Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-12-11
THE GOLDEN PARTRIDGE.

Margaret Thomas i'll Youths Companion
THE GOLDEN PARTRIDGE.
In the dark, gloomy north of the frozen
zone there was situated in the White sea
large island called Duran, on which were
rocky mountains covered with pine trees.
About the center of the island there stood
shanty made Of thick wooden logs, having
small windows of flint glass or crystal,
which in winter were thickly covered with
ice and snow. This shanty afforded shelter
for 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 I'M
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, ernine, ell1s
and various kinds Of birds, such as black
grouse, cartridges, ducks, hazel grouse,
geese and other game 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
er necessaries. A Siberian dog, Vaska, and
large white Siberian cat completed the
happy family.
Olga, a tall, powerful woman of fair
complexion, with long, faxen hair, was in
dustrious and made their little home as
comfortable as possible by covering the
walls and floor with bear and reindeer
skins. While Ivan was hunting, she went
fishing, and from the Rgeduct of her hook
and line she made delicious bokha (soupl
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 vietches,
or public assemblies-and its fall (under
the reign of Ivan lid, absent relatives and
friends also coming in for share in the
conversation.
Once 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 the same time
that Olga had better try if she could catch
n few fish. So Ivan put on his long snow
shoes and went to the forest and Olga pro-
ceeded to the seashore but alas! 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 pitifnlly-to spare her life and
give her her freedom, saying:
eff there is anything you wish for come
and say, MY handsome partridge, turn
your smiling face and listen to me-"
''You big fool" shouted the infatuated
Olga; ''now we have nothing for supper,
and partridge would have been just the
thing. If you go tomorrow to meet your
golden partridge | 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 a 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 a
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 me-"
The golden bird appeared before him
smiling and happy. ".Yhat can do for
you, Ivanushka?" she said
Ivan replied, "We have no food, and my
wife is both hungry and angry and will
not speak to me"
go home" she said, 'and you will find
everything you require to eat and drink"
When Ivan returned to his home be
found a table in the middle of the room
heavily laden with caviare, different kinds
of meat. fruits, wines, liquors, pirogs,
blinni cakes and preserves. Olga met him
with a smiling face. saying:
sMy dear Ivanushka, we have every
thing we want to eat and drink. Your
golden partridge sent it. 1t is like a mer-
chants life-full of everything; only that
we now want better home. Since your
bird has been SO kind ask her if she cannot
get us a better home to live in"
Ivan again visited the Lird and on com
ing home was greatly surprised to see Il
beautiful large house surrounded by lovely
gardens. On entering he was still more
surprised to see luxurious furniture, large
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
a profusion of gold and silver dishes and
snowy linen. Still unsatisfed, Olga said:
snow, Iysnushka, you must go and ask
the bird for better dresses and handsome
ornaments, with nice boots of real skin
having golden designs of the finest pattern;
also sarafan, to be of clOth-of-gold hand
somely embroidered"
Ivan again wendell his way to the bird,
and his wifes wishes were fully satisfied.
for when he reached home he found her in
beautiful peasant dress profusely orna-
mented with precious stones, and her
fingers covered with diamonds of the
purest water.
Are you satisfied now, my darling?"
asked Ivan.
eyes. Iyanushka," answered Olga; "but
now would like to be a merchants wife
instead of a peasants"
The next day Ivan was made a merchant,
and his wife's desire was gratified, and
members of the merchants guild came
from far and near to con .sratulate her upon
her newly acquired dignity.
Ivan again asked: "Are you still unsatis-
fed, my dear Olga?'
Eyes," she replied. 81 would like to be-
come bovarinia mobile wifeJ, surrounded
by many servants, and TO associate only
with the nobility They nave handsomer
dresses, wear coronets and possess coats OF
arms. Go, my dear, and ask your golden
bird if she can do this, and if SO, then will
be satisfied and happy. But fear this will
be too hard task for a bird to accomplish,
for she will have to change my complexion,
make my hands and feet smaller and my
figure better, giys me some education and
refinement and some knowledge of music,
art and literature Now, dear Iyanushka,
for the sake of your wife's happiness go
and ask your golden bird if she can confer
,,pon mo fbeca rrSat foynrS -