The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-17
THE GOLDEN PARTRIDGE.

In the dark, gloomy north of the frozen
zone there was situated In the White sea a
} large island called Duran, on which were
rocky mountains covered with pine trees.
About the center Of the island there stood a
shanty made Of thick wooden logs, having
small windows of flint glass or crystal
which in winter were thickly covered with
, ice andsno This shanty afforded shelter
Tor young Russian peasant, Ivan Pastou-
Khoff, and his wife Olga--both refugees
from the prosecutions of Ivan the Terrible
in the great Novgorod republic Their UNI
eventful life flowed on quietly and happily.
Ivan was strong and broad shouldered and
passed his time in hunting reindeer, black
bears, foxes, beavers, martins, ermine, elks
and various kinds of birds, such as black
! grouse, partridges, ducks, hazel grouse
geese and other gamo SO plentiful in the
north. They had few domestic reindeer,
which supplied them with milk and skins
from which to make warm clothing. The
reindeer were employed also for sledge rid.
| ing and for carrying wood and various 9th.
er necessaries. ASiberian dog, Vaska, and
large white Siberian cat completed the
happy family.
Olga, tall, powerful woman of fair
complexion, with long, flaxen hair, was in.
dustrious and made their little home as
comfortable as possible by covering the
i walls and floor with bear and reindeer
skins. While Ivan was hunting, she went
fishing, and from the product of her hook
and line she made delicious bokha (soup).
Her husband brought home game to roast
In the big stone oven. Their days were
passed pleasantly and their evenings in
singing songs and telling stories of the
/ glorious republic OF Novgorod--its witches,
or public assemblies-1nd its fall (under
the reign of Ivan lid, absent relatives and
| friends also coming In for share in the
conversation.
| Once a fierce snow storm ragged for many
days and their supply Of food was nearly
exhausted, when Ivan suggested that he
put on his snowshoes and go to the woods
and see If any birds had been ensnared in
his traps, of which he had many set in diff
ferent places, and saying at tho same time
that Olga had better try il she could catch
few fish. So Ivan put on his long snow.
shoes and went TO the forest and Olga pro-
ceeded to the seashore, but alasl both re-
turned empty handed In the evening and
there was nothing to cook for supper
Olga was greatly depressed and scarcely
looked at Ivan, who related to her peculiar
story OF how, on examining his traps, he
found them all empty until he came to the
last one--and it contained golden kouro-
patka or partridge, the most beautiful bird
he had ever seen, and which had begged
him-oh, SO pitifully-to spare her life and
give her her freedom, saying;
III there is anything you wish for come
and say, MY handsome partridge, turn
your smiling face and listen to me-"
fpS1 oh taI 81
Olga; NOW we have nothing for supper,
and partridge would have been just the
thing. IL you go tomorrow TO meet your
golden partridge l am sure you will find
no trace OF her, while she will but laugh at
your foolishness."
She spoke to him not another word the
whole evening, but remained seated in the
corner, where picture Of the Holy Virgin
hung, on which fell the gloomy light from
the lamp suspended before it. Poor Ivan,
sitting in the opposite corner, never felt so
miserable in his life. The fearful storm
outside, combined with the bowling of the
wolves in the woods, made him feel still
more depressed, and he longed for morning
to come that he might leave for awhile his
unhappy home. Rising early, he took al
shovel, and, removing the snow from the
doorway of his shanty, put on his snow
shoes and departed for the forest, followed
by his friendly dog Vaska
When he reached the forest he paused
and said, My handsome partridge, turn
your smiling face and listen to mel
The golden bird appeared before him
smiling and happy. "What can do for
you, 1vanushkaW she said.
Ivan replied, I'VE have no food, and my
wife is both hungry and angry and will
not speak to me"
go home" she said, land you will find
everything you require TO eat and drink"
When Ivan returned to his home he
found a table in the middle OF the room
heavily laden with caviare, different kinds
of meat, fruits, wines, liquors, pirogs,
bltnni cakes and preserves. Olga met him
with smiling face, saying;
My dear lvanushka, we have every
thing we want TO eat and drink Your
golden partridge sent it. It is like mer-
chant's life-full Of everything; only that
We now want better home. Since your
bird has been so kind ask her IL she cannot
get us better home to live in"
Ivan again visited the bird and on COM
ing home was greatly surprised to see a.
beautiful large house surrounded by lovely
gardens. On entering he was still more
surprised to sec luxurious furniture, largeI
mirrors, and servants in attendance upon
his wife in the dining room, where an ele- |
CANT repast had been spread. The table
appointments were superb and comprised
profusion of gold and silver dishes aud
snowy linen. Still unsatisiied, Olga said:
"Now, Ivanushka, you must 60 and ask
the bird for better dresses aud handsome
ornaments, with nice boots Of real skin
having golden designs of the finest pattern;
also sarafan, to be of cloth-ofgold hand |
somelY embroidered"
Ivan again wended his way to the bird,
and his wife's wishes were fully satisfied,
for when he reached home he found her In T
beautiful peasant dress profusely orna-
mented with precious stones, and her
fingers covered with diamonds of the
purest water.
Are you satisfied now. my darlingf"
asked Ivan.
"Yes, Ivanushka," answered Olga; "but
now ! would like to be merchants wife
instead OF a PEASANTS"
The next day Ivan was made merchant,
aud his wife's desire was gratiiled, and
members OF the merchants guild came
from far and near to congratulate her upon
her newly acquired dignity
Ivan again asked: "Ars you still unsatis-