Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-10-19

know who am, Catharne!' said he, as they
walked together away.
No; J; but you said that you wished to be
my husband
True; but do you know my rank in the
army!'
1t matters not said Catharine; 'you can
not suppose 1 am proud-a child without fam
lily, without name.
You are content, then, to link your desti-
ny with mine,' taking her by the hand
Yes replied Catharine, Il like you be-
cause you have been kind to me, poor child
that | am
The soldier stopped before tent more ele-
waited than the rest This is the tent Of the
Gar said he; remain where you are It is
right | should ask his permission to marry
you
Catharine had waited but few minutes,
when young officer, advancing, said, The
Gar wishes to see you.'
On entering the tent, she saw a large num-
Der of officers, in the centre of whom she inl-
mediately recognized the young soldier, her
companion. where is the Cart INQUIRED
Catharine Of the officer
There' said he, pointing to the soldier,
who was seated.
'There1 That is my husband!
He is thy husband and the Gar likewise,
Catharine,' said the Emperor of Russia
How astonished you appear Does the
news grieve you! Does my title prevent you
from loving met
9 loved you as soldier, said she; 4 will
also love you as an Emperor The Car
arose, and taking the hand Of the young or
phan, presented her to his officers as the fu-
ture Empress of Russia.
Here closes the thread of fiction in our story.
After their marriage, the Emperor placed her
in private dwelling in the city of Moscow,
where she received every attention becoming
her position. She was lovely and beautiful.
She loved to do good, and to make others hap
py around her. She was intelligent, cheer
ful, amiable, and benevolent No doubt Pc
ter the Great saw that she was precisely the
woman who could share his enthusiasm and
sympathize in his plans. The obscurity of
her birth was no obstacle to him; he had alb
solute power to raise her to the lottiest condi-
tion in his empire
Though surrounded with the honors of roy
atty, she did not forget the pastor of Marien-
berg. She loved him still, and did what she
could to cheer his last hours He never re-
covered from his wounds, and survived but a
short time. His end was peace. Catharine
mourned over his departure, and sighed that
one she loved most of all on earth was now no
more.
She often accompanied the Emperor in his
journeys through his empire, and frequently
attended him in military campaigns. In I7II,
when Peter was, at war with the Turks, by
her extraordinary skill and superior judgment,
she saved the life of the Emperor, and saved
the army from being destroyed or taken pris-
Oners. Peter caused the event to be commem-
GRATED by display Of magnifcence unusual
for him and in the declaration he issued we
find these words 'She has been OF the great
est assistance to US in all our dangers, and
particularly in the battle of Pruth.'
She was blessed with two children, one of
which-a son-died when child. The other
a daughter-became Empress of Russia.
On the eighteenth day of May, 1923, Peter
the Great, placed the crown, with great pomp,
upon the head Of Catharine His health was
now rapidly declining. Catharine attended
him constantly. January %, 1925, he breathed
his last, being only in his forty-tourth year.
Catharine sustained the title of Empress
with great dignity, and was greatly beloved
by her subjects. Her reign was short. She
survived her husband about two years, and ex-
pired May 81, 1927, at the age Of thirty-eight.
BlackloOod's Magazine.