The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-04-14
PETERKIN'S WOLF SONG.

Peterkin stands thoughtfully listen
ing to the thunder and the roar of the
waters as fretful of restraint they
have leapt from captivity. and with &
sound like the roaring of the hungry
wolves. flow onward under masses oil
ice to the Arctic ocean. The face OF
the lad grows more serious as he list
ems; gradually a smile fits over the
pinched features, for the significance
Of the sound is unmistakable. Spring
has cOme-spring with its power OF
sweetness over a frozen land-and 81
beria traversed with 3 900 miles of
river, will lose its look Of desolation.
to blossom into beauty as he journeys
southwark ever nearer to the gay
capital wherein dwels the ear
Wonderful visions fill his mind-dim.
half remember stories Of the great
cathedral Of St Isaac's. wherein
echoes the swect-toned singing of the
chori-ters in gorgeous TUNES of blue
and gold.
SO Peterkin turns his back upon the
old life, and journeying southwark
f>oN 10 poAtS ttl1I oOtil tOSSlllCl dS DeSU
he may. Primroses in their first pink
flush OF bloom. violets. golden hearted
daisies, and now a field blue as heaven
with forget-me-nots greet him in their
beauty and sweet scented bloom.
Sometimes the blossoms are gathered
to sell in the market of the nearest
village and SO a nights shelter or a
crust Of black bread is obtained
Spring deepens into summer sum-
mer Wanes outrun by autumn's heeter
stride, and Peterkin journeys on sub
slstlng for the mos. part on berries
which Nature. so niggard of her gifts
in most things. here strews broadcast
Yet now and then when the boys
heart grows weary and he sinks for a
while to rest by the roadside. there
sparkles on the green, luxuriant grass
a drop that is far too salt for dew
Autumn's breath grows keen. and
winter holds the land in an icy en-
brace leveling the steppes with drift
Ing pail OF Whiteness over which rise
the treacherous fogs, when Peterkin
crosses the border and enters the viii
lage through which he must pass to
the Russian capital
An unWOnted stir and hustle of eX
cltement nervades the place. for this
very evening the only daughter of the
rich land owner is to Wed an officer of
the car and the fiddler engaged for
the occasion has fallen on the ice,
hurting his arm so that playing is out
OF the question. A sorry wedding, in
deed. 1t will be without music; the
bride is in despair and halls with Joy
news OF the little peasant who that
morning entered the village and de-
clared ability to draw music from the
old violin slung in a sack across his
shoulder.
Yes Peterkin says he can and will
play if in return he be granted per-
mission to travel with the wedding
party to St. Petersburg. The curious
proposition at first amuses the officer;
to whom it seems a good Joke; then,
noting the little fellows persstency,
he contemptuously refuses to have so
sorry an object of travel with them
The bride with ready wit, perceiving
peterkln's stolid refusal to play for
other consideration, pleads with her
lover until she gains a reluctant con-
sent, for which he is not sorry in the
end. since with his violin the peasant
wakes the echoes with Polish dance
tunes which set their pulses throbbing
and keep their feet in motion. The
boy bushes with pride when the off
Ger calls out in praise: We'll done
well Gone. little fellow; who knows
but the car may some day count you
In the imperial band?"
The wedding at length is over: good
bye5 are said and the three horses
harnessed abreast to the sleigh dash
forward on the long journey. The
bells beneath the douga ring out a
merry chime. to which the flying hoof
beats mark a rhy thmic cadence Be-
side the driver sits Peterkin, in place
OF the yamstchik or post boy Il low
crowned hat covering the mop of vel
low hair, cut straight from ear to ear.
The board seat is covered with leather
cushions. while large wolfskin pro-
tectS their feet and legs from the bitter
cold.
AS the day advances, the snow,
which began to fall lightly at noon.
increases in violence and Timothy
moves uneasily. urging the horses
ahead. for only too well does he know
the danger of a heavy storm over the
frozen steppes. where the icy blasts
whirl it here and there in treacherous
drifts. Delay even of a single night
In safety at some farm house is not tc
be thought of, for the officer bears dis.
patches of Importance to the car, an6
better far were it to brave the fury o.
a storm than risk the imperial dis
pleasure. Press onward at whatever
cost. " calls out the Office; stop the
next stranger if need be and boldly
seize his horses but at all hazards pro
ceed.' Under pain of banlshmen
Timothy dare not disobey such ORDERS
so. mutterlng beneath his breath. on.
ward they go. almost blinded with the
snow as the sleigh is jerked hithel
and yon by the plunging horses
The short day dies without twi
light; and Timothy, knowing from
boyhood every verst of the way
shakes his head in despair calling t,
his horses that their courage may no