Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-05-05
PETERKIN'S WOLF SONG,

Pctcrkin stands thonghtfully listen
! ing to the thunder and the roar OF the
waters as frctful of restrain, they
have lc"pt from captivity. and, with !,
sound like the roaring of the hungry
wolves flow onward under masses Of
ice 10 the Arctic ocean. The face Of
the lad grows more serious as he list :
ems; gradually Il smile fits over the
plnchcd Textures, for the significance
o! the sound is unmistukabic Spring
has come spring with its power OF
sweetness over Il frozen land ana ST.
bcri;a 1ravcrscd with 3 900 miles of
river will lose its look Of dcso!a,on,
to blossom into beauty rs he journeys
southwark, ever nearer To the gay
capital wherein dwcls the cz;ls.
Wonderful visions fiji his mind dim.
half rcmcmb red stories OF Tho great
cathedral OF ST. Isaacs. wherein
echoes the swcct-toned singing of The
chori-ters in gorgeous tunic> OF blue
and gold.
50 Pelcrkin turns his back upon the
Old life, and journcying south rnrd
keeps body and soul together H. ncS!
he may. Primroscs in their lir>, pink
flush OF bloom vio!ets golden hearted
daisies. and now field blue rs heaven
with torgct-mc-nots greet him in their
beauty aud sweelscentcd bloom
Sometimes the blossoms are gathered
to sell in the market of the ncares,
village, and SO a nights shelter or a
crus; of black bread is obtained.
Spring decrcEs into summer. sum-
mcr wanes outrun by autumn's hcc,er
stride, and Pctcrllin journeys on, sub.
sisting for the most part on berries,
which Nature, SO niggard Of her gifts
III most things, here strcws broadcast
Yet now and then when the boys
heart grows weary and he sinks for a
while TO rest by the roadside. there
sparklcs on the green. luxuriant grass
Il drop that is far too salt for dew.
Autumn's breath grows keen and
winter holds the land in an lev en-.
brace. lcveling the stcppes with drift
ing pail OF whitencss over which rise
the trcacherous fogs, when Peterkin
crosses the border and enters the vii.
lage through which he must pass TO
the Russian capital
An unwonted stir and hustle OF OK.
element ncrvades the place, for this
very evening the only daughter OF the
rich land owner is to we'd an officer OF
the car and the fiddler engaged for
the occasion has fallen on the ice,
hurting his arm so that playing is ont
OF the question. A sorry wedding, in
deed. it will be without music: the
bride is in despair and halls with JOY
news OF the little peasant VINO that
morning entered the village and de-
cialcG ability to draw music from the
Old violin slung in a sack across his
shoulder
Yes Pctcrkin 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 good joke: then.
noting the little fellows persistcncv,
he contemptuously refuses to have so
sorry an object of travel with them.
The bride, with ready wit, pcrceivins
Peterkin's stolid refusal to play for
other consideration, pleads with her
lover until she gains Il 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 throbbins
and keep their feet in motion The
boy tushcs with pride when the Off
Ger calls out in praise: We'll done
well done. little fellow; who knows
but the car may some day count you
in the imperial band?n
The wedding at length is over good
byes are said and the three horses
harncsscd abreast to the Sleigh dash
forward on the long journey. The
bells beneath the donga ring out a
merry chime. to which the flying hoof
beats mark q rhythmic cadence Be-
side the driver sits Peterkin. in place
o! the yamstchilk or post boy, low
crowned hat covering the mop OF vel
low hair. cnt straight from ear TO ear.
The board seat is covered with leather
cushions, while Il 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 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 nj some farm house is not 10
he thought OF. for the officer bears dis.
patches of Importance to the car, ana
better far were it to brave the fury of
storm than risk tho 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 Mt all hazards pro-
coed" Under pain of Punishment
Timothy dare not disobey such orders.
SO. muttering beneath his breath. on
ward they 60 almost blinded with the
snow as the sleigh is jerked hither
and yon by the plunging horses
The short day eies without twi-