Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-12-31
Those Who Must Not Be Seen.

is comfort to learn from this pic
turesque story by Hughes de Roux
Translated for Romance by Mary j.
Santord) that the unfortunatss wb,
escape from the rigors Of exile in
that freezing land, have helping
hands constantly extended to them.
There is Christmas cheer in Siberia
for even the objects of Russian hate
and cruelty.
Guess where ! ate my Christmas
dinner last year." said Constantin,
passing his napkin over his light
beard, to which little drops Of sauce
we're clinging.
We knew that our friends
thoughts were In his native country,
and | replied,
Probably you we're at home, de.
veuring splendid Christmas goose,
killed on the banks of one Of your
Siberian rivers, which are wider than
our lakes"
Constantin shook his head.
No." said he, " l had left my
family and been on my way to Eu-
rope for week. l was travelling by
s.edge to Irkutsk. We had expect
ed to reach the city on Christmas
eve, and intended to spend one night
there. But the roads were bad, and
the snow blinded our horses so that
we were obliged to stop about seven
O'Clock in the evening, several vsrsts
from Irkutsk, in front ofths first tsba
In little village called Ultima,
(Which means winter.
"Like nearly all of our Siberian
villages, Ultima consists of single
long street. Our horses stopped of
their own volltion before the first
streak OF light that fell across the
road. The darkness WAS so intense
that, but for this ray, we perhaps
should have passed the tsba. But,
reused by the glare, my driver
jumped out of the sledgs and knock
ed at the door,"
Hallol Il the tavern near, little
uncle ~ he asked, addressing q ven
cradle moujik who appeared on the
threshold, clad in Q red shirt and
holding lamp in his hand.
"Why do you seek the inn3n the
old man answered. my house is
open to the Christmas guest, and my
stable to his horses"
81 have q traveller with me"
He, too, will be welcome"
With these words the mouth set
down his lamp, came out OF the isba
and, approaching the slsdge, politely
invited me to enter his house.
81 perceived Mt once that our host
was q well-to-do peasant. and the ap-
psarance of the isbl confirmed this
opinion.
The building, only one story
high, was divided as usual by q toll
erably wide hallinto two huge rooms;
on the right was the gornitza, the
apartment In for entertain
ments, the room where the hand
soonest furniture and the copper inn
ages are kept; on the left, the klteh-
en- which we entered"
"The moujiks wife and two
daughters, who we're bending over
the fire, rose to bow to Us, and the
grandfather came down from the
aeat above the hearth where he had
been watching the turning OF the
Splits"
remember that he was q very
old man, and laughed continually
while shaking hands with rs, like a
person who is somewhat weak mind
ed.n
Dcunia," said eur host to biz
oldest daughter, give your placs
to the travellers and let them warm
themselves"
The young girl gracefully came
forward to help me take off my cloak,
she wore the red saraphGne Of I'm.
married women, and her hair, ar
ranged in = sirgle braid, showed
that she was not yet betrothed."
Il wish you q husband after your
own heart a. took the wooden
stool she drew up to the FIRE.
''Blushing deeply, she left the rosm
The grandfather was crouching al
most at my feet. His eyes sssmeA
to fairly devour the roasting essss.
Ever and anon he glanced at me,
still laughing IN his ainlsss way"
/" 1t really seemed a. IL our host
had expected guests to share Ais
Christmas banquet. His table was
loaded with all the daintiss whish q
Siberian moujik never thinks Of col.
lecting except on one day In the
year; first, the traditional cabbage
soup, the tschi, then beef, then tue
roast geese. and finally, cedar-nuts
to grease ons's tongue, the whole
washed down with brandy
" The feast had been served In the
gornitza, open to do rs hsnor.
There we're dozen persons at the
table; my driver and / sat at the
top, in the guests place"
i had noticed, a. NE entered this
large room, 8 small table pushed
against the window. On this table