Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-09
THE GIFTS OF FEODOR HIMkoFF
lFrom thoughts and Crosses by o. published by
the Cassel company.

u
weather and foul, and in time perhaps,
shall rival the coast guardsmen, who Can
walk in blindfold. But to this day it re-
mains in my recollection the coast | trod,
without companion, during four dark days
in December 1t was a rude introduction.
The winds..blew in my face, with sands OF
rain; laden mist hung low on the left
and rolled slowly up the channel. Now
and tEen iu thinned enough to reveal a
white zig-zag of breakers IN front and a
blur of land, or, far below, cluster Of drip
ping rocks with the sea crawling between
and lifting their head But for the n ost
part saw only The iurze bushes beside the
the path, each powdered with fine rain
drops, that in the aggregate resembled a
coat of grey freize, and the putfs of spray
that shot up over the cliffs lip and drench-
ed me.
Just beyond the Mare Head, where the
path dipped steeply, a bright square dis
engaged itself from the mist as | passed,
and around il the looming outline of cot
tage between the footpath and the sea. A
habitation more desolate than this odd
angle of the coast could hardly have been
chosen: on the other hand, the glow of fire.
light within the kitchen was almost an in
vitation. 1t seemed worth my while to
ask for drink of milk there, and find out
what manner of folk were the inmates.
An old woman answered my knock. She
was tall, with a slight stoop and a tlDga
of yellow pervaded her face, as if some Of
the complexion had run into her teeth and
the whites of her eyes. A clean white cap
tied under the chin with tape, concealed
all but the edge of her gray locks. She
wore a violet turnover, large wrapper,
brown stuff gown that hardly reached
her ankles, and thick worsted stockings,
but no shoes.
"A drink O. milk? Why not a dish O.
tea?"
THAT will be troubling you, aid |, a
bit ashamed for feeling so little III want of
sustenance.
Few they be that troubles US, my dear
Too few by land and too many by sea, res
their dear souls! Step INSIDE by the fire.
There's only my old man here, an you
needn't stand pom ceremony wi he; for
he's stone deaf an totelin'. Isaac, you
poor deaf paddock, here's a strange body
for ZEE to look at, though you M past all
pomp but try | reckon She sighed
as stepped past into the warmth.
The man she called Isaac was huddled
and nodding in a chair before tie blush
blaze of wreck wood fire. He met me
with an incurious stare, and began to
doze again. He was clearly In the last
decline of manhood, the stage of utter
childishness and mere oblivion, and sat
there with his faculties collapsed9 waiting
for release
My mired boots played havoc with the
neatly sanded floor; but the old woman
busted chair for me as carefully as if |
had worn robes of state, and set it on the
other side of the hearth. Their she put the
kettle to boil, and unhitching the cup
from the dresser, took a key from it and
opened a small cupboard between the fire.
place and the wall. That which she
sought stood ON the top shelf, and she had
to climb on a chair to reach it. | offered
my help, but no-she could get it herself.
1t proved to be small green canister in
which tea was stored.
The tea that came from this canister |
wish | could describe. No sooner did the
boiling water touch it than the Groom was
filled with fragrance The dotard III the
chair drew long breath through his nos
trils as though the aroma touched some
quick center in his moribund brain. The
woman poured out a cup and slipped it.
Struggled, thought to myself; for
indeed you cannot get such tea in London
if you pay so shilIings pound
You like it?" she asked. Before |
could answer, small fable stood at my
elbow and she was loading it with deica-
cies from the cupboard. The contents of
that cupboard! Cavia-e came from it and
a small ambrossial cheese, dried figs and
guava Jelly, olives, cherries in brandy.
wonderful fIbPrts glazed with sugar, bis
cults and all manner of queer Russian
sweets. leaned back with wide eyes.
"Feodor sends US these" said the old
woman, bringing dish of Cornish cream
and home made loaf to give the feast a
basis.
who's Feodor?"
"Feodor Him1off She paused a mo-
ment, and added, He's mate on a Russian
vessel"
"A friend?"
The question went unnoticed. lis there
any you fancy?" she asked. "Some OF
may be cutlandIsh eatin'.
"Do you like these things?" | looked
from her to the caviare
81 don't know. | never tried. We
keeps 'em, my man an for all poor come
by-chance folks that knocks"
But these are dainties for rich men S
tables:
Maybe I'"e never tasted-they d stick
in our ozels if we tried
wanted to ASK a dozen questions, bat
thought it potter to accept this strange
hospitality in silence. CHANGING up pres
emily, however, saw her eyes still fixed Oh
me- and laid down my knife
Il can't help it." | said, Il want to
know about Feodor Himkoff'
There's no secret" she answered.
"Least-ways. there was one, but either
God has condemned or forgiven afore now
Look at my man there; he's done all the
repentin' he's likely to do"
After few seconds hesitation she went
on:
4 had boy, you must know-ohl 6
straight young man-that went for soldier
an was killed at lnkeTman by the Roosh.
ians. Take another look at his father
here; you think EN- bundle of Fatalities
l dessay Well, when the news was
brought Us, this poor old worm lifts his
fist up to the sun an says, God do so te
me an more also,' he says, If ever falls
across a RooshianI An God send me &
Rooshian-j Just. one! he says, meanin' thai
Rooshians don't grow on brambles here
abouts. Nov, The boy was our own flesh
"Well, sir, nigh 16 year went by, an
we two were sittin', one quakin'. night
beside this very fire, hearkenin' to thu
bedlam outside; for twas the big storm il
severity, an even indoors we must shou
to make ourselves heard. About 10 as ",
was thinking to alleycouchev, there comes
baDgin' on the door, an lsaac gets VI