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A
FROM PEASANT TO
PRINCE:
THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER MENSCHIKOFF.
FREELY TRANSLATED FROM THE
M. A. PIETZKER.
LONDON :
GRIFFITH AND FARRAN,
CORNER OF S
i CHURCHYARD.
Jl/0.
321 i
MURRAY AND GIBB, EDINBURGd,
PRINTERS TO HBR MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.
CONTENTS.
♦
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
THE LITTLE PIE MERCHANT, I
CHAPTER II.
THE MOTHER, 12
CHAPTER III.
THE CONSPIRACY, 25
CHAPTER IV.
THE DANGER, 33
CHAPTER V.
THE RUSE, 41
CHAPTER VI.
TREASON, 57
vi Contents.
CHAPTER VII.
PROMOTION,
CHAPTER VIII.
THE UNWELCOME GUEST, .
F -A. I^ T II
CHAPTER I.
HUMAN FRAILTY,
• •••••«
CHAPTER II.
DISGRACE,
CHAPTER III.
THE TRIAL,
CHAPTER IV.
REPENTANCE AND RELAPSE,
CHAPTER V.
THE DEATH OF PETER THE GREAT,
• •
Contents. vii
CHAPTER VI.
PACK
CATHERINE, 138
CHAPTER VII.
PETER II., 144
Fj^-Rrr III.
CHAPTER I.
THE FALL, I5l
CHAPTER II.
THE DEPARTURE, 1 58
CHAPTER III.
EXILE, 165
CHAPTER IV.
FIDELITY, 172
CHAPTER V.
RETRIBUTION, l8l
CHAPTER VI.
THE AURORA BOREALIS, 190
Vlll
Contents.
CHAPTER VII.
DEATH,
CHAPTER VIII.
RSPENTANCE,
CHAPTER IX.
RELEASE,
• • • • •
• •
FROM PEASANT TO PRINCE.
CHAPTER I.
THE LITTLE PIE MERCHANT.
lES all hot, all hot! Who'll buy my
pies — my smoking hot pies?' cried
a lad about twelve years of age, ad-
vancing gaily towards a group of soldiers that
were guarding the entrance of the Kremlin.
' Ah, Saasha, my lad, it is a long time since I
set eyes on thee,* said one of the soldiers, when
he saw the young pieman ; ' what hast got good
on thy tray.?'
'What should I have but pieSj^^smoking hot
pies.?' said -the boy. 'Will you not buy some.?
I warrant me you'll lick your fingers when you
have tasted them ; they're downright good ones,
they are.*
2 From Peasant to Prince:
'If we had but wherewith to buy them,
observed another ; ' but times are bad, my lad ;
no one can think of buying pies now/
*Well, you know best, but they are famous
ones, I can tell you,' answered the boy, as he
turned away and began to sing —
* Who'll buy my pies, my nice hot pies ?
Do but taste how good they are :
No one can tell but he who tries ;
But if he knew, he*d come from far,
To buy my pies, my smoking pies.*
And he was moving on, when one of the soldiers
called after him,
* Whither away so fast, Saasha ? Come, thee
may just as well stay with us a few minutes and
give us a song or two/
' I have no time now,* said the little pieman,
I must be off and sell my pies/
' Why, thee can't do better than remain where
thee art to get rid of your pies ; plenty of folks
will soon be going by who will only be too glad
to buy them/
'Sing, deary, sing us a song; do now,' said
another in a coaxing voice.
' Well, be it so,' said the lad ; ' but, mind, you
must open both ears ;' and clearing his throat he
began —
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 3
* Come, honest folks and gentlemen,
Hither haste, hither haste.
To listen to my song, and then,
My pies all smoking hot to taste.
* Of the very finest flour they're made,
Of raspberry and honey sweet ;
And here are cakes of marmalade —
Then hither haste my pies to eat.
* Take not my word : he who is wise
Will buy them for himself, aind see
That all my cakes, and tarts, and pies
Are really nice as pies can be.
Then buy my pies, my smoking pies.
Hither haste and buy my pies.'
' Ah ! honoured sir ! will you not try some of
my pies ?' said he, springing forward towards a
merchant who was passing. The latter smiled,
looked good-naturedly at the handsome, merry-
hearted boy, and purchased some of his pastry.
The lad raised his cap, thanked him, and went
back to the soldier, who begged him to go on
with his song, which he did as follows :
* Come, hither haste and quickly choose.
Pick out my melting, puffy pies ;
No one who has a grosh will lose —
Then hither haste ; who buys, who buys ?
