Nearly related to these songs are the various ditties of a social kind, which peasant girls and lads are in the habit of singing on certain, stated occasions; for instance, walking songs, dancing songs, and the like. They consist mostly of endless repetition, often of words or single syllables, apparently without meaning; and the tune, in which these fragmentary poems are sung, is after all the best part of it. Yet not seldom a spark of real poetry shines through that melodious tissue of unmeaning words. What is most remarkable in these songs, which have now been more than a century the exclusive property of the common people, is the utter absence of coarseness and vulgarity, even in the wedding songs. The Russian songs, like the Russian language, have a peculiar tenderness, and are full of caressing epithets. These are even frequently applied to inanimate objects. A Russian postilion, in a simple and charming song, calls the tavern, which he never can make up his mind to pass without stopping, "his dear little mother." The words _Matushka, Batushka, Starinka_, which we may venture to give in English by _motherling, fatherling, oldling_, are in Russian favourite terms of endearment. The post-boy's song may stand here as eminently characteristic of the cheerful, childlike, caressing disposition of the nation. It is translated in the measure of the original, as nearly as it could be imitated in English. THE POSTILION. Tzarish Tavern, thou Our good motherling, So invitingly Standest by the way! Broad highway, that leads Down to Petersburg; Fellows young as I, As they drive along, When they pass thee by, Always will turn in. Ah, thou bright sun-light, Red and bright sun-light, O'er the mountain high, O'er the forest oaks; Warm the youngster's heart, Warm, O warm me, sun; And not me alone, But my maiden, too. Ah, thou maiden dear, Fairest, dearest maid, Thou my dearest child, Art so kind and good! Black those brows of thine, Black thy little eyes, And thy lovely face All so round and white; Without painting, white, Without painting, red! To thy girdle rolls Fair and braided hair; And thy voice is soft, Full of gentle talk. P. Russian lovers are quite inexhaustible in fondling and caressing expressions. "My shining moon, my bright sun, my nourisher (_Kormiletz_), my light, my hope, my white swan," together with all those epithets common to all languages, as, _dove, soul, heart_, etc. are current terms In Russia. Especially favourable to this affectionate manner of address is the abundance of diminutives which the language possesses. Not only "little soul," "little heart," _Dushinka, Serdzinka_, etc. are favourite expressions of Russian lovers; but we find even _Yagodka_, "little berry," and _Lapushka_, "little paw," etc. Love is ingenious in inventing new diminutives for the beloved object.