Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-04-05
Katharine of Russia.


Dark and dvcadful was the night of the
25h of November, 1850, and heavily
fell the sno flakes; but darker were the
prospects, and heavier was the heart of
the poor A-ivonian, as he reached the
skirts of the dense forest surrounding the
town of Maricnburg Misfortune had
compelled the indignant peasant to sever
the cndearing relations that bound him
to his native village, to bid q final adieu
to the scenes of his early days, to aban-
don his favorlte haunts Of sacrcd memo.
ry, and seek among strangers that which
was denied him in midst of his
friends.
Accompanied by his first born, a
sprightly youth Of fourteen, and bearing
In his weary arms tender infant, the
express image of her whom be had lately
consigned to the silent tomb; he had
well nigh completed faithful journey
through black and inhospitable region
a violent storm of SHOW and wind (pe-
culiar to that drcm country fercely
ragged, bearing destruction and desola-
tion in its progress, and producing ter
ror in the minds of the unsheltered wan
derers. Overcome by the severity of the
cold, and unable longer to sustain his
precious charge, he carefully deposited
itupon bed of snow, and went in quest
of assistance and kind retreat from the
bowling storm. But he returned not
again. The ear dawn had discovered
frozen corpse to the astonished tenants
of an obscure cottage in the outskirts of
thequiet village.
"Great Goo! what do I hear?" ciacu-
lated the pious minister, tSkovrousii, as
its subdued cries of distress, falling upon
his eager ear, during temporary cessa-
tion of the storm, attracted his attention
to the frozen embankment upon which
rested the deserted infant. He hestated
not to reflect upon the cruel misfortune
that had bereft the infant of parental
protection; nor did he waste time in the
fruitless endeavor of discovering those
who had abandoned their offspring to the
peltings of the storm. But content to
acknowledge the mysterious agency of
Him who doeth all things we'll and
fheareth the young ravens when they
cry he fled with winged Footsteps to its
rescue. Wrapping it in his ample cloak,
hehastened to reach his humble home,
that he might minister toits relief ere
the spirit had fled to that undiscovered
country from whose bourne no traveller
retuns. Arrived at the peaceful cot, he
consigned his tender charge to the care
of his kindhearted housekeepeB and
again sailed forth in search of other OBJ
jects for his benevolcnce. He had not
proceeded far before his attention was
called TO the melancholy scene before
noticed.
Papers were found upon the unfoltu
nate stranger which induced the good
minister to believe that he was the pa
rent of the infant which he rescued from
the pitiless elements of the night before;
and no sooner was he impressed with the
idea, than the resolution was taken to
adopt the tcnGer babe a. his own daugh-
ter, and bring it up in the path of duty,
and in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord. Ordering that the last tribute of
respect be paid to the remains according
to the rites of the Greek Church, he took
charge of its effects, for the benefit Of his
youthful protege.
Years passed away, and under the
affectionate care and protection of the
good pastor and his benevolent compan-
, ion, Katharine. (for such she was named
by her foster parents) increased not only
inpcrSonal beauty aud loyeliness, but as
she grew in years. developed those pecu-
liar graces and dispositions which became
ON namiabIe and grateful daughter. And
soon she WAS enabled. by assiduous at
teDt!en TO the wants of their declining
years, to testify her appreciation of their
self-sucrifcing devotion to her youthful
days,