* Who buys the most, soon rich will be.
The change they work so wonderful ;
They'll rise from low till high degree —
Then come and cram your mouths quite full.
4 From Peasant to Prince:
* And you Streltzee, fine fellows all,
With curled moustache and eagle eye,
Listen well I obey my call —
Hither haste my pies to buy.
* Soldiers you'll not long remain,
Sergeants soon you all will be,
And rich rewards you're sure to gain —
Theil come and buy nice pies of me.
* Maidens, what shall I say to you ?
If you do but buy my pies.
You'll soon find husbands brave and true.
With curled moustache and eagle eyes —
Then buy my pies, my nice hot pies.
Oh ! hither haste and buy my pies.'
At this moment several persons approached
the young pieman and began to buy his pastry,
which he dealt out to all with great dexterity,
accompanied with a polite and witty word to
each customer. When all were 'served, he went
on with his song, but in a different strain —
* Do you know why my pies are so nice and so rich ?
They were made at Melainey's, the wonderful witch ;
Who teaches the cook such nice dishes to make.
Who teaches the baker such good bread to bake.
* We go there at midnight, and whom do we meet ?
Why, all the brave spirits that bow at her feet ;
Some come from quite near, and some from afar.
Some ride on a broomstick, some on a bright star.
* A pestle and mortar serves one for a car.
That's Melainey's old cousin the Baba Yagar ;
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 5
She brings famous receipts for all the nice pies,
And to make them so light and puffy to rise.
* We stop there all night among spirits so bold,
We listen to stories that make the blood cold ;
We learn to be clever, and witty, and wise,
And we find in the morning the finest of pies.
Then come buy my pies,
My smoking hot pies,
Come quickly, come quickly to purchase my pies.'
'Well done, Saasha, well done, bravo, my
boy ! * said the Streltzi ; * what say you, com-
rades ? We must pay him for his song ; so
let us club together, and buy some of his
cakes.* And they gathered round the lad.
* I like brave fellows,* said the young pieman,
repeating the air,
* Come buy my pies,
My smoking pies.
Hither haste and buy my pies.'
But just at that moment a couple of ill-look-
ing drunken Streltzi came staggering along the
streets : the lad took up his tray, bade the sen-
tinels good-bye, and was going quietly on his
way, when one of the tipsy soldiers stumbled
up against him.
'Why do you push so, fellow.^* said one of
them, raising his hand, about to strike the boy ;
but dropped it on seeing his tray, and asked.
6 From Peasant to Prince:
' What hast got here ? Pies, eh ? A very good
thing when one is hungry/
* Treat us, dearie,' said the other.
' Willingly,* answered the pastry-cook, * if you
have wherewith to pay.*
'Wherewith to pay, indeed !* added the other.
' What dost thou mean, fellow ? Don't you see
who we are ? You may be thankful we deign
to buy your paltry pies, and proud to trust us,
or even to give them to us gratis!
'I would do so with all my heart; but the
pies are not mine — they are my master's.*
'As to your master, we have nought to do
with him. Give us some of the pies without
more ado,' said the soldier, stretching out his
hand towards the tray.
The lad, trembling for his pies, took a step
or two backwards, and was about to try to effect
his escape, when the other laid hold of him by
the collar; and the pies would certainly have
fallen a prey to their greedy hands had not the
cunning of the boy come to his aid.
' Do not touch the pies,* said he hardily ; ' I
am going to take them to the palace for the
young Czar, Peter Alexaievitch.*
The soldiers stopped, but it was only for a
moment. They belonged to the savage band
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 7
of ruffianly men who caused so much disorder
at that time ; adherents of the Czarina, Sophie
Alexaievna, who kept them in her service, and
took every opportunity to incite them to open
rebellion. They soon seized the poor boy's tray,
and overwhelming him with every kind of abuse,
peremptorily ordered him to give them some
pies. In vain did he endeavour to defend his
master's property ; two or three of the pies
had already fallen into their hands, when foot-
steps were heard behind them, and a stern voice
was heard demanding to know the cause of the
disturbance.
At the sound of that voice the Streltzi ^
trembled, for they knew it but too well. The
young pastry-cook, on looking round, perceived
an officer in full uniform. His persecutors had
fallen back, picking up some of the pies that
had been thrown down in the scuffle. He put
them on his tray, and was about to move on-
ward, when the officer, approaching, said kindly,
' Have these drunken soldiers hurt you, my
lad ? '
* Streltzi is the plural of Strelitz — a regiment which formed
the body-guard of Sophie, the sister of Peter the Great, and
which r^ment she took every opportunity of exciting against
her brother ; so that Peter was obliged to have recourse to the
most violent measures to keep them in anything like order.
