The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-13

be pitied. She was as all people are who
have seen better days and preserve their
| pride.
At that moment the door was thrown
| open suddenly and Nicholas Popoff, Lina's
eldest son, rushed In. deadly pale, wet
| through and utterly unnerved. In one
hand he held bottle of brandy, in the
| other portfolio which he threw away as
| he entered. AT this unusual sight ali drew
| back.
Nicholas next seized his little brother,
raised him on high, and looked at him with
bewildered eyes, Lima had in the meantime
recovered from her fright and went up to
| him. SAYING:
"What is it, NicholasP"
| " You shiyer," said the man to his little
brother. gu shiver all over and cry from
| cold and from hunger Cry on, my bow for
henceforth you Will always hunger. You
Will never have piece of bread any more"
| lie Kissed the boy paSsionately and let
him fall so suddenly out of his arms that
the poor little fellow crept behind the stove
and lost all of his raisins.
| What do you mean, my ?" asked
Lima, aloud.
Mother" said Nicholas, ''you thought
that thanks to my work, yon would be able,
| in your old age, to lead quiet life-and
now we shall have to beg in the streets and
| Ole IN the hospital Helen, your father,
| wealthy merchant allowed you to visit us
and promised me your hand when | should
nave secured better position. Go home,
| anu lOuh lOI dHOIDtI HUSBAND, LOT L
snail never marry you. Neighbor, guard
| your money we'll, for | might steal it, if
| selor."
Nicholas, are you mad?" asked Lima
| ste rnly.
Not yet, mother. nor drunk, but shall
| soon become both. Here is bottle of
brandy, the last present shall ever bring
| you have spent my last penny on it."
| Helen approached the unfortunate Off
cial and asked him in a gentle soft voice:
| Nicholas, what is the matter?"
Nicholas pushed her back.
| Hush! Do not say word. Your voice
| pierceS my heart. You ask what is the
| matter? They have turned me out of the
| Ministry"
LInas head sank low; two big tears
| rolled down her furrOwed cheeks and she
| said, in low tone:
| Lord, thy will be done! Now we must
| prepare for misery, for starvation. | am an
old woman, 1t matters not for me-but this
| cnildp'
She wiped her tears and asked, in 9 quiet.
| resolute tone Of voice:
| And why have they turned YOU out?"
he chief was in bad humor yester-
! day. AT he went away. / could not an
| ticipate that he would come back as soon as
| O'CLOCK, ana went to dinner. When |
| returned they told me his Excellency
| had been there but had driven away
| again, In great wrath, because the
nre had gone out III the CRATE and the
lamp mad not been lit. You know, every
| officer when on duty, has an hour free for
| dinner. L was not a minute behind nv
time; but ecauSe the great man STAYED an
| hour beyond his usual time | also had to
| walt whole hour before | could 90 to my
dinner. The way from the office 20 my
| restaurant, you know, is pretty long, an a
man must, after all, eat at least once a day
| When they told me that the chief had been
| angry L feared at once that some of us
would have to suffer, but never expected
| That matters would be quite as bad as this
| This morning the head of the bureau told
| me that L had lost my place under the Coy
! eminent.
| AT first thought this sentence could not
be maj. begged, lmplored. L wished to
| speak to his EXcellency. But there was no
help: These SIX years that L have been in
| service L nave never had a complaint
against me, and this is the way they reward
services rendered the Gar! For long years
| we work hard and earn little more than our
| daily bread. Then one day the chief is in a
| bad hum0r and the poor subordinate is
| turned adrlft. Therefore, mother, let us
drink, let us forget all, and tomorrow let
| us dep
He sat down and put the bottle on the
table.
Hand us glasses" he cried. Mr..
Miller, Helen; pray Our last
meal: Mother have you nothing to eat? l
am staryngP'
Nicholas! Control yourself. You dol not
1t is his doing"
Be quiet!" commanded the clerk. lam
hungry and l want you to give me some
| thing TO eat.'
The old woman turned slowly to the chest
OF drawers and took from it piece of bread
and four cucumbers. She put a plate be-
lore rem, her son and two glasses on the table
what mat Is al you have, mother?" said
| Nicholas. Then, tomorrow we shall
nave nothing at all to eat. Mother, let us
drink Let the toast be, Our impending
death! Bring me the first glass %
Lima shook her head, filled one of the
glasses and put it before her son.
:" win you not drink? Not if beg your"
The mother pushed back the glass he
! offered her.
- If you will not do it l must get drunk"
Nicholas wild looks and his strange ways
had in the meantime frightened the little
| boy so terribly that he erept farther and
| farther behind the stove.
Don't hide so, boy, don't be afraid.
Taste the brandy. Believe me it is good
drink and makes us forget everything,
! When L am drunk | may dream that | am
| the head OF division and sit in my arm
! chair ID beautiful Office and gaze on the
| portraits OF the Cars. Come here, Andrew,
| come to me-"
The boy, whose terror had grown steadily.
! was no longer visible.
-" viii no one drink? Not you, HelenP
| Nor you, Mir. Miller? Then j must drink
| alone ana get drunk alone. And then we
Il
street." ~ '40
He emptied the glass at one draught
| wiped ms lips with his sleeve and seized
me ooltle. the women wept silently, ut
! terly unneryed by this picture of desnair.
! AT That moment Miller, who so far had
listened without opening his lips rose from
the bench, went up TO Nicholas, and said:
stop there, neighbGrl Perhaps all is
| not lost yet Perhaps | can get Won an
other place. But IN the meantime
| with these words he emptied his poek
cts and threw five-ruble note and some
small change upon the table,
so much for to-day! / need M
money! L can always have what | want
Only do d, not give up hope! Till we meet
| againP'
To hide his increasing emotion and To
escape the gratitude OF the women he went
away quickly, repeating on the threshold:
newsl' '-'Hs Sou
Helen broke the silence that followed the
departure OF the man from Courland. saw
Your neighbor is good man, Nicholas:
he'll help you"
He" repeated Nicholas: 'he is neither
rich nor has he any influence whatever, nor
should ne be able to help one. He is a poor
devil as L am. To be sure he has given ne
five rubles, and bless him for it, Bnt what
is that. We may live day longer and in
stead OF dying tomorrow we shall die the
DAY alter.
Nicholas" said Helen rather timidlv. 81
nave saved some little money and I'll ask
father also"
MANY thanks. dear Helen, but cannot
accept any sacrifice from you. The brandy
has given me thought and 1 begin to feel
as If we had been rescued"
He rose and said with bright. shining
eyes:
Yesterday they beat mel Every 1av T
had to bear scorn and disgrace. If anvh0dv
gave me an order, it was generally, 'You
ass, do this and that and make hastep
And all that because they paid me fftv
rubles a month. L have borne that treat,
ment for five years, although my sonI re-
VOTED at such injustice. Yes, MIR. Palkip
and Mr.. Schelm! Like a dog you