Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-01-25
THE LIFE FOR THE CAR
BY Viqqo Toepfer.

1T ruslles on in its course toward the
ocean, aud in th.s south the outlines ,
of the Korean mountains are visible !
against the starlit, cloudless sky.
Two Russian sentinelfs are walking |
up and down. covering their post. In
spite of their heavy coats they are
shivcring and their fingers, numb with
cold, are hardly able TO grasp the heavy !,
guns.
At the end of their beats they meet,
the form of giant, cries to his COM
rade:
What is your name. brother.
"Sascha,' comes the short reply
"How quiet it is. one can near
nothing.
Nothing hut the water"
What time is it,"
Il do not know" Sascha answer
lowering his gun and leaning on the
barrel. II think We Will soon be re-
lieved Then we can go back 10 camp
and get some tea and go to sleep.
am very tired"
Michael says nothing for a while MS
eyes search the snow-coNered helu ~
front OF them. but seeing no sign Oh
any enemy he asks
do you come from far
II do not know. We Travelled thirty
four days in sleds and in the cars, ana
then we marched across Dig frozen
lake. L was born in the village OF
Petroysli in the government OF Rla-
SAN
And 1 come from PERM" Michael
says.
I'm the village Petrovski, in the gov
eminent of Riasan. there is young
girl, Natascha She has long goldeh
/, hair. brother. was to marry her De
fore the pope (priesD." Sascha says
with a high.
mother at Perm. but l have not seen
her for a long time. have served TWO
years in my regiment here IN Sinefia.
| At Christmas she sent me n ruble IN AN
| envelope. We bought vodka (DranoS)
for it, would like to see my mothef
again
You will meet her again some day.
I brother" says Sascha, Shaping ms ne"
| friends shoulder.
Il wonder where we are
II do not know.
.What mountains are those over
there Michael asks.
u do not know-thcy arc mountains.
why are we here" Michael asks
| returning from making his round.
Il do not know, is all Sascha can
answer
.rro make war. the officers say" he
adds. having thought the question over
II few moments.
Why, that is true bfo'hcf pue
whom are we to fight
Il do not know some people VINO 90
not belong here
..,3lll we do not belong here either,
since our homes arc SC far away
oh yes, very Very far" says Sascla
with n deep sigh, How shoulu i'he
"Isut for whom are we to hight
! SaSch:l." asks Michael.
Sascha remains silent. revolving tho
/ lfficult question in his simple mind.
4 II think" he finally answers. that
! maybe we are to fight for our God. for
our church"
But why should we need to fight
for God" Michael asks thoughtfully.
God who is almighty, does not need
our help"
i cannot be for Cod.
But for whom can it then be-"
Perhaps for the Holy Russia"
"But nc Russia is holy Michael says
slowly. God ought TO defend her. Holy
Russia has no need of US poor, ignorant
niouiilss'
s,ascha scratches his head not know
ing what TO say: after q while his face
brightens as he says:
..Oh. know 1t now--it Is for our
Little Father, for the Car, brother
'.lor the Little Father! But, Sascha,
Y
Tho car is very powerful. Sascna
says: the most powerful man In the
| whole world / know. but he Is power
full only because of u.s. He has thou
salads, hundreds of thousands of us
with pretty gray uniforms ana guns
That is why he is so powerful.
"Oh YES, / understand now, says
Michael iii is for the car that we
In the same moment there is cash
of fire from the other bank of the 1alu
a shot rings through the frosty air. and
Michael falls to the ground, SHOT
through the breast.
Sascha bends over his PROSTATE body
and holding his rifle in one hand lifts
up his dying comrades head
..Brother. my own little brother" nc
cries. Michael opens his eyes already
CLASSY and dying and his Ilps Ltehlpie
AS he whispers:
II ann happy happy that our Lit
lie Tatker is so powerful" He draws
a deep sigh and falls back dead.
Great tears are rolling down Sascha's
rugged face into his great blond beard
Ills old 1nother~-his poor old NOM
or" he stanlners.
Another shot is fired. and n bulle
hits Sa.cha in the head, and he fail:
down beside his comrade.
Il would like TO e--Natascha---on" g
more he whispers. and. dyinr III
tries to grasp the hand or MS deas
brother in arms.
And below the river PUSHES ahead TO
ward the great ocean. the first ray:
of the sun strike the tops OF the noun
taiiis.
less. but who cares or knows:
Cocktail at Three Forks.
From the Anaconda Standard.
NJ $40, ndinp in the bar room In RS