE PEDDLER.

In the days of my early youth there
lived a peddler called Uncle Fedia.
What his real name might be, whence
he came, whether he had ever had
family, or a more pretentious occupa-
ton, no one knew. There are many
such beings in our land, who wander
about as if belonging nowhere, and as
If the Almighty had sown and then for
gotten them. They seem like the sea
gulls--useless birds-that roam about
without ever resting.
Uncle Fedia went from one village to
another, appearing among us four or
five times year with a plump pack on
his thin little horse. He wore fiat
cap and long, ragged foxskin pelisse
and had the cowed expression Of
whipped dog; in fact, he looked more
like highway vagabond than an honest
Russian peasant. for the latter always
has frank face and smiling lips, and
wears sheepskin touloupe.
None of the villagers liked Uncle Fee
dia, for they suspected him of being in
the habit of casting spells, 1t was not
for nothing, they said, that he kept, at
the very bottom of his pack, all sorts of
books. pens and ink, besides mysterious
glasses, through which he could see
man three versts awayl He wandered
everywhere, often arriving at hamlet
after nightfall and going away before
dawn. What wonder, then, that chill
dren and even cattle looked at him
askancei
In the homes of the sick he was &C.
cused of more serious misdemeanors.
Those who rashly gave him nights
shelter often missed various objects
when he had gone on his way-silver
spoons, articles of clothing, ETC., and
the servants always agreed in laying
the thefts to his charge. He was also
known to be confirmed drunkard,
having more than once been found un-
conscious lying between the wheels of
his cart on the high road Other men
had been known to fall thus through
fatigue or cold, but 1t was very easy to
declare that the homeless peddler had
been drinking.
There was hardly ever a row in tav-
ern but Fedia was proved to be at the
bottom of it; the police, after due inves-
tigation, deciding that the trouble orig
mated with the silent stranger who was
sitting in q corner, and whose passports
were, to say the least, suspicious. In
consequence of these facts the peddler
was often chased and hooted at in the
streets, and when the children pelted
| him with stones he would whip up his
pony and make off 80 meekly that every
one knew that he had bad conscience.
In short it was considered impossible for
any honest man to like Uncle Fedia.
However, was sincerely fond of the
old fellow. He seems to have been a
part of my childhood, and will always
figure in my memory in the place of
honor, which is sacred to the keenest
| Joys. AS far back as / can remember,
he was associated with the eve of great
feast days, and can still recall the sem
sation that was created by the sound of
his little bell at the gateway. He would
come into the warm vestibule, in his
foxskin pelisse, bringing an air Of cold
and snow with him, and here he would
open his great basket with its two COM
partments, and oh, what treasures were
revealed
The whole household would assemble
as he displayed his wares. The servant
maids, with glistening eyes, would hus.
tie each other in their eagerness to see
more closely and to handle the ribbons,
laces and embroidered handkerchiefs.
AS for me, always waited with impa-
tience for the opening of the lowest case
of all, where the playthings were kept
and if / had no money Uncle Fedia
seemed to read my despairing glance and
often gave me credit for pocket knife
or a brightly colored picture from Souz
dial. Later, it was always he who brought
me books, gunpowder and fish bait. Al
sight of such proofs of our amicable rela
lions my father would frown sternly ant
make sign TO our old major domo, wht
would Immediately assume bulldog ali
Of watchfulness, and when all the pur
chases were made Uncle Fedia, without
moments delay, would pack up hi
goods and go out, closely watched as M
passed through the court yard, and NJ
one ever helped him to lift his heavy
pack into the cart. l more than onc'
| tuOuSub VI Taking buo Oiu HAL . pstIb, III
my courage failed me, and knew, more
over, that it would be useless to striv,
against the general prejudice.
The last time Uncle Fedia came t,
our house was on a stormy Sunday
evening. AS he was going away HI
looked up at the sky and asked m
timidly whether he might be allowed +
pass the night in our stable with hi
horse. My mother. however, turnet
pale at the suggestion, and my fathel
refused in peremptory tone The oil
man went on his way without anothe
word, and ran after him and whis
pered:
s'Unele Fedia, the mill is open; yo'
could take shelter there"
Thanks, child" he answered, but
shall soon reach town"
But suppose the storm overtake
you"
''It win not matter, child; there woul
be no one to grieve for Uncle Fedia, b
said sadly.
had never known him to give utter
ance to so many words In breath be