The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-03-29

for my wife"
The generals lady ordered this new
proposition to be entered ON the daily re.
port Prohor, the clerk, obeyed and wrote.
By order of her excellency, venture to put
into todays report new proposal made by
Sidorotf, the silk merchant He offers 1905
rubles cash for Marpha He implores your
excellency to listen fayorably TO his humble
prayer.
The answer from St. Petersburg soon
arrived. 1t was expected by two beating
hearts. The St. Petersburg clerk replied
as follows:
His excellency was pleased to be extremely
angry on receiving the report of the 10th inst
He desires you will write nothing more on
the subject Of Sidoroff, the silk merchant. His
excellency also desires you shall give orders to
have the said Sidoroff turned off the place il
he presumes to present himself at the palace
His excellency orders Marpha never again to
say one word upon this subject to her mistress,
on pain of exemplary punishment. ARTEMI.
Marpha wept bitterly and was i'll for
many weeks. At last she returned to her
work pale as a lily.
Her mistress was very kind to her, and
she was placed under the care of the best
physician in Moscow.
Sidoroff sold off his stock of goods and
quilted Moscow To drown his grief he
took to drink and travelled about Russia
to its various fairs. At last he went off to
city in Siberia, where he married, some
years after, in obedience to the wishes of
his friends, who hoped marriage would
steady him. Marpha continued to take
care of the generals little girls with all the
patience and tenderness she had ever
shown them. Sometimes, however, she
would look at them 50 mournfully that the
little things would cry: ooh, Marpha, why
do you look so at us? What have we done?
We will try to be very good"
Then Marpha would pick them up upon
her lap and kiss them, saying mo, dar-
lings, you have not been naughty. You
have never done me any harm. 1t was
only-Kiss me, my pets, and always love
| your poor mania"
Eight years passed away.
One day the generals lady summoned
Marpha to her room and gave her paper.
1.-The general" she said, "sends you your
freedom. You are free to go or stay. You
can leave me or stay here with my little
| girls, whichever you PREFER
Marpha kissed the hand of her mistress
in silence, took the paper and retired.
Her heart beat fast at the sound of the
words you are free" and then came the
bitter thoughts, "Of what use now is my
freedom? Sidoroff is married. Where could
go? If return to my own village, how
can | make enough to help my old father
and mother? They hardly know me
now"
She prayed nearly all night before the
pictures hung up over her bed.
Next morning, before her fellow servants
had had time to congratulate her on hel
good fortune, she went to her mistress
gave her back the paper and said:
Keep it, sOudarina. | do not want il
now; it is too late! | ask leave to stay al
, my life with my young ladies'"
Il will take care of it if you wish, ;" re
piled the generals lady. Stay with us i
? you will, but remember you are fire,
woman, and whenever you ask me for thi
deed | will give it back to you"
In 1874 Marpha was a mania still. Sh
was living as nurse with the eldest daugh
, ter of the general, who was married ant
had three children. Marpha then becam
doubly free by the deed of manumissiol
given her by the general and by the act O
) general emancipation.
, She is still living. She is still the darling
mania of a group of little ones. She i
fifty now, and is still very lovely.
, The general and his wife are dead. Side
+ rolf is great merchant and one of the ric
+ men of Siberia. From time to time h
r visits st. Petersburg, where his sons an
+ daughters now live. His sons are officer
a in the cuirassers and his daughters hav
1 made brilliant marriages.
One evening | was present at the Coz
| vent of Newski at the funeral of perso
:. of distinction. When the ceremonies wei
over, sauntered into the cemetery to e.
g anime the tombs. came to that of Gel
II eral Gertzkoff. A priest and his assista1
p were standing over it, chanting a servic
: for the repose of the dead. One woma
# was kneeling on the grass. No other pc
If son was present. When the prayers endet
she arose, put the customary three rubl,
.r into the hand of the priest, and, agai
bending over the tomb, she laid a wreat
% of flowers on the monument.
recognized Marpha.
a In common with most of those who we
- intimate in the Gertzkoff palace, | kne
a her story.
- "Marpha," said I, care you praying f
the general?"
ID Eyes" she replied, 81 have long forgive
all the harm he did me- 1t was Gods WI
ID that my lot should be always among tt
lowly Perhaps it was best. Our pla
r. on earth is of little consequence, after a
p Two nights ago dreamed about my ma
ca ter. | thought he cried, oh, Marph
Marpha! The burden of my sins is mo
Il than can bear. 1t is too heavy-much t
n, heavy for me!' Three times | woke al
ot three times l went to sleep and dreamed
K dream again. | told it to my pastor. !
es said had better have prayers said for t
repose of his soul. Doubtless he nee
I,s them in the other world. He made so ma
ve suffer when he was here. My story is n
remarkable. was better off than many
he his other serfS. May God receive him VIII
m his sins are purged into the kingdom
heaven, and forgive him-even as do"
w, Her face looked heavenly as she pray
this prayer.
vi Marpha still visits the cemetery of Ne
OF ski oftener than the generals daughte
VI Doubtless her petitions are twice blesst
oo and God as the Psalmst says, returns /
prayers into her own bosom.-Translat
Ter from the Russian of Lydia Paschkoff
w, Baltimore American by Elizabeth Wor
ley Latimer.
crs
rry Preservation of Butter.
L