Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-05-12

SJ. 1clcrSDurp can lrbuhtc, are also OcCdSOn
al y held there. Theatres in the season, ~
concerts in Lent, vary the aunscmcnts to b.
found at the club aud in private socirtv. and
IN summer, when business is over for the dav.
the country-huusc is rc>ortcd to. where
friends pay and receive visits There they
have music. dance in the open air. rambc in
the charming parks and island that surround
st. Petersburg, and make boating excursions
On the Nrva. The early morning hours are
spent out of doors, then comes Il rivcr-bath,
which every country house possesses, aud
then the swift droschki whirls the man of
business into the city. Such. IN st. Peters
burg, is the lie Of merchant of the second
guild
Thu, did - live. On a certain sun
day afternoon he was about to drive from hi,
country house to kamini-N -Nstrow. when. lust
as he went out, heavy shower of rain fell.
compelling number of ladies who were lust
passing at the time. to seek shelter ON the
covered terrace Of his villa. He Immediately
threw open the folding doors to offer them !,
refuge in his drawing room, when. to his
great astonshment, one Of the first who en-
tered was the young lacy whom he had seen
AZ the book shop, and who had been on her
way to st. Petersburg, in company with an
elderly ducnna when the rain surprised her
The former brief meeting served as prcteXt
for better acquaintance. Percia Sulkowka
was plainly, but tastcfulv dressed, and en-
chantcd her admircr as much by the grace of
her manner and the resources Of her mind AS
she at first sight had done hv her personal
charms Her mother, the elderly widow of
an officer, was the model of respectable
matron, grave. without moroscness, CONVEX
siblc without loquacty. The evening ap-
preached, and / begged permission to
escort them into town; he drove them to
their residence, where everything indicated
both easy circumstances and good housckccp-
ing. = cultivated the acquaintance ;
his first, fecting inclination developed itself
into a warm affection which was shared by
the Young girl whose hand in few weeks
time he demanded of her mother.
lie then for the first time learned that She
had not power to dispose of the hand of
Pcreia, who was only her foster daughter.
coniidcd to her care by the Empress mother,
and whose name, which had been corrupted
by the Russian pronunciation was Parisia.
From the explanations that cnSucd -
learned that his mistress had found It mater
nal prutcctrcs> in the Empress on the very
Samc day on which he had been Hospitality
taken in at Ii IS honSr. The consent Of
the illuStrious lady was asked by the lovers.
and ioyuly granted and rich dowery was
allotted hy the Empress to her adopted
daughter-n lieu Of which however. the hap
py bridegroom begged the gift of the basket
of linen in which She, who now made the
happiness Of his life had first been cast help
less upon the world He desired to preserve
it forever in his family as Il memorial of his
imperial bcnciactresS.
= is now IA happy husband, father of
a numerous family. counts his revenue by
millions, and has dcrots of hi. immense to-
hacco manufactures in almost every town in
Gernany-in Berlin amongst others lie
lives i'll great style at st. Petersburg docs Il
splendid business. possesses estates. breeds
cattle and own iron works assists thousand,
ol needy persons from his suprriiuity. but
still modeStly remains " \ merchant Of the
Second Guild"