Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-07-11
Tur GIFTS or FEoDoR HIMkoFF
rFram thoughts and Crosses by O. published by
the Cassell company

FUE GIFTS OF FEODOR HIMhOFF.
rr,op, thoughts and Crosses by q published By
the Cassell companyl
II Is lust six years ago that first travel
"a ne coast from GOrrans Aaven to Z3nze
ogirt Since then | have visited 1t IN fair
weather and foul, and in time perhaps
shall rival the coast guardsmen, who can
MILK in bhndfold. But to this day it re-
mains in my recollection the coast ! trod,
without companion, during four dark days
In December. 1t was q rude Introduction
The winds.blew in my face, with sands OF
rait. a laden mist hung low on the left
.-l rolled slowly up the channel. Now
and then il thiDned enough TO reveal a
white zig-zag If breakers IN front and a
ilur at land, or FAR below, aciuster OF drip
r1np rocks with be sea crawling between
and fitting their head But for the n est
mart saw Gully TIE iurZe bushes beside the
tEe rath each powdered with fine rain
d5out. that in the aggregate resembled a
coat of grey ireize, and the putfs Of spray
tbat shot up over the cliffs lip and DIR nch-
ed me.
Just beyond the Mare Head, where the
ratu dipued steeply, a bright square DIS
ENGAGED itself from the mist as passed,
and mouu6 il the looming outline OF a cot
tage between the fCotpath and the sea A
b8bitatiou more deSoiate than this odd
augIe Of the coast could hardly have been
chosen; on the other hand, the glow Of ire
LIGHT within the kitchen was almost an in
yItation. 1t seemed worth my while to
ask for drink of milk there, and find out
what manner of folk were the inmates.
Ano.d woman answered my knock. She
VAS tall, with slight stoop and tlng2
of yellow pervaded her face, as if some Of
the complexion had run into Ter teeth and
the whites of her eyes. A lean 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 worsJed stockings,
Uut no shoes.
"A drink o. milk? Why not a dish o
tea?'
THAT will be troubling you, said j,
bit ashamed for feeling so little IN want ot
sUsfenanCe
Few they be that troubles us my dear
Too few by land and too many 10y seq, res
their dear souls! Step lnslde 10y the lire.
There's only my old man here, IN you
needn't stand pom ceremony WI he; Tor
he's stone deaf an totelin'. isaac, you
poor deaf paddock, here's strange Jody
for ee to look at, though you N past all
TCmp but Try in ! reckon. She signed
as stepped past into the warmth.
The man She called Isaac was huddled
and Hoddlng in a chair before the b,uish
blaze Of wTeck.wood FIRE He me- me
with an inCurious store and began to
d0ze again. He was clearly iu the last
decline Of manhood, tie stage of utter
chudishness and mere oblivion, and sat
there with his faculties collapsed 8 waiting
foTreIease.
My mred boots played havoc with the
neatly sanded floor; but the old woman
busted "a chair for me as carefully as If
had worn robes OF state, and set 1t on the
other side of the hearth. Their she put the
kettle to boil, and unhnchIng the cup
trcm the dresser, took a key from it ana
opened a small cupboard between the FIRE
place and the wall That which she
sought TODD On the top shelf, and she bad
TO climb on a chair to reach II. offer ed
mF help, but no-she could get it herself,
1t proved 10 be a 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 room was
filed with fragrance. The dotard IN the
chair drew long breath through bis nos
irs us though the aroma touched some
qu.g6 center in his moribund brain. The
woman poured ont cup and slipped it.
Struggled, , thought to myself; for
indeed you cannot get such tea in London
Il rug nav 70 eh7iIiuCs a pouud
You like it?' she asked Before /
ou.a answer, a small table stood Vt my
rtaW and She was loading it with dellca-
C0strem the cupboard. The con- ents OF
a.upb0ard CdyiaTe came ironi Il and
asma.l ambrossial cheese, dried figs ard
sQeTa jelly, olives, cherries in brandy,
wonderful filberts glazed with sugar, bis-
cults and all manner Of queer Russian
sweets. leaned Jack with wide eyes
.t.o3or ends US these, said the old
woman ringing a dish of Cornish cream
4at homemade loaf to give the feast a
Who's Feodor?"
leodor HImkofF." She paused mo-
a .a,ad added, He'smate on Russian
.uaudy"
goa .h'N went ubUbitttbs ~ lAti 2
a. you taElyy' she asked Some OF
mas u.s. ou'.audlsh eatin'.
|oyouike these things?' looked
I5.a aer % the caviare.
cont know. never tried. We
I eu. my man au' / for oil poor come
a folks uat knocks
a., these are dainues for rich men S
4.yla lire never tasted they stick
- ..r ~ Is If We tried.
n.e5 " ASH a dezan questions. lat
-.t y potter to ACCEPT this strange
'a.ltg ~ silence GIaneirg Up pres
however. I saw her eyes still Fixed en-
iHd down my knife.
san help it,, said. II want to
u teodor Himkof
10 secret. he ansvertd.
WaEs here was cne, Tut either
Hdelutd or forgiven aicre now.
- man there; les done an The
ae. likely to do.
tw nds' hesitation she went
tay you must knoF-oh. q
.-# E. 9f u ii EV-- FINE Nrrt III NuAr1pF