8 From Peasant to Prince:
' Not much, sir/ answered he ; ' but they have
taken three of my pies, and I know not how I
shall make them good to my master.*
' Methought I heard you say you were carry-
ing them to the young Czar/ said the officer.
The boy hung down his head, and blushed
scarlet. ' I only said that to frighten the sol-
diers, and thus try to get rid of them,* said he,
ashamed that he had been detected in a false-
hood. * Is it likely that the Czar would eat such
pies as these, — he who can have as many as he
likes, much better than my master can make } *
'Why did you say you were carrying them
to Peter, and not to John ? '
The boy raised his eyes with surprise to the
officer, and, noticing his full uniform, he took
off his cap as he answered respectfully : ' I
scarcely know myself, honoured sir; the name
of Peter came more naturally and readily to
my tongue.*
' Did it really ? * said the officer with a smile ;
and the lad, who was not backward in perceiv-
ing the smile, went on more boldly.
' To say the truth, sir, good people hope more
from Peter Alexaievitch, and bad ones fear him
most. I know not whether I am good for any-
thing; but I do know that my heart bounds
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 9
again whenever I see our hopeful sovereign, the
young and handsome Czar Peter/
* You have seen him, then ? '
' I have seen him many times. And oh !
how brave he looks ! how handsome he is !
how grand-looking ! Many a time have I run
all the way to Preobrajensky, and have been
almost beside myself for joy when I got there
in time to see the soldiers at their exercise.
Ah! they are brave fellows, they are. How
cleverly they handle their muskets ! how
quickly they face about ! how they wheel
round as though they were but one man !
fire off a hundred cannon-balls like nothing,
from a breastwork like a thick wall with
their crossed bayonets! It would cost their
enemies some little trouble to break through
the rampart. Surely nothing could withstand
them ; the whole earth seems to tremble under
them. But, sir,' continued the boy, with in-
creasing ardour, 'even they are as nothing
when compared with Peter Alexaievitch ; he
surpasses them all in strength, in beauty, and
in dexterity. Oh ! he is indeed,' added he en-
thusiastically, ' like a young eagle in the clouds !'
The officer listened with evident pleasure to
the youth's animated speech.
lo From Peasant to Prince:
'What is your name?' asked he at length,
when he paused, out of breath with his excite-
ment.
' Alexander Menschikoff/
' Have you any relations ?'
' Only a mother.'
* How do you get your living ?'
' As you see, honoured sir, — by selling pies for
a master who pays me well ; and very good they
are, I can assure you. Will not your honour try
them ? Perhaps you would find them good.*
* Not now,* said the officer, again smiling ; * I
may perhaps be tempted some other time ; but
tell me,* continued he, * do you know Le Fort }'
* I have never seen him,* said the youth, ' but
I have heard a great deal about him. He is, I
think, colonel of the Patieshnicks.*
' Just so ; dress yourself in your very best,
and come to-morrow morning to the palace and
ask for Le Fort.*
' To the palace !* said the boy, startled.
* To the palace,' repeated the officer ; ' what
have you to be afraid of .^ Come to the palace
and ask for Le Fort.*
' I will not fail,* said Alexander.
' Good-bye, then, for the present I shall ex-
pect you early to-morrow,* said the officer ; ' and
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. ii
mind you continue to admire and love Peter
Alexaievitch, the future hope of Russia.'
With these words the officer left the young
pieman, who looked after him till he was out
of sight, with mingled feelings of surprise and
admiration ; then, putting his cap jauntily on
one side of his head, and looking upon this
meeting as a favourable prognostic, he began to
sing loudly and more merrily than ever :
* Hither haste and quickly choose,
Pick out my melting, puffy pies ;
No one who has a grosh shall lose —
Hither haste ! Who buys ? Who buys ? '
CHAPTER II.
THE MOTHER.
EVERAL months had elapsed ^ince the
events related in the last chapter, and
the year 1686 was drawing to its close.
In a remote corner of Moscow there stood
a small isolated wooden hovel : it was a crazy,
dilapidated old building, all on one side, threaten-
ing to fall into complete ruins at every moment.
