The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-02-18
Selected Storm.
How Yassili Helped the Little
Father.

tai of Moscovy, the seat for five Hmm
dred years of the potent Tsars, whose
glory is memorized in the mighty palace
of the Kremlin that they built, was Ill
a state of uproar and terror. Napoleon
had won his first success over Russian
arms at Smolensk, and the dreaded
French were slowly but surely advanc-
ing. Couriers were hourly arriving with
the latest news of the enemy, and the
inhabitants of the surrounding territory
were coming into the city in crowds
great landowners with their carriages
and treasures, women and children, and
vast numbers of serfs, all eager to escape
plumber and outrage from the hands of
a foreign soldiery.
The streets of the city were crowded
with excited throngs of people, the
churches were full of worshipers, and
every hour the excitement increased
and the multitude grew larger. Every
one had some plan that he wished fol-
lowed; and the clamorous voices made
din that even the voice of authority
in the shape of policeman or mounted
aide-de-camp could not quell. " What
will our father do?" Russia needs
every one of her sons to fight for the
Tsar." " Moscow must not be given
over to the enemy" 1--WE will all die
to save our good fatherl" These were
the cries of the crowds in the street;
and in the dim, solemn churches the
priests chanted, and clouds of incense
rose under the pointed minarets and
Dubious golden domes, while many
pious devotee called on Saint Ivan and
on all the saints to save their beloved
city from the polluted touch of con-
sueror.
In one of the streets in the west of
the boulevard of Prechistenka, in full
sight of the shining minarets and Gu
polas of the Kremln. stood the palatial
residence of Count Dimitri Ballonsky,
one of the proudest of the ancient no.
bility. The count was hopeless Grip
pie since a cannon-ball had shattered
both legs at the knee at the battle of
Austerlitz; but he had young son,
now lad of fourteen or Whereabouts,
who thought he was quite old enough
to serve his country and his emperor.
Young Vassili had just come in from
the street, his face flushed and his eyes
shining with excitement.
" Pdpenkd," he said, in his changing
voice, which was sometimes bass and
sometimes treble, "what shall we all
do? BOnaparte is coming, and Moscow
must be saved. The little father needs
the help of every true Russian. My
mind is quite made up; you and ma
menka must let me 60 into the service"
6 BOzhe MOL A fine soldier you
would make, daShka," replied his
father. "When was he weaned mother,
this baby of ours?"
Don't laugh, popenka. We must
really make sacrifice, and there are
younger lads in the service than l.
There's Feodor Oberovitch, and -
ooh, yes, and yes. And what
commission do you seek, my young
aragoon?"
"If l can only serve the emperor, l
am content" answered Vassili. "The
little father needs me, thou knowest
that he does. We must make some
sacrifice. And l would so love to fight
for my country"
Count Ballonsky looked thoughtfully
at his son. He remembered how he,
too, when boy, had sought service
against the Turk. He recalled the
evening he went to the Kremlin, which
was all blazing with lights and bright
colors, and the cold sneer on Potem-
kin's face when he asked for the en-
press. His cheeks flush even now with
feeling of hate against the favorite.
How the lamps flashed their radiance
over the malachite and jasper wall and
the jeweled dress of the Empress
Catherinel His fancy brings up before
him again short, stout woman, with a
fat, sallOw face, her smiles and her
words of hattery when she gave him
audience. What wonder that his boy
wished to serve her imperial grandson,
the kind, gracious Alexander?
" AkhW he exclaimed, after time,
ego to the emperor, boy. If he wants
you, he will take YOU"
And Vassili went, his heart beating
fast at the thought of speaking with his
emperor, He had put on his best suit,
standing before the mirror long time
to comb his hair and arrange his collar
so as to make them look as full grown
men wore theirs. He had also fortified
himself with fine speech to make at
the proper time when the Tsar should
ask him his errand.
All the streets by which the Kremlin
was approached were thronged, and
Vassili could not keep from being
jostled. Though he put on a decidedly
threatening face and digniiied air, no
one seemed to consider that he was of
any consequence. Once he angrily dug
his elbows into the sides of two men
who were crowding him.
Hal two can play at that game, my
young rooster" cried one of the fel
lows, who seized him by the nape OF
the neck, and shook him as a dog would
shake marmot.
Do not hurt the BARN: he is noble.
mans son!" exclaimed woman, com.
passionately, who saw by his rich dress
that he was of high rank, and had pity
for his young, handsome face.
Way therei Way for his majesty
the TsarP' shouted voice of author,
ity; and two mounted aides-de-camI
at that moment broke the crowd like
sharp wedge. Behind them followed {
whole regiment of Polish lancers, ant
then, mounted on horse black as