Pakhom remembered his dream, groaned "Akh!” his legs gave way under him, and he fell forward, reaching out his arms toward the shapka.

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"Ai! brave lad!" shouted the starshiná. have got a good piece of land."

"You

Pakhom's man ran to him, attempted to help him to his feet; but from his mouth pours a stream of blood, and he lies dead.

The Bashkirs clucked with their tongues, expressing their sorrow.

Pakhom's rabótnik took the hoe, dug a grave for him, made it just long enough, from head to foot, three arshins,1— and buried him.

1 About seven feet.

THE GODSON.

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."— MATT. v. 38, 39. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay."— Roм. xii. 19.

I.

A SON was born to a poor muzlík. The muzhik was glad; went to invite a neighbor to be one of the godparents. The neighbor declined. People don't incline to stand as godparents to a poor muzhík. The poor muzhik went to another: this one also declined.

He went through all the village: no one will stand as godparent. The muzhik went to the next village. And a passer-by happened to meet him as he was going. The passer-by stopped.

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'Good-morning," says he, "muzhichók:1 whither doth God lead you?"

"The Lord," says the muzhík, "has given me a little child, as a care during infancy, as a consolation for old age, and to pray for my soul when I am dead. But, because I am poor, no one in our village will stand as godparent. I am trying to find a godfather."

And the passer-by says, "Let me stand as one of the godparents."

1 Little muzhik.

The muzhik was glad; thanked the passer-by, and says, "Whom now to get for godmother?"

"Well, for godmother," says the passer-by, "invite the store-keeper's daughter. Go into town; on the market-place is a stone house with shops; as you go into the house, ask the merchant to let his daughter be godmother."

The muzhik had some misgivings.

"How, godfather elect," says he, "can I go to a merchant, a rich man? He will scorn me: he won't let his daughter go."

"That's not for you to worry about. Go ask him. Be ready to-morrow morning. I will come to the christening."

The poor muzhík returned home; went to the city, to the merchant's. He reined up his horse in the dvor. The merchant himself comes out.

"What is needed?" says he.

"Look here, lord merchant.

The Lord has given

me a little child, as a care during infancy, as a consolation for old age, and to pray for my soul when I am dead. Pray, let your daughter be his godmother." "But when is the christening?" "To-morrow morning."

"Well; very good. God be with you! she shall come to-morrow to the mass."

On the next day the godmother came; the godfather also came: they christened the child. As soon as they had christened the child, the godfather went off, and they knew not who he was. And they did not see him from that time forth.

1 Da vot gospodin kupyéts.

II.

THE lad began to grow, to the delight of his parents; and he was strong and industrious, and intelligent and gentle. He reached the age of ten. His parents had him taught to read and write. What others took five years to learn, this lad learned in one year. And there was nothing left for him to learn.

There came one Holy Week. The lad went to his godmother, gave her the usual Easter salutation,1 returned home, and asks,

"Bátiushka and mátushka,2 where does my godfather live? I should like to go to him, to give him Easter greetings."

And the father says to him, "We know not, my dear little son, where thy godfather lives. We ourselves are sorry about it. We have not seen him since the day when he was at thy christening. And we have not heard of him, and we know not where he lives: we know not whether he is alive.”

The son bowed low to his father, to his mother.

"Let me go, bátiushka and mátushka, and find my godfather. I wish to go to him and exchange Easter greetings."

The father and mother let their son go. And the boy set forth to find his godfather.

1 A kiss, with the words, Khristos voskrés. This custom is universal among the peasantry. The person saluted replies, Voéstinu voskrés- Risen indeed.

2 Little father and mother.

III.

THE lad set forth from home, and walked along the highway. He walked half a day: a passer-by met him. The passer-by halted. "Good-afternoon, lad," says

he: "whither does God lead thee?"

And the boy replied, "I went," says he, "to my dear godmother,' to give her Easter greetings. I went back home. I asked my father and mother where my godfather lived: I wished to exchange Easter greetings with him. My father and mother said, 'We know not, little son, where thy godfather lives. From the day when he was at thy christening, he has been gone from us; and we know nothing about him, and we know not whether he is alive.' And I had a desire to see my godfather, and so I am on my way to find him."

And the passer-by said, "I am thy godfather." The málelik was delighted, exchanged Easter greetings with his godfather.

2

"And where," says he, "dear godfather, art thou preparing to go now? If in our direction, then come to our house; but if to thy own house, then I will go with thee."

And the godfather said,

"I have not time now to go to thy house: I have business in the villages. But I shall be at home toThen come to me.'

morrow.

But how, bátiushka, shall I get to thee?"

1 Mátushka kréstnaya.

Bátiushka kréstnui.