Petoushkoff met the selfsame doom.
The hussar Pikhtin was accused.
How the young imp on Tania doted!
To captivate her how devoted!
I mused: perhaps the matter's squared—
O yes! my hopes soon disappeared."
"But, matushka, to Moscow you (70)
Should go, the market for a maid,
With many a vacancy, 'tis said."—
"Alas! my friend, no revenue!"
"Enough to see one winter's end;
If not, the money I will lend."
[Note 70: "Matushka," or "little mother," a term of endearment in constant use amongst Russian females.]