However, for more than one reason, it seems to be advisable to make a compromise between these two extremes, and to follow in this respect the prevailing fashion of meeting the ideas of the multitude half-way: but the original has been adhered to wherever the meaning appeared capable of being rendered closely and neatly at the same time. It has been found necessary to encumber the text with a considerable number of explanatory notes, which, if they possess no other good quality, may, at any rate, lay claim to the negative merit of shortness. The translator must acknowledge his want of experience in book-making, and is sensible that many other defects besides, exist in the performance: the critical reader will find these out by far more readily than the unpractised writer; but it will be very agreeable if, after all, he shall be adjudged not to have deserved ill of that best of republicsthe Republic of Letters. ་ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Page Meloveeden's Narrative.-A living Automation and his Housekeeper. An Old Maid's Family-Panorama of Moscow Society—A friendly Quadrille.-Russian The Resolution of the Kirgheezian Elders, with refer- ence to my Reward.—The continuation of Molovee- den's Story.-Duel.-Flight.-The renegade Jew. 3 IVAN VEJEEGHEN. CHAPTER I. The orphan-a picture of Human Nature, after the manner of the Flemish school. THE first ten years of my life were spent in the house of Mr. Gologordoffsky, a country gentleman in Byalo-Russia*: there I was reared like a home bred wolfling, and was known under the name of the Orphan. Nobody cared for me, and still less cared I for any body. None of the inmates of the house paid me any attention except an old, worn out dog, who, like me, was left to provide for himself. I had no corner of the house assigned me for my lodg ing, no food or clothing allotted me, nor any nor any fixed occupation. In the summer, I spent my days in the open air, and slept under the sheds attached to the barn or cow-house.† In the winter, I lived in the bulky kitchen, which served as a rendezvous for the numerous train of servants, and I slept on the hearth‡ among the hot cinders. In summerÏ wore nothing but a long shirt and a piece of rope about my waist : in winter I covered my nakedness with whatever came in my way—any old jacket or fragment of a peasant's coat served my purpose. With these articles I was furnished by compassionate people, who did not know what to do with their old rags. I wore nothing on my feet, which became so hardened that neither grass nor mud, nor ice, made any difference of feeling. My head likewise was left to its natural covering: the rain washed out the dust, and the snow cleared away the ashes. I was fed with the frag * A district composed of some of the border-provinces, lying be tween the Empire of Russia and the old Kingdom of Poland, The farm-yards in Russia, and part of Poland, are supplied with roofs or sheds, on account of the sun's heat in summer, and the snow in winter. In Byalo-Russia stoves are not so much used, as raised hearths, on which fires are kindled. ments from the servants' table, and feasted upon eggs, which I gathered in the neighbourhood of the hen-house, and about the barn; on the leavings in the milk-pots,* which I licked with uncommon relish, and on fruit which I stole by night in the orchard. I was under the command of no one in particular, but every body ordered me about at discretion. In summer, they set me to herd the geese on the pasture, or on the banks of the pond, to protect the goslings and chickens from the dogs and kites. In winter they employed me as a turnspit in the kitchen, and this was to me a most agreeable occupation. Every time that the cook turned his or her back, I would quickly apply my palm to the juicy roast, and under my wrist suck my greasy hand as a bear does its paw. I sometimes very ingeniously snatched pieces of bacon from the dripper, and stole cutlets out of the stewing pan: my chief occupation was to run errands for all the men-servants, maid-servants, and even the foot-boys. They sent me to the kartchma* for vodky,† placed me on the out-look in sundry places, without explaining their reasons; with orders to whistle or clap my hands on the appearance of the squire, steward, and sometimes even of the other men-servants, or maid-servants. On the first word-" Orphan, run this way or that way, and call this one or that one"-I set off at a gallop, and fulfilled my instructions to a tittle, knowing that the smallest neglect would expose me to an inevitable beating. When they placed me on the watch, and forbade me to look about me, (which mostly happened in the garden, during the summer season,) I stood like one buried in the ground, not daring even to lift up my eyes or make the least motion, till they pushed me from the spot. Sometimes, though very seldom, they rewarded me for my zealous services with a piece of black bread, old bacon, or cheese, and I, not being famished, would divide it with my beloved dog Koodlashka. Observing how other children were fondled and kissed, I wept bitterly, from an inexpressible feeling of envy and chagrin: the caresses and blandishments *The milk is kept in large, round, black-earthen pots. † Vodky is an ill-tasted sort of whisky, made from malt and rye flour. |