The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-07-29
THE MOUJIK.

Out of the dusk they stepped to-
gether-out of the dimness of smoking
incense and swinging lamps. of grim
ikons and white-robed choristers. of
chanting priests and bowed worship
rs. They were the nearer to each
other because they were both strangers
in that far land of snow and ice whose
splendor and coldness had shot its
mystic chill into their hearts. To-
gether, say, they came out of the
deep. warm cathedral into the pallid
glow of the winters evening, into the
vagueness of the snowy street, into the
lonely stiffness of the deserted square;
and those strange anthems of an i'm
mortal melancholy seemed to pursue
their hurrying. belated feet. Yet her
eyes were full of sunshine, as she
swayed like shadowy lily, tall and ell
egant in her Tfch furs. against the
western light.
Under the sleeping Neva sighed the
tides. and the birds calling to each
other were fleeing fast. She smiled,
but he was grave. and they spoke Of
many things together. He taught her
of this curious nation, with its poverty
and its riches. its ignorance and its in
sight, and of that superstitious rite
whose hush was still upon them. 1T
is a sublime freak" he said.
Just then, passing from pavement to
pavement, a plant reached them, a
child's plant, loud and passionate.
borne on the wind-gust that brushed
them with its wing. They looked up.
Leaning against the railing, where the
white drifts had massed themselves in
waves of strange loveliness, stood
little boy. He was weeping bitterly.
wringing his hands. filling earth and
air with his distress. Swiftly they
moved to where he stood. By his side
lay broken image, small, white.
plaster thing, such as Italian venders
carry on their heads and sell in the
thoroughfares of great cities. She
stopped and spoke to him:
so you have broken it. my little
ladP What was it worth?" and her
companion began to unbutton his mil
itary coat, fumbling in his breast for
his pocketbook.
'.DUar ru6Le," sobbed the child.
He was dirty little moujik, with q
round face roughed by the weather.
His eyes cleaned large and dark un-
der his greasy old fur cap. His miser-
able touloupe was caught about his
strong young loins by wisp of hemp
rope.
In a moment the sum he named, with
a generous surplus. was pushed into
one of his icy hands. Then instantly.
with piercing cry of joy, which rent
the twilight mists, the little fellow fell
on the snow at their feet. He lay face
downward. and three times his head
rose and fell.
What has happened to himP" said
the lady, frightened.
But in a moment she had seen. His
lips were moving; he was beating his
hands upon his heart and crossing him
self with vehemence. When he sprang
once more to his feet he was still pray
ing-nay, giving his thanks to Heaven;
there was rapt look on his face. To
his benefactor he accorded only one
timid. upward glance of gratitude.
Then, gathering his poor garments
about him, he ran away quickly and
disappeared in the falling gloom.
"Ah," said the lady, my friend.
where shall we find again, you and /.
the beautiful faith of this child soulP"
''If it be folly, it is a divine one."
said her companion.
She remained silent, and they walked
onward. saying no more words. But
upon her eyelashes tear had frozen.
julien Gordon. in Lippincotcs.