Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-09-18
FEODOR HIMKOFFS GIFTS

Travelled the coast from @offanS maven
to ZoEe point.
1t was rude introduction. The
wind blew in my face with scuds of
cold rain; leaden mist hung low on
the left and rolled slowly up the chan
mel. / saw only the furze brushes be-
side the path. each powdered with
fine raindrops that in the aggregate
resembled coat of gray frieze. and
the puffs OF spray that shot up over
the cliffs lip and drenched me.
Just beyond the Mare head, where
the path dipped steeply. a bright
square disengaged itself from the mist
as passed, and around it the looming
outline of a cottage between the foot
path and the sea- A habitation more
coast could hardly have been chosen;
on the other hand, the glow of fire.
light within the kitchen window was
almost an invitation. 1t seemed worth
my while to ask for q drink of milk
there and find out what manner Of
folk were the inmates.
An old woman answered my knock.
She was tall, with slight stoop and a
'tinge of yellow pervading her face. A
clean white cap. tied under the chin
with tape, concealed all but the edge
OF her gray locks.
"A drink o milkP Why not dish
% teap''
That will be troubling you," said l,
"a bit ashamed of feeling SO little in
want of sustenance.
Few they be that troubles us, my
dear. Too few by land and too many
by sea, rest their dear souls! Step in
side 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
haddock, here's n strange body fur 'ee
10 look mt. though you past all pomp
but buryin', reckon" She sighed as
stepped past into the warmth.
The man she called Isaac was hud-
died and nodding in chair before the
blush blaze OF wreck wood fire. He
met me with an injurious 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 facul-
ties collapsed, waiting for release.
My mired boots played havoc with
the neatly sanded floor; but the old
woman busted chair for me as care
fully as il l had worn robes of state,
and set it on the other side of the
hearth. Then she put the kettle on
to boil; and, unhitching a cup from the
dresser, took n 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 chair to reach it. 1t
proved to be small green canister.
The tea that came from this CAMS
ter. wish could describe. No soon
eridid the boiling water touch it than
the room was filled with fragrance
+Smuggled," 1 thought to myself;
for indeed you cannot get such tea in
London if you pay fifty shillings a
pound.
You like ftp" she asked. Before I
could answer small table stood at
my elbow, and she was loading it with
delicacies from the cupboard. The
contents of that cupboard! Caviare
came from it and small ambrosial
cheese, dried figs and guava jelly
olives cherries in brandy, wonderful
filberts glazed with sugar, biscuits. and
all manner of queer Russian sweets.
Ileane1 backvwith wide eyes.
'.Feodor sends us these" said the
old woman, bringing dish of Cornish
cream and a homemade loaf to give
the feast basis. WHO'S FeodorP''
.Feodor Himkoff" She paused a
moment and, added: He's mate on a
Russian vessel"
us there any you fancyP" she
asked. Some OF may be outlandish
.eatin'." do you like these thingsP'
] looked from her to the caviare. Il
don't know. Inever tried. We keeps
'em. my man and /, for all comedy
chance folks that knocks"
| wanted to ask dozen questions.
but thought it potter to accept this
strange hospitality in silence. Glanc-
ing up presently. however. / saw her
eyes still fixed on me- and laid down
my knife.
II can't help It," j said want to
know about Feodor Himkoff. I"
There's no seeret" she answered.;
'leastways, 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 n few seconds hesitation she
went on: II had hoy. you must
lSnow-ohi n straight young man
that went FOR soldier. an was killed
at Inkermann by the Rooshians. Take
another look at bis father here; you
think ZEN bundle o. frailties, dessay.
Well when the news was brought as
this poor old worm lifts bis fist up
90 the sun and says: God do so 70
me an more ALSO. he says. IL ever l
falls across Rooshian!" An God
send me Rooshian-just oner' he
saws. meanin' that Rooshfans don't
grow on brambles hereabout Now,
the boy was our only flesh.