Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-07-08


with poor fugitive.
And at the same time she offered him the
bread which she had left. The old man re-
garded her with surprise:
Heaven bless you, child, said he ; old and
nfrm, ! am beggar upon the soil, which l
have defended with my blood. have knock
ed at the door of the rich man, and have been
rudely driven from il but the poor l have
almost always found compassionate. I'm
doubtcdly, misfortune, Which brings them
nearer to God, sanctifcs their works.
He then broke the bread and ate it with
the young girl. Pure hearts open with con-
fidence, as flowers send forth their perfume.
Olga related her mlsfortuncs to the mcndi-
cant soldier, who accompanied her TO the
gates of Moscow there they separated.
The beauty of the cdifces, the multitude
and the expensiveness of the temples, whose
cupolas of gold, silver and azure gliltered from
atar the spcndor of the ancient capital,
built by the labor of a whole people-all
these objects so novel to Olga, filled her with
astonishment and fear. AT last, she ascer-
tanned where the palace of the Count of R***
was, and she stood long time at the gate
before she dared to enter it.
In the meantime Andrew Petrowch hav-
ing searched the village in vain, had selected
another girl and started few days after
wards for Moscow. On presenting himself
to his lord, he did not fail to caumniate poor
Olga, who, he said, had run away for fear Of
being obliged to work. He was receiving
the Counts orders, when it was announced
to the latter that IA young girl begged the ia
vor of seeing him Immediately. Andrew
Petrowi!ch would have been glad to prevent
this interview, for he did not doubt it was
Olga and the peasant girl who had travel
led six hundred miles on foot to ask for JUS
tice, could hardly fail to accuse him for her
own justification.
1t is not fit, said he to the Count, that your
cxccllency should be importuned by persons
OF this description !: it is the business of your
ovcrseer.
The count, accustomed to rely on subor-
dnatcs as to all the details of his household
affairs, had made sign of appreciation
when the door was suddenly thrown open
and young girl ran and cast herself at his
feet. Andrew Petrowich turned pale, but
maintained rcsolutc countenance.
Will you have the audacity, said he, tc
hope for pardon after having runaway! A
severe cllastisement should defer the wretch.
cs, who may be tempted to follow yourexa
pie.
Olga, still PROSTATE, exclaimed cal
Heaven to witness that lam innocent | dc
not ask for pardon, but for justice.
The Count, astonslIed looked alternate
lyat the overscer and the supplcant. There
was so noble an expression in the counten
ance of the scrf, and her voice was so per
suasivc, that he was curious TO hear her. ii,
made a sign to his overscer to retire, raset
the poor girl, AID was deeply affected by he
simple story.
Olga, said he, at length, am disposed t,
believe 80" still, cannot listen to you
complaint without pvnishing my ovcrseer
aud this cannot do upon your Statement
alone.
My lord, said Olga, the priest knows tina
| am innocc mt: if had committed an Of
fence, should have come to offer myself "
for punishment! The order to leave m,
mother, who Is infi'rn, a"d "i,v has o,,..
support or consolation butin me, would hav
been a sore affection to ne but | woul'
have obeyed, for well know that my vii
even must lie yours if | came alone t,
Moscow, it was TO escape from prosecutions
which you could not have councnanced.
Tie Count led Olga to his wife, wh
strongly commended her conduct. For
few days she was the object oftheir consu,a
tons she was then forgotten and a mont
afterwards she was sold to German lady
whose husband had died in the Rus
sian service.
The new mistress of Olga had been beau
,ilul, and like all women, whose hearts ar
void and cold, she could not he reconcile,
to tle idea of growing old. She would vii
lingly have exchanged her fortune and he
tile for the youth and beauty of Olga. i
her spite, she ordered the girls beautiful hal
to be cut of, and instead of the sdraphan
(closc jackct,) which exhibited the elcganc
of her form, she made her put on coars
loose gown. The poor girl mourncd in secre
for her mothers cabin. The luxury, whic
that she was the property of another: tn
more she labored to merit no blame an
sometimes her meekness overcame the ma
lice of her mistress, who would say to her i
her kind moments (:
Olga, ifyou were not so awkward, woul
do all in my power to serve you.
| The young girl forced smile, thanke
her mistress for her goodness, and said sh
should BIO most happy not to displease hcl
But when this woman was in her paroxysm
of ILL., humor, she loaded her with invectves
ordered her to cast down her eyes when sh
passed glass, and was constantly repeating
to her that one in her condition was ofno sex
and should not entertain single thought for
eign to her service. TO escape he emu
which oppressed her, Madame de Barncl wa
often out receiving and returning visits. Thes
were hours of rest for the poor girl. SIN
shut herself up in her chamber, threw of he
! domestic livery, put on her poor village gar
mcnts, and took refuge in her own thoughts
Her mother, her young companions, tn
sports fhcr youth, and above all, Ivan, pre-
scented themselves to her mind. When all a
once the sound of the bell interrupted thes
soothing reverles, g. in the twinkling ofan ey'
the beautiful peasant was but the servant o
a great mansion. She sometimes said t.
herself: my mother does not even know