About this stranger with the clever tongue,
An air of mystery and sadness clung.
His name, so long and unpronounceable,
Which none could frame, much less presume to spell,
Waiving abridgment, partial or complete,
Was, by the boys, transformed to "Russian Pete."
Now Russian Pete was tall and strong of limb,
Nor more than half as old as Uncle Jim,
Of noble stature and commanding brow,
With knees which in no genuflections bow.