Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 141, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1913 — Tale of the Samovar [ARTICLE]

Tale of the Samovar

The wind vu howling mournfully through the trees, ghostly fingers tagged, tagged at the windows and th> rid samovar stood before me gleaming In the fitful blase of the firelight 1 sat thoughtfully looking at Its dents and markings and again voiced the desire of my heart: "Oh, If you could speak and tell me of that far away Lind from 'whence you cornel" when to my amazement the samovar underwr* a wonderful change, and instead a blackboarded, oopper-hued little dwarf squatted before me. He looked for me in silenoe for a while and then in a low droning voice, he mumbled: “You would know of that land which you just mentioned; of Russia? I might tell you many thlngß—of weddings and funerals such os you never saw, of secrets and plots and scenes of horror, but a tale I will tell you. If you will come'with me to the land of the Osar.” » He waved his hand and I found myself in a low, two-story house. The great black-raftered kitchen was bare of furniture; an immense brick stove filled one-half of the room.’ The flat top was covered with bedding and served as a bed for the servants, my guide told me. Underneath this stove was a dark, evil-smelling space which served as a hen-house, and the floor was of hard-baked clay.

From there we entered the living room. Here we were greeted hy a blaze of candle light which came from the carved candlesticks in the centre of the table around which sat a white-haired, white-bearded rabbi and his sweet-faced wife, several sons and daughters and grandchildren. A dark-eyed little baby contentedly swung from a basket suspended from the ceiling, and a sleek cat was rubbing herself against the corner of the high white-washed stove, which filled one comer of the room. The sweet peace of the Sabbath night descended on their spirits as with bowed heads they murmured a fervent Amen t; the rabbi’s prayer and benediction.

Scarce had this ceremony been finished when a thundering knock on the door shook house. Wild fear showed on evury face as they leaped from their chairs. With a shaking hand the rabb< opened the door and confronted a man outside. “Peace be with you, Zmetxuck, ” he greeted the peasant whom he recognized as a friend. “What brings you here?” “The Cossacks are coming!” he panted. “Even now they are in Krashnik headed for your house. They have heard that your son is here; but I must go.” He rushed away, leaving confusion and terror In the erstwhile peaceful home. The son, a tall, handsome lad, murmured words of oomfort to his weeping mother, while a hasty conference took place. “The dairy," finally cried his sister, and quickly pulling him with her she ran to the small outhouse which served as a dairy. Hastily she unlocked the door, pushed him down the stair and entered the sweet-smelling cellar filled with great jars of cream and pans of milk; immense cheeees lay on shelves, while heavy rocks compressed others.

Sabbath, everything was forgotten; she lighted a candle and looked In despair around for a hiding place. In one corner stood a great churn and Into this she hustled the lad. “But the Cossacks will' search here,” she moaned; “what shall I do!” Her eye fell on the flat cheeses. With eager hands she placed them over the boy and lifting a large jar of cream she emptied it over them, covered the churn and with a whispered prayer left the dairy. Entering the house she sat down and went on with her supper. The others at a look from her followed her example, and a moment later a half-dozen police were In the room.

The leader stepped forward. •In the name of the Czar we place under ar rest Shmuel Karovltz, a' traitor and spy, and have orders to search the house." At a sign the men scattered and began the search. One went under the great stove and slipped cursing Into the henhouse. The hens rushed out cackling and flew into the faces of the kneeling polios. Cursing, they all went Into the dairy. Every cranny was searched; cheeses were thrown down, pans overturned, and finally the chum examined.

The chief half turned It and gave a grunt of satisfaction. “The chum seems quite heavy,” he remarked, and gave It a turn. The Impact .threw off the cover and a stream of cream splashed the officers from head to foot, half blinding them. He walked oat, followed by his staff, and leaping on their hones they lushed away, while In the bouse a white-haired couple with taSTs of Joy raining down their facto offered thanks to the Ood of Israel, who had not forgotten them and theirs In the hours of need, while shove the bahy oooed and reached dimpled to seise the rabbi's long beard. Tbs soens faded and I found myself dreamily looking at the sanmvsi which stood bstaw m* sad ss I tools sd Into the glowing embers a tail handsome youth was framed In the* and ss If from a distance I heard hte t 3