The tiny windows of this house, if windows they
might be called — for they consisted but of one
pane of thick glass — were thickly covered with
ice ; still the feeble glimmer of a light might be
seen from time to time, and served to show that,
notwithstanding its ruinous condition, it was
evidently the dwelling-place of some human
creature. It was evening ; but though not very
late, nowhere else was there a light to be seen ;
the few inhabitants of this remote and poverty-
stricken quarter of the town seemed already to
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 13
be buried in sleep : one alone was watching,
anxiously watching, and that was a lonely,
patient widow woman ; but she was a mother.
The street was hushed in repose, but not in
darkness ; for the bright moon rode high in the
heavens, casting her silvery light over the roofs
of the houses, and reflecting their dark and
motionless shadows in long lines on the white
earth — ^white with its pure mantle of spotless
snow. Not a sound was to be heard save the
creaking of the wicket gate, as it swung to and
fro on its crazy hinges ; for it was as old as the
hut itself, and kept up a moaning, as if answer-
ing to the whistling of the wind, as it swept in
gusts round the dreary spot.
But now the door opens, and on its threshold
appears a middle-aged woman, looking long and
anxiously down the street, but looks in vain ;
she heaves a deep sigh, closes the gate, and
again enters her lonely dwelling ; but not for
long. Ere many minutes have elapsed, she is
there again, regardless of wind and cold, peer-
ing into the distance, shading her eyes with her
hand, and seeming to listen with her whole
soul.
This time her patient watching was rewarded :
a slight rustling noise fell upon her ear, the
T4 From Peasant to Prince :
crisp snow creaked under the step of one who
appeared to be approaching the house ; and
you might almost have heard the beating of
the poor widow's heart, as she stood there with
clasped hands, stretching her head forward to
catch the first glimpse of the expected one.
At that moment the moon, as if taking pity
on her feverish anxiety, emerged from behind
a dark cloud which had veiled her light for a
time, and cast her brightest rays over the ap-
proaching object. The woman rushed down
the street, and throwing her arms round the
neck of a handsome youth, exclaimed —
' My Saasha, my own darling, at last I behold
thee once more : how long, how very long have
I been expecting thee, my son ! '
'Mother dear,* said the lad, kissing her on
both cheeks, 'how are you.? But come into
the house, come quickly — you will catch cold —
how lightly you are clad !* and he hurried her
into the house.
Cold ! what was the cold to her ? She felt
it not. Was she not his mother ? — a mother who
had not feasted her eyes on her only child for
oh, so long, so long ! — her son, whom she had
been so impatiently expecting, yet so patiently
waiting for ; and now he was there before those
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 15
longing eyes ; and what was cold or heat, hunger
or thirst, to her ?
A mother's love! divine and holy flame,
hidden far down in the depths of woman's
heart, and called forth by God himself ! What
can be compared to it ? Have you ever thought
of it, my young readers ? Do you ever call to
mind what you owe to the love of a mother —
a loving, watchful mother ? Do you ever regret
the uneasiness, the anxiety, the pain you have
so frequently caused her, either intentionally or
unwittingly ? Do you remember how she has
watched over you in sickness, sat by your bed-
side, and, with angelic patience, listened to
your complaints, smoothed your pillow, — utter-
ing words of tenderness and hope, never weary-
ing of her task, forgetting food and rest that
nought might disturb your tranquillity, — smiling
upon you when her own heart was torn with
anguish ? And then her joy, her unspeakable
joy, when it pleased God to hear her prayers
and restore her child to health ! Do you ever
think of this, dear children ? or have you repaid
her affection with coldness, perhaps with giddi-
ness and disobedience ? Happy child that you
are, if you have not. Believe me, dear reader,
the child that does not endeavour to the utmost
1 6 From Peasant to Prince:
to repay the love of his parents with love and
obedience, can never hope to be happy.
The mother, who had been so long awaiting
her son, was Nathalie Menschikoff, and the
youth she now clasped so fondly to her breast
was no other than our acquaintance of the last
chapter, Alexander Menschikoff, the little pie-
man, the future favourite of Peter the Great, —
the man destined to reach the highest step on
the ladder of fortune ; to attain the greatest
honours, the most exalted rank, even by noble-
men, of the vast empire of Russia.
In a few minutes mother and son entered an
inner room, which, though small and scantily
furnished, was as clean and tidy as hands could
make it. An image was hanging in one corner,
before which a well-trimmed lamp was burning
steadily and brightly. This image was that of
the patron saint of her child ; the oil in the
lamp was the purest that could be purchased ;
and the devoted mother would have sacrificed
more than one meal to procure it, — another
proof of a mother's love.
