The daily gazette., 1879-12-27
FIRST EDITION.
TINE euNmAKtR or MOSCOW
The Empire Under Peter the Great
CHAPTER /.
TIE 0UNMAKER AND THE MONK.

yoke had been worn till the very bones
Vt the nation were CALLED; and when this
was thrown of civil GisseDsiuns and in
sur rectiOns commenced. The Poles and
Swedes plundered the country, and amid
general tumult and confusion some bali
cozen men were clamoring for the throne.
AT length few patriotic citizens, pledg-
ing everything they held dear on earsh
TO the cause of freedom from this curse
Of anarchy, and headed by noble
prince and an humble, patriotic butcher,
made bold stand TO save the country.
Moscow was retaken, aEd Michael Re-
manon was chosen Gar; and this illus
trious family still occupies the imperial
throne. And now the day of Russian
greatness dawned; but the sun was not
fairly up-the broad light opned not
upon the empre-uniii Peter came to
the throne.
In the department Of the Sloboda-
the suburbs of Moscow-aud very near
the river Moskwa, stood an humble cot ,
the exterior of which betrayed neat
ness Of arrangement and show of taste
that more than made up for its smallness
of size. Nor was ii so very small in fact,
but only In contrast; tor near at hand
about it stood many large, shabby dirty
looking structures tuat overlooked the
prIm cot, as bleak mountains may look
down upon verdant hili. And within,
this cot was as neat as without. The
two apartments III front, one of which
was only used in winter, were furnished
not only with neatnt IS, but with fair
show of ornament and luxury. Back OF
Al. ,I l,,,i,,,,
room, and two small bedrooms; and back
still from these as All artisans shop and
other outbuildings. This shop was de-
voted to the manufacture of firearms
mostly. Some swords, and other edged
weapons were made here upon special
application.
The gunmaker now stood by his
forge, watching the white smoke as il
curled up towards the throat of the
| chimney. He was a young man, moi
over three-and twenty, and possessed a
| frame of more than ordinary symmetry
and muscular development. He was no,
| large-not above medium siZe-but a
single glance at the swelling chest, the
broad shoulders, and the snewy ridges
| of the bare arms, told at once that he " as
master of great physical power. His
features were regular,yet strongly mark
ed, and eminently han1some; his brow
which was full and high, was half GOV.
cred by the light brown curls that waved
over IL; while his eyes, which were of q
bright, brilliant, deep gray IN color, lent
| a cast of genius to the intellect of the
brow. His name was Ruric Nevel. ii !:
| father had beeA killed in the then late
| war wit h the Turks, and the son, leav.
| ing his mother with a sulliciency of sus'
ienance, went TO Spain soon after the
bereavement. There he fouba work il
the most noted armories; and now, wei
| yersed In the trade, he had returned tc
his native city to follow his calling, ant
support his mother.
| Near by stood boy-Paul PeepOn-f
| bright, intelligent lad, some fifteen year:
of age, who had bound himself to the
yunmaker for the purpose of learning
the ant. His hair and his eyes were
darker than his masters, and II he pos
sessed not so much sound intellect, he
did surely possess an unwoDted degret
of keen, quick wit, and a principle o
answering integrity.
The sun had been some time below
the horizon, aud the only light of all,
consequence that made things PARTIAL.
visible within the shop came from TIL
dull blaze of the Goals OH the forge, a
Paul ever and anon bore down upon th'
brake that moved the bellows. Sudden
" Ruric started back from the forge a
his mind broke from the deep reverb
into which he had fallen, and having
bade his boy to see that matters were al
properly disposed for the night, he turn
ed towal DIS the door, AID was soon in tn
kitchen, where his mother had suppe
all prepared and set out.
| Claudia Newell was a noble-lookini
woman, and the light of her sLill hand
some countenance Was never brighte
than when gazing upon her boy. Sh
had seen the SHOWS of fifty winters, AM
If ,bey had left some silver upon he
head, and some age-marks upon her face
the sunshine of as many summers ha
left her with a thankful, loving heart
and prayefful, hopeful soul.
at is showing again faster than ever,
remarked Pau, as he took his seat a
the table.
"Ah," returned Ruric, resting hi
knife few moments while he beut hi
ear to listen to the voice of the storm
81 had hoped 'twould snow no more TO
the present, The snow Is deep enoug
now. And how it blows"
..Never mind" spoke the dame, in
trustful, easy tone, "it must storm whe
il listeth, and we can only thank Go
that we have shelter, and pray for thos
: who have none."
"Amenw responded Ruric, ferventlN
Afer this the trio remained som
minutes silent, seeming to be busy i
listening to the storm-notes rhat cam
healing about the cot. The wind wa
high. ana the snow now came dashin
mon the windows with dreary, me
ancholy sound. The meal was at lengt
: eaten. and the table set back, and shor
, ly afterwards Paul retired 10 his be-
/. II was his wont to retire early, for Il
4 rose betiInes to build the fires an' pr
a pare for the labors of the day. =,
Ruric drew his chair close up to IL
fireplace, and leaning against the Jal
he bowed his head and pondered agail
n This had become habit with him I
v late. Sometimes he would sit thl
y during a whole hour without speakin
o or even moving, and his mother did u,
,s interrupt him, as she supposed he mig
4 he solving some mechanical pioble
tho, had arisen to bother him. ii
these fits of thought had become LOO IT
l. ouent, too lengthy, and too mpody,
: such a HYPOTHESIS, and the good wolnl
n was forced to believe that they we
caused by something more remote Uni