Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-02
THE auNwAyER OF MOSCOW.
Ta,e OF the Empire Under Peter the
Great.
CHAPTER L.
TIT cy-,-,I,KrR AND THE MONK.

tional night. The Tartar yoke had beel
worn till the very bones of the natioi
were CALLED and when this was thrown
OFF civil dissensions and lnsurrectloni
commenced. The Poles and Swedes plun
dered the country, and amid general tn
multi and confusion some half dozen meI
were clamoring for the throne. AT length
a few patriotic citizens, pledglng every
thing they held dear on earth to the
cause eff freedom from this curse of anar-
chy, and headed by noble prince and an
humble, patriotic butcher, made a bold
stand to save the country. Moscow was
retaken. and Michael Romanotf was
chosen Gar and this illustrious family
still occupies the imperial throne. And
now the day of Russian greatness dawned
but the sun was not fairly up-the broad
light opened not upon the empire-until
Peter came TO the throne
In the department of the Sloboda-the
suburbs of Moscow-and very near the
river Moskwa. stood an humble cot, the
exterior of which betrayed n neatness of
arrangement and show of taste that more
than made up for its smallness of size.
Nor was it SO very small i'll fact, but only
in contrast for near at hand about it
stood many large, shabby, dirty-looking
structures that overlooked the prim cot,
as bleak mountains may look down upon
verdant hill And within, this cot was
rs neat as without. The two apartments
i'll front, one of which was only used in
winter, were furnished not only with neat
"a. WIN a iati sno" Vi oin',nien' mem
anu iuAui!- Dach Vi 'nese were i1iS1
io1Niii9 anu uiliins aiiu tmo siiiail
, ue'tioohis aiiu pacA sun rom lheSe was
ali al 'iSHii MI sup anu o',ie
49,, -' f ,ir, I'll, III" c,,, :i,an
- al r. - ,,,ao,t,,., ~
,,,oda barn -, s,,ac;sI a,,,,I;nst;n,,
M, T.. r.. III H.. ~; e
,r,t.i,i;7,- H., 1t s,ols &c y cnrlod ~,
+n,,.a,.ls a. tL,.o.. of tlo ob;n,,ar ua
No., - ,,a,, No. 49,, - 81
t,ra,t, ~ sa,saaI ,. -, l,f -,
a., - e'-"-''.",'.,.. - -.
JaI.alo,,orna,,j IL - ,at IargT, ~
al,o1-a i',,i;,-,-, -. ,,,. s;n,ia f,1anoa
inei;ili .I'' St1noo
al a. ;I-,, i, -. ~ tho lar
I'll at nc Not he ,yas master of nr,aot
,,b,s;..l ,,,,,,ar u;s faatrr,s ,ro,, 80,
far 80 ,t~1,,e,i,- ,,artoI anJ an,inentI,
- -, f.; -. ii, 49,, eli ~
t;lrp, T, ,if',.'I w.. a.. III. r.,
an7I ,I,.,, ,I-a,.I avon, =. Ill, hi
which w., ,,r a hr;1b+ hr;II;ant iao,'
c,ra,- :, - la,,t .as. ,f l,,,,;i,s ,I.,
i,,+aIIna. ,f +Io hr,,, n ,,e,,,,, ,,a, IN
r;a Nj IL fa.I,or I,aJ -, l.;Il,1 :,
tLa a., lot, ,,o,. III, tba I'll, an1 ,t.,
san ieav;ng his motber with a snt,iciancy
.f ,,,.,,,.,,1,, -. =, G., -, So, !
the bereavement. There he found work
in the most noted armories and now.
well versed in the trade, he hal returned
to his native city to follow his calling.
and support his mother
Near by stood Il bov-Paul Peepon-a
bright. intelligent lad. some fifteen wears
of age, who had bound himself TO the
punlnaker for the purpose of learning the
art His hair and his ewes were darker
than his masters. and if he possessed not
so nucb snrnd intellect he dill surely
nossess su unwouteJ d.orea of Eean
quick wit. and a principal of unswerving
integrity.
The sun had been some time below the .
horizon. and the only light of any CON
sequence that made things partially yisi-
ble within the shop came from the dull .
blaze of the Goals on the forge. as Paul |
ever and anon bore down upon the brake .
that moved the bellows. Suddenly Ruric .
started back from the forge rs his mind .
broke from the deep revere into which he .
had fallen. and having babe his boy to
see that matters were all properly dis .
posed for the night he turned towards /
the door. and was soon i'm the kitchen
where his mother had sumner NIL prepared .
and set ont.
f,1,,,.1io I-o,.,1 ,,,,,,Io ,I.;,,a.,..,,
,,'ii' LII ~, I'll. va" r. b Iii II W.
llai' ''i',' '-.' ii' VI nei I'm I'm
.D%l,''-s,,i IL, aa.,;,'o. "as ~ ~ SL 'i'a hi
WV, W" A. -'ii5 "p',' .T est,i ''NS ii'i r.
a.. Ia lof, IL. H., -. In III
--'',i y ',,''-is a.
sunshine of as many summers had left
her with thankful, loving heart. and a
praverfnl. hopeful soul.
1T is showing again. faster than ever"
remarked Paul. ms he took his seat at the
table.
"Ab returned Ruric resting his knife
\ few moments while he bent his ear TO
listen to the voice of the storm. Il had
hopeI twould snow no mora for the pres-
ent. The snow is deep enough now. And
how If blows -
..Never mind - smoke tbe dame in -
trustful easy tone ..it must storm when
if listetb. and We can only thank God that
We have shelter. and pray for those who
have none"
"Amen - responded Ruric. feryently.
After this the trio remained some min
utes silent. seeming TO he busv in listen
ing to the storm-notes that came pealing
about the cot. The wind WIS liah. and
the snow now came dashing upon the win
dows with a dreary. melancholy sound
The meal was at length eaten. and the
table set back. and shortly afterwards
Paul retired to his bed. 1t was his wont
to retire carly. for he rose betimes to build
the fires and prepare for the labors of the
day.
Ruric drew his chair close up to the
fireplace. and leaning against the Jam he
bowed his head and pondered again. This
had become habit with him of late.
Sometimes he would sit thus during
whole hour without speaking. or even
moving, and his mother did not interrupt
him. as she supposed he might be solving
some mechanical problom that had arisen
to bother him. But these fits Of thought
had become too frequent. too lengthy. and
too moody, for such hypothesis, and
the good woman was forced to believe
that they were caused by something more
remote than the business Of the forge or
the lathe. The youth POW sal with his
brow resting unon his hand and his ewes
bent upon the hearth. For half am hour
he had not moved, and his face wore an
anxious. troubled look.
.Ruric. nv son smoke the mother. at
length. in n low kind tone. .'what is it
that occupies vour thoughts so much ?"
The Young man started and turned his
gaze npon his mother
..Did Won sneak ia me mother >" he
asked. after having recalled his mind To
things about bim
.yoa -t..;, ar r,.t.
iIS ~ sns s'i.' uiu 9i',aA
~ SoI -, ',H' .1. ~" "''"' 1t ""N 'ii'''
'"si''t Soil .ila tno.isn.s tI-,t ., -.
close TO where Ruric sat and placed her
hand upon his arm