Nathalie with her own hands took off her
son's fur cloak, seated him on a bench, once
more threw her arms around him, and, looking
lovingly into his eyes, she kissed him over and
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 17
over again. The youth was well dressed, and
his whole appearance was very different from
what it had been when we first saw him follow-
ing his calling of pieman. After his first meet-
ing with Le Fort, the friend and preceptor of the
young Czar, Alexander repaired, as he had been
told, to the palace, where he was kindly received
by Le Fort, who conversed with him at some
length, and judged favourably of him by the
respectful and intelligent answers of the youth
to the various questions he put to him. He
quickly perceived that his talents might be
turned to good account, and that they might be
made subservient to the welfare of his country —
that country so much in need of bright sharp
lads like himself. He made inquiries as to his
character of the pastry-cook in whose service he
was ; and the information he received as to the
youth's probity, intelligence, and fidelity being
highly satisfactory, he made him the offer to
enter his service, and this offer was gratefully
accepted by the young pieman. And now, to
return to mother and son.
'What have you been doing all this long
time, my darling } I have been so uneasy
about you. How long it is since I saw you —
how many weeks !'
B
1 8 From Peasant to Prince:
' Only two, mother, mind,^ said the youth ;
' and, indeed, I have longed to see you. Will-
ingly would I run in every day ; but I have so
much to do, it has been quite impossible to
come till now/
' I can easily believe it, my child ; and, now I
look at you,, methinks you have grown some-
what thinner since I saw you last. Do you not
work too hard ? Perhaps your place is too
difficult for you.'
' I sometimes fear it, mother ; not that the
work is too hard, but all is so different from my
former mode of life, when I used to run about
the streets, sell pies, sing songs to tempt people
to buy them ; and when I had given the money
to my master, all my cares were over. Now, I
have to think and think, and have many duties
to perform, that I have not time to tell you of ;
but I am better paid, better dressed, as you
see. Look at my cafTtan — you have not re-
marked it ; see how richly it is embroidered —
the buttons are as bright as gold. I dressed
myself out all in my best, on purpose that you
might admire me, mother.' And as he spoke,
the eyes of the youth sparkled, and the germ
of ambition might already have been noticed
had any one observed him closely ; that ambi-
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 19
tion which was afterwards to prove so fatal
to him, united as it was to the most unpardon-
able and degrading cupidity.
But the fond mother foresaw none of this.
She had no eyes but for her child, her beloved
child. She had not, as he said, remarked his
fine clothes. What were all the fine clothes in
the world to her, when he was by i But now
that he called her attention to his dress, she
looked at him from top to toe, and clasping her
hands, she exclaimed in joyful surprise —
' Why, how smart you are ! I should scarcely
have known you. Why, I declare you are in
uniform !'
The youth raised his head proudly as he
answered, ' I am enrolled in the Paitieshnicks.'
* The Paitieshnicks ! I thought none but the
noblest of the noble were received into that
regiment'
* Nor are any, except by special favour of the
Czar ; and that favour he has granted me,' said
the boy proudly.
' But tell me, Saasha, how all this happened,'
said the mother, drawing nearer to him.
' You know, mother, I was engaged to enter
the service of Le Fort. There the Czar, who
came very often to visit his favourite preceptor,
20 From Peasant to Prince:
saw me, and was pleased to take notice of me.
It seemed as if he instinctively guessed how
dearly I loved and revered him. Once when
he came, not finding my master at home, he
said he would wait for him ; and while doing so,
he condescended to enter into conversation with
me, and spoke to me so affably.'
'The Czar himself! Peter Alexaievitch enter
into conversation with thee, my son?' cried his
mother, interrupting the youth in his narra-
tive.
' Yes, mother mine, the Czar himself. At first
my heart beat violently, and I could scarcely
find courage to answer him ; but by degrees all
my shyness vanished, for, as I said before, he
was so affable that I soon felt at my ease with
him. After some conversation on indifferent
subjects, our young sovereign asked me if I
should like to enter his service ; and so taken
by surprise was I, that I could not utter a word.
My next feeling was that of gratitude, which
prompted me to throw myself at his feet ; but
then I remembered myself, and firmly but re-
spectfully declined.'
*You declined entering the service of the
Czar?'
* How could I do otherwise ? Did I not owe
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 21
all that I have to my benefactor, Le Fort ? He
it was who first befriended me, drew me from
my obscure station, placed me about his own
person ; and was it not to him my whole life
should be devoted ? I felt that, so long as I had
strength to serve him, I should do so ; or at
least till he himself should absolve me from
that service. All this, and much more, did I
say to Peter Alexaievitch.'
