Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-12-27
THE PEDDLER.

n
In the days of my early youth there
lived peddler called Uncle Fedia.
What his real name might be, whence
he came, whether he had ever had
family, or u more pretentious occupa-
ton, no one knew. There are many
such beings in our land, who wander
about as il 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 II plump pack on
his thin little horse. He wore fiat
cap and u long, ragged foxskin pelisse
and had the cowed expression of a
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 sheepslin touloupe.
None Of the villagers liked Uncle Fe-
dia, for they suspected him of being in
the habit of casting spells. 1t was not
for nothing, they said, that he kept, Mt
the very bottom of his pack. all sorts Of
hooks, pens and ink. besides mysterious
glasses. through which he could see a
man three versts away! He wandered
everywhere, often arriving mt u hamlet
after nightfal1 and going away before
dawn. What wonder, then, that chill
dren and even cattle looked at him
askance! ... r.
In the homes Of the sick he was ac-
cused of more serious misdemeanors.
Those who rashly gave him nights
shelter often missed various objects
when no 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 moro than once been found un-
conscious lying between the wheels of
his cart on tho high road. Other men
had been known to fall thus through
fatigue or cold, but it was very easy to
declare that the homeless peddler had
been drinking.
There was hardly ever Il row in tav-
ern but Fedia was proved to be ut the
bottom of it; the police. after due inves-
tigation, deciding that the trouble orig
mated with the silent stranger who was
mtting in Il 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
Gtreets, and when the children pelted
him with stones he would whip up his
pony and make off SO meekly that every
one l,now 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 q
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 rs can remember,
he was associated with the eve Of great
feast days. and can still recall the sem
his little bell ut the gateway. He would
come into the warm vestibule, in his
foIsldn 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
u revealed!
81. The whole household would assemble
as ho displayed his wares. The servant
maids, with glistening eyes, would hus-
tie each other in their eagerness to see
moro closely and to handle the ribbons.
laces aud embroidered handkerchiefs.
As for me. always waited with impa-
tience for the opening Of the lowest case
OF NIL. where the playthings were kept,
and il had no money Uncle Fedia
seemed 10 read my despairing glance and
often gave mo credit for pocket knife
or q brightly colored picture from Souz-
dal. Later. 1t was always he who brought
me books. gunpowder and fish bait. AT
sight of such proofs Of our amicable rela-
lions my father would frown sternly and
make sign TO our old major domo. who
would immediately assume y bulldog mir
OF watchfulness, and when ali the pur'
chasss were made Uncle FediA. without
. moments delay. would pack up hii
goods and 80 out. CLOSELY watched as he
passed through tho court yard. and M
one ever helped him 70 lift his heavy
pack into tho cart. I moro than ones
thought Of taking tho odd mans part. bal
my courage failed me. and knew. moro
over. that II would 10 useless TO striv'
against the general prejudice.
The last time Uncle Fedia came h
our house was on stormy Sunday
evening. Az ho was going away b.