Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-09-18

"Well, sir. nigh sixteen year went
by. an we two were sittin' one quakin'
night. beside this very fire, hearkenin'
TO the bedlam outside; for twas the
big storm in 20. an even indoors we
must shout 10 make ourselves heard.
About ten, as We were thinkin' to
alley couchey. there comes bangin'
on the door. an' Isaac gets up an let's
the bar down. singin' out, Who is itP'
There was big young man 'twiXt
the door posts, drippin' wet, wi smears
o. blood on his face. an white teeth
shown when he talked. Twas IA half
furrin talk, an he spoke "a bit faint,
too, but fairly grinned for JOY to see
our warm fire-Gn' his teeth We're white
as pearl.
All, sir, he cried you will help?
Our bark is ashore below-ffteen poor
brothers! You will send for help-you
will aid?'
Then Isaac stepped back and spoke
very slow What nationP he asked.
She is Russ-siXtcen poor brothers
from Archangel,' said the young man
as soon as he took in the question.
My man slowed round on his heel aud
walked to the hearth here. but the
sailor stretched out his hands, an
saw the middle finger of his right
hand was gone.
"'You will aid. ehP All, yes you
will aid. They are ciingin'-so-fif-
teen poor brothers, and many have
wives But Isaac said. Thank thee,
God, and picked up log from the
hearth here. Take 'em this message.
said he, facing round, an, runnin' on
the sailor, who was faint and swayin',
beat him forth wi the burnin' stick
and bolted the door upon him.
After that we sat quiet he an |,
all the night through. never takin'
our clothes off. An at daybreak Isaac
walked down to the shore. There was
nothin' to see but two bodies, an no
buried them an waited for more.
That evenin' another came in. an next
day two. an so Oh for a Sc might.
Ten bodies in all he picked up an
buried in the meadow below An on
the fourth day he picked up a body
wi one finger missin under the Mare
head. Twas the young man he had
driven forth, who had wandered there
and broke his NECK. Isaac buried him,
too.
80 it befell; an for five year Meth
er Isaac nor me opened mouth pom it,
not TO each other even. An then, one
MONDAY, sailor knocks at the door;
an. goin' out, | seed he was furriner,
wi great white teeth shown dro' his
beard. Il be come to see Mister Isaac
Lenine he says in his outlandish Eng
lish. So l called Isaac out an the
stranger grips 'en by the hand an
kisses EN- saying: Little father. take
me to their grave. My name is Feodor
Himkoff, an my brother Dmirty was
among the crew of the Niatka. You
would know his body if you buried it
for the secopd finger was gone from
his right hand. j myself-wretched
one!-chopped it by bad luck when
we We're boys an played at wood-chop-
PIN wi our fathers aX. / have heard
how they persisted far from aid, and
how you gave them burial in your own
field; and pray to all the saints for
you, he says.
80. Isaac led EN- to the field and
showed 'en the grave that was staked
off long wi the rest God help my
poor man. He was too big coward
to speak. So the man staid WI us till
shutdown an kissed us pom both
cheeks an went his way blessin' us.
God forgie us-God forgre us.
"An' ever since he's been breaking
our hearts dro' the postoftice wi such
like precious balms as these are" She
broke Off to settle Isaac more COM
fortably in his chair. lis all we
can do to get rid OF 'em on poor
tramplin' fellows same as yourself. -
Noughts and Crosses.