'And he?'
* At first he frowned/
* Frowned ! Were you not frightened ?'
' Then he smiled, but such a smile ; and pat-
ting me kindly on the shoulder, he said, " Your
gratitude is the sure sign of a good heart. Never
cease to be grateful to Le Fort ; he deserves all
your love and respect. But, tell me candidly,
were you not his servant, would you have any
objection to be mine?" I answered that it
could never have entered my head that so great
a favour, so unlooked-for an honour, could fall to
my lot, but that I would willingly shed my last
drop of blood for him. At this he looked pleased,
rose, and, before taking his departure, said he
would speak to Le Fort, who would perhaps
have no objection to transfer my services from
himself to his sovereign.'
22 From Peasant to Prince:
' Oh, what condescension ! * said his mother,
with tears in her eyes.
* The very next day I entered the palace as
first gentleman-in-waiting to the Czar.'
' You, my son ?* said his mother, breathless ;
'you in the service of the Czar?'
' Yes, indeed, dear mother, so it is,' answered
Alexander ; ' and if you did but know how good
he is to me ! I cannot tell how I have deserved
all his kindness ; but this I do know, there is
nothing in the wide world I would not do to
prove my gratitude to him. Willingly would I
lay down my life for him. But stay, I have not
told you all. I am learning to read and write ;
I am to have masters to instruct me in all
necessary branches of military science ; and I
am so happy to learn, in order to raise myself
more to the height of those so kind to me — it is
so delightful to grow wiser and wiser every day.
I do all I can to profit by my instructions, both
for my own sake, and in order to give pleasure
to my noble benefactor.*
' May God preserve and bless him ; may He
return to him a hundredfold all his benefits,'
said the agitated mother, with tears running
down her cheeks.
* I have not come empty-handed,' said thq
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 23
youth. ' I have carefully hoarded every copeck,
that I might bring it to you ;* and he slowly
drew from his pocket a shabby leather purse,
very unlike the rest of his rich attire. Un-
drawing the strings, he spread the contents on
the table, looking at his mother as he did so*
He was not avaricious by nature, or he would
not have bestowed his savings on his widowed
parent; and yet the sight of the gold, as it
glittered on the table, produced a singular and
an unaccountable effect upon him. His eyes
sparkled, his hands trembled, and for a moment
he appeared loth to part with it. Was it be-
cause his childhood had been spent in poverty
that he had early learned to set an undue value
upon money ? or was it the germ of the inor-
dinate desire of wealth that afterwards proved
his ruin, already taking root i — ^that desire which
grew and grew, till it led him to commit the
crimes which caused the misfortunes and down-
fall of his family and himself.? But we will not
anticipate.
The youth, after counting the money very
carefully, placed it in little heaps on the table,
returning the empty purse to his pocket.
Nathalie took the gift, because it came from
her boy : it would have been the same to her
24 From Peasant to Prince.
if it had been so many pebbles; but it came
from him. She kissed him, with tears in her
eyes ; they conversed some time longer together,
and then Alexander began to think of returning
to the palace. Oh ! how willingly would the
poor mother have given up all her money, and
all the grandeur of her child, to have had him
once more with her as of yore ! But, alas ! this
could never be again. They were obliged to
part. So she blessed him, bade him God speed,
and accompanied him into the street, down
which she followed him with her loving eyes, as
long as the slightest outline of his figure was
visible, and then returned to the house, to feed
upon the promise he had made her to visit her
again as soon as possible ; and after trimming
the lamp before the image, she prayed fervently
to God to bless her child, and his benefactor the
Czar ; after which she lay down in her bed to
sleep. To sleep ? No sleep came to her eyes
— to ponder over all he had related to her.
CHAPTER .III.
THE CONSPIRACY.
MOTHER'S prayers were not offered
in vain : Menschikoff grew dearer and
dearer every day to the young Czar,
who found him, as Le Fort had described him,
intelligent, diligent, and faithful, — performing
his duties conscientiously and devotedly ; and
although enrolled among the Patieshnicks, not
looking upon it as a degradation to wait upon
his beloved master, for such he regarded his
sovereign and benefactor, and his gratitude was
unbounded.
Nature had bestowed upon him talents of a
superior order ; he possessed, moreover, an ex-
cellent memory, which enabled him to conquer
difficulties that would have been insurmount-
able to many, and to acquire much valuