" HOL Y R USSIA." 293 



year-old boy. Sometimes he is seen wearing a red 

 shirt, with a blue girdle, like a moujik on holidays. 

 At other times he sports a suit of blue. He has a 

 white beard and yellow hair and glowing eyes. 



Though mostly invisible, the peasants firmly believe 

 that he is always about the premises and busying himself 

 in their affairs. His usual hiding-place is understood 

 to be behind the big brick stove that forms the chief 

 feature of a Russian cottage. When the people are 

 asleep he issues forth and conducts himself amicably or 

 otherwise, according to the humor he happens to be 

 in. The domovoi is mischievous as a monkey, and 

 like that animal is inclined to fly into a passion at very 

 short notice if he is not satisfied with his surroundings 

 and treatment. Many peasant families after eating 

 supper always leave a portion of food on the table for 

 the domovoi, who would otherwise consider himself 

 ill-treated and disturb their sleep by pounding on the 

 table with his fist. 



In some of the peasants' stables are little glasses or 

 saucers of oil, the use of which is a mystery to the 

 uninitiated stranger. They are found in villages where 

 the domovois are believed to be fond of horses and 

 cattle and of visiting the stables at night. As the 

 domovoi likes oil the saucers are put in the stables to 

 keep him in good humor and to induce him to be kind 

 to the horses and cattle. If angry, he has been known 

 to take a horse out and ride it nearly to death ; the 

 peasant finding it panting and covered with foam in 

 the morning. 



Though troublesome if not well treated, the domovoi 

 usually takes the kindliest interest in the affairs of the 



