Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-09-07

taken ON as man of all work; how he
served the governor; show he built the
cathedral; how he magic the river with
the vessels on it, and Show the governor
had ordered him to go there, without
knowing where, and bring that, without
knowing what.
The old woman listened and stopped
to weep. She began muttering to her.
self.
''All right" she said; ..sit down. lit
tie son, and eat
Emelyan ate, and the old woman
started giving him instructions.
Here" she said, ''you have a ball.
Roll it before you, and so after it
wherever it runs. You will have to go
long way-to the ocean. You will
get to the ocean, and there you will see
large city. Enter the city, and ask III
the farthest house for nights lolging.
sere You must search for what you
need
But how, grandmother, shall l know
what it iss''
when you see what people obey bet
ter than father or mother that will be
the thing. Catch hold of it and carry
It away. You will bring it to the
governor; he will tell you that you have
not brought what was needed, and you
must then say, If this is not the thing
it must be broken in pieces Beat upon
it and then take it to the river; break it
and throw it into the water. You will
then get back your wife,"
Emelyan bade the grandmother good
by and departed, rolling the ball before
him. The ball rolled and rolled and
brought him to the ocean. By the ocean
was large city. At the far end of it
was big house. Emelyan asked for
leave to sleep in the house and was ad-
mitted. He lay down to sleep. EARLY
in the morning he awoke and heard the
father going up to arouse his son that
he might send him to chop wood. The
son does not obey.
''It is early yet" he says; ''there is
time"
Emelyan hears the mother getting
down from the oven, and she says:
$50, my little son; the fathers bones
are aching. Must he go himself? 1t is
time"
The son merely smacked his lips and
slept once moro. While he slept there
arose terrible noise in the street and a
beating, as of drums. The son jumped
up, put on his clothes and ran out into
the street. Emelyan also jumped up
and ran after him.
"What is that which the son obeyed
better than father or mother?'
Emelyan ran out and saw man go
ing along the street and carrying a round
thing on which he beat with sticks and
which fumbled. This thing the son
obeyed. Emelya1 ran toward it, began
to examine it and saw-a thing that was
round, like a barrel, and had both ends
covered with skin. He began to ask
what it was called.
ga drum" the man said
Emelyan was surprised and he asked
that it should be given him. 1t was not
given. Emelyan gaze up asking and
commenced to walk after the man. He
walked all day, and when the man lay
down to sleep Emolyan snatched the
drum away and ran off with it. He ran
and ran and came home to his own city.
He thought that he would see his wife,
but she was no longer there. She had
been taken off the next day to the gov
ernor.
Emelyan reported to the governor:
"He who went there, without knowing
where, has brought that, without know
ing what"
The announcement was made. The
rrIo f1ok Il.
come the next day. Emelyan started to
announce himself again.
81 have come today" he said, "and
have brought what was ordered. Let
the governor come out to me; If not, l
will myself go in"
The governor went out.
Where" he says, "have you been!'
He answered.
'.You have not been there" said the
governor. But what did you bring?"
Emelyan wanted to show him, but the
governor did not want to look.
''That is not it," he said
"If 1t is not" said Emelyan, sit must
be broken, and the devil with it."
Emelyan went out with the drum and |
beat upon it. AS he beat upon it all the
military of the province collected around
Emelyan. They saluted him and waited |
for orders flom him. The governor be-
gan shouting out to his soldiers that
they should not follow Emelyan. They
paid no attention. but all marched after
him. The governor saw it and ordered |
that Emelyan's wife should be brought |
ont before him. He easked that Emelyan
give him up the drum.
81 cannot" said Emelyan; 81 have |
orders to break it and throw the pieces |
in the river"
Emelyan went with the drum to the |
river, and the soldiers followed him. |
Near the river Emelyan broke the drum
skin. He broke the wood into small |
fragments and threw them into the |
river. And all the soldiers ran away
Emelyan took his wife and led her
home From this time the governor
ceased bothering him, and Emelyan be-
gan to live comfortably, gathering
around him the good things of life and
ridding himself of the bad.-Count Toll
stoi in New York Sun.
Serpents and Their Skins.
In tropical countries serpents are
known to shed their skins at least twice
year, and l have heard that some ex-
fOliate fOur times In the TJnitad States