Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-01-17
the STORY or CATHERINE.

| Peter the Great, who was born 10
Moscow. on June 10. 1872. and died
in st. Petersburg. on Feb. s. 1725.
was the Emperor who In few years
changed Russia from a country Of
half savage tribes into great Euro
pean nation. He was once visiting
one of his officers, and saw in his
house young girl. who attracted his
attention by her beauty and graceful
manners.
|. This girl was . prisoner. named
Martha, and she was living as sort
of servant and housekeeper in the
family of the Russian officer. She
had been taken prisoner when the
town she lived in was captured. No.
body knows, even to this day. exact
ly who she was, except that she was
poor orphan girl, who had been brought
Dup by a village clergyman; but it is
sbelieved that her father waa Livon-
Plan peasant.
Martha's beauty and the brightness
of her mind pleased the Emperor so
|pnch that after q while ie made up
ais mind ia marrxher alss-ch.e C her.
E,humble origin. Petsr - ySthe hab-
ut of doing pretty much Is be pleased,
whether his mobiles liked It or not. hat
even he dared not make captive
peasant girl the Empress of Russia.
Pile therefore married her privately,
jim the presence of q few of his nearest
friends, who were charged to keep
the secret. Before the marriage took
place. he had Martha baptized in the
Russian Church and changed her name
sto Catherine.
n Now, Peter had bad habit Of los
ling his temper. and getting SO angry
that he fell into fits. As he was an
tabsolute monarch, and could do what
iever he liked, it was very dangerous
sfor anybody to 60 near him when he
Twas angry. he could have head
|lchopped off as easily as he could or
der his breakfast. But he was very
tfond of Catherine, and she was the
only person who was not in the least
ksfraid of him. She soon learned how
to- manage him, and even in his worst
|; fits she could soothe and quiet the old
\bear.
~ Peter was nearly always at war.
Sand in spite of the hardships and dan
Rgers of the battlefield. Catherine near
1 ly always marched with him at the
head Of the army. The soldiers won
ldered at her bravery, and learned to
like her more than anybody else. If
food was scarce, the roads rough, and
fhe marches long. they remembered
Ethat Catherine was with them, and
were ashamed to grumble. II she
}could stand the hardships and face
the dangers. they thought rough sol
oilers ought not TO complain
= Catherine was Q wise woman. as
| well a. brave one. She soon learned
ms much Of the art of war as Peter
l4new, and in every time of doubt or
difficulty her advice was asked. and
Der opinion counted for as much as il
shS had been one Of the generals. Af-
tel she had thus shown how able a
wdIman she was, and had won the
friet tndship Of everybody about her by
her good temper and her pleasant
wayA Peter publicly announced his
| narrislge and declared Catherine to
be his twifs and Czarina. But still he
did not crown her.
, This I gas in the year I'LL. and i'm.
| mediateII afterward Peter marched
| into the 4 urkish country at the head
of 40OO6 men. This army was mol
nearly latge enough 70 meet the Turks
but Petef had armies in different
| places. aid ordered al Of them t.
| meet him ON the march. For variou,
raasons ali khese armies failed to ioir
U E<~~l Le~-~~fr 49, N.