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106 Spring Scenes in Samara.
103
fate, my son went to Uralsk to look for work. After some
weeks lie sent me a rouble to buy some seed. With tlie note
tied up in a bit of rag I set out, but lost it 011 the way, and
only found it again after a lot of trouble and searching. A
calf had got hold of the rag and chewed it, so that my rouble
was all bitten to pieces. Then I went to the village authorities,
and they told me to come to your worship, Lord Count."
Tolstoi changed her damaged note for one for five roubles, and
gave her besides help 111 other ways.
The week before Easter we received an invitation from a
gentleman to spend the holidays at his residence. The snow
was still lying deep on the ground when the young Count, one
of his helpers, and myself set out. Here and there 011 the
hilltops or on the sunny slopes it had melted in spots, and on these
some miserable-looking cattle, amid the carcases of others of
their kind that had succumbed, were feeding on the sparse, old
grass. The eye rested with pleasure 011 these bare patches,
looking like islands dotted in a sea of ice, formed by the
endless stretches of Avliite snow, that reflected with almost
unbearable brilliancy the intense sunlight. Overhead the lark
was singing his beautiful song, while beneath the snow is heard
the purling of many streams as the water rejoices in its first
freedom from the fetters of winter. Looking westward from
an elevation 011 which we stopped to enjoy the scenery, we saw
the golden cupola of the church with the village clustering
round—the scene of our toils during the last month. The
thought of the contrast between this bright and lovely spring
morning and the unspeakable human misery that has engulfed
us all this time, made the former seem one of Nature’s most
bitter ironies.
Our host gave us a cordial welcome, and did all in his
power to make our stay pleasant, giving us with open-hearted
hospitality the best the house afforded. On the farm was a
large number of horses, kept for the celebrated " kumiss
treatment." Kumiss is a special preparation of mare’s
milk, considered good for certain classes of invalids; often
in summer-time there would be fifty patients under treatment
at the farm. Only Bashkirs and some other Asiatic herdsmen
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