Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-31

the janitor who came to fetch me to the
master of police on account of the resi-
dence permit. l prayed that the earth
might open and swallow me, but my
wish was wicked and was not granted.
Peter wasn't at home. Franka was
washing; l was afraid to disturb her.
If Peter had been there he would have
found means to pacify the janitor for
the moment, when all would be well,
for l felt sure that l would be dead
before nightfall.
while l was still weighing these
things in my mind Franka came out
with big tub of soapy water. What
are you standing around there forY she
scolded. Get yourself to the police
masters, for his excellency won't be
bamboozled like us by stories of cough
and fasting. Your whole residence
here was fraud. It's too late now to
wall about it. Go-and to Jail if neces-
sary.'
"At first 1 was dumfounded, but
presently my senses returned. You
are right, daughter, / replied, took my
shawl and went out. l walked slowly
along the houses, cropping my way and
leaning against wall from time to
time. My eyes We're itching as If beset
by thousand ants, and my body felt
cold now, as If they were rolling me
naked In the snow, and hot then. Was
l so near purgatory? At last landed
at the police masters and entered the
first room, where some great lords sat
at tables. One was most proud and
magnificent, another was gowned all in
black and the third looked rather mean.
l bowed down to the ground and began
to tell my story. Not here, not here
they said. | bowed again and went to
the next room. The same story, Not
here And so l hustled from room to
room, from table to table. MY strength
was leaving me, when finally thin,
long gentleman took pity on old Eka-
trina and took me into the right cham
Der where the master sat in state.
There l waited upon the threshold
while my legs shook like aspen leaves.
AT last the great one deigned to look
up. What is itT he asked. Bravely |
unbosomed myself and told him every
thing from beginning to end He lis
tened, then again asked, What is itY
L repeated my story of how / went to
the children to die; how, being alto
gether sure of death, l omitted to buy
permit of residence; how the dear
Lord Jesus had seemingly forgotten
me, and how, because l continued to
keep on living, was summoned before
him.
THE great lord rang a silver bell.
Immediately another came in who
looked even more beautiful, for big,
shiny buttons We're on his coat. had
to tell my story to him also. When l
finished, the master said, See here,
Ekatrina, thou owest the little father,
the czar, quite heap of money, but
we will take pity on thee and let it go
at 5ia rubles.'
81 wrung my hands. Five ruhles and
half! The very amount to kopeck
that | had given my children to pay
for the funeral! Feeling swoony, 1
leaned against the wall 1t got dark
before my eyes, and gale was blow
ing through my brain. And those fine
gentlemen jumped from their seats as
If by one accord. One grabbed the
water bottle; the other brought a chair
Seeing the police masters compassion,
l knelt down and embraced his knees.
"'Most gracious, most powerful lord
police master, have the goodness to
look at me! l am just a bit of useless
dust; no more. AS to the amount of
soul within me. it's not worth bother
ing about. Believe me, / am taking no
ones place in this world; sleep on a
truss of stray behind the stove and
pick up no more food than sparrow!
All, and use very little air for l am
too weak to breathe much! As regards
sunlight, l live in the cellar, where a
beam seldom penetrates.
81 know | ought to be dead long ago,
but what can l do against this persist
ent, damnable, costly habit of living?
Pray, take pity on me; it's surely the
heavens fault. The good saint who
keeps the book of life must have over
looked poor Ekatrina. Don't punish
me, lest the heavenly recorder may re-
sent it. | assure your lordship l have
! been expecting death and preparing for
it ever so long. l have prayed for it
daily, hourly. And while l owe the
little father, the czar-may the Lord
bless him-I paid my permit of resi-
dence to God. Thirteen children | have
borne and have buried seven. Oh,
worked for the czar too. ] gave him
two recruits, strapping fellows! One
of my boys was drowned; one daughter
an away with the circus the youngest
burned to death in hayloft like a
sparrow under thatched roof. Indeed,
my lord, God and l are quits as regards
the permit of residence, quits by virtue
of the children I bore in pains and
sucked with hunger staring me In the
face.
"'He took 1t out of me in cares, In
hard labor, In cuffs and beatings from
drunken husband, in the bloody tears
| that cried on those burial grounds of
yellow sand, seven of them; count