HOW A RUSSIAN FACED DEATH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 87, 24 September 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOW A RUSSIAN FACED DEATH.

A PEASANT'S LAST THOUGHTS Ol

HIS WIFE

''One night,'' says a Russian army doctor, "in a wood, before the roar of the guns bad quite ceased, we started «o bniig in the wounded. At a distance we saw a soldier rave himself slightly and beckon to us. He was w rapped in h s big cloak, which was drenched with blood. He could hardly speak. His face, as we looked at Iran by the -ight of the smoky torch, was already that ot <i corpse. " 'Well, what do you want, little brother!'' " 'lf you would be so kind, write a letter for me to my wife to tell he/ 1 am dead.' And he dictated as follows—

My Beloved Wife, Lukerya Petrowna, —I liave to tell you that my last hour is come. God has liot permitted that we should see one another again. Take care ot Vasutka and Dunka. It yoij marry again, see that your new husband does not beat them. Sell the mare to Rene Ryzhofl, l>ut not lor less than 70 roubles. That its price to-day. Have the house whitewashed, and accept three roubles from Peter Bezruchoff for the oats. Old I'nclo Vlass will whitewash tho house for 20 kopek-. I have been founded in the hack, rni the bullet ban gone clean through mj and come out through the breast. It was the will of God. 1 think. Lukerya, that it would be het'er to s"ll the calf and buy a colt of Gavri-

loff. Horses wi'l cont : mie to go up in price. Forgive me •e 1. for the love of Christ. . . "We ccvered his head, says tne doctor. "and passed on, as others were crying for us. He remained alone. Twenty minutes later wo passed again. He was (lead. H's hand.; were eroded oyer Ins breast. He bad crossed them himself, waiting for death in full consciousness, without a complaint, without a word. •'That is how our peasants d'.e. '