Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-25

sAu the hOvei where poor mOu-
jik peasant named Kato-
ma lay dying in little village in far
away Russia
Katoma knew that he was going to
die. 1t was Christmas eve, but there
was no gladness in the season for him.
His wife, whom he had loved very
dearly, was already gone. For three
consecutive years now his crops had
failed. \ few weeks before the wolves
had dcvo, n his last COW. If he had
| been entirety alone in the world he
would have said to death, Come: thou
art welcome
| But there was one other his boy
| Ossip. The idea OF death became ter
rihlc when he thought of leaving his
boy all alone with not copeck to bless
! himself with.
| When tell you that it takes 100
| copccks to make Il ruble and that
rube is less than 60 cents, you will
| understand how dreadfully poor Ka-
toma was.
He could not die peacefully for think
ing of Ossip's future. His dim eyes
turned fondly toward the pillow by his
side, which the boys thick black hair
almost covered. Ossip lay motionless
in sleep. The sick man put one feeble
hand upon his boys smooth forehead
and silently commended him to heav
ems care.
The house was very still. The hour
wa. late. Ossip's healthy, regular
breathing was the only audible sound
If only kind heaven would raise up one
friend for his boy out of the millions
of good people this big world swarmed
with. katoma felt that be should not
mind how soon he was laid away I'M
der the frozen sods
While his hand rested on Ossip's
head and his heart was filled with
these anxious thoughts the door of the
hovel opened softly. The moujik
turned wondering eyes in that direc-
ton. and there. coming noiselessly to-
ward him across the beaten earthen
floor, was tall woman with soft
brown eyes full of plying tenderness.
She came close to the bed, on Ossp's
side of it. and, looking down upon the
sleeping child. she muttered:
Perhaps this is the one at last"
Katoma looked at her anxiously.
whence came you good mother,
and what seek you:'
Across the sleeping boy she an
swered softly:
Il have come for Ossip. They told
me in the village that thy days were
numbered, and | knew that Ossip
would need a friend. l will love and
care for him as though he were my
very own. I am called Baboushka,
and keep my promises"
Then Katoma the moutik. died hap
py. for he knew that Baboushka was
friend TO all little children, and when
she gathered Ossip close into her moth
erly arms when the end came the child
ceased weeping for his dead father.
When Baboushka and Ossip We're
well on their way to the old woman's
home, in the next village, they heard
pitiful sound of weeping somewhere
on the tree Swallowed side of the road.
The old woman stopped at the sound
I'VE viii go and see who is in trou-
Bile, Ossip. Our eyes and ears should
always be kept well opened so that nc
sign of distress may escape us
Guided by the sound, they came 10
a stone where. wailing and shiyering
in the darkness of the winter night
they found little girl scarcely as
large as Ossip. who was not at all well
grown for his eight years.
Baboushka knclt down by the child
and, gathering her cold little feet into
warm clasp. muttered
Perhaps this IL the child"
Then she said aloud, What is thy
came little one, and what docst tho,
here alone in the bitter nighttime?'
At which the chld's tears flowed
afresh. and between her sobs she tolt
The kind, soft eyed woman how sh
had been travelling with great com
pany of men and women who wer
leaving their own village to seek n bet
ter land across the seas our owl
blessed America, | make no doubt -
and how, when they had encampcd 70
the night. her aunt, who was the onl.
relative she had in the world. had sen
her into the woods TO gather fa2ots T.
put under their soup kettle, and how
she had wandered so far that she ha'
not been able to find her way back L
the camp, and how she feared tn
wolves would devour N,r before an,
one should come to look for her. The
She told Baboushka that her name wa
\asalissn.
Baboushka clasped the little wander
cr to her great motherly heart.
THAT. indeed, the wolves shall moi
my dear little Nasalissu. | cannot Civ
thee back to thy aunt, for l know n
better thar thou dost where this grea
company OF men and women may b
camping for the night. But thou shall
90 home with Ossip and me. Tho
shalt share our fire and our porridgt
= and all that is mine thou shalt shar
with Ossp, | can keep the wolves o
hunger and cold away, and If thy aun
= comes to claim thee she shall find the
>. rosy and happy
Y Then Vasallssa quickly dried he
r tears, and with her hand clasped Il
:, Baboushka's she trudged cheerful
r. forward until they came to n tiny lttl
d cottage set buck from the road shor
J. distance. In it's one window a lam
was burning brightly.
= The window and the lamp belonge
NJ to Baboushka's cottage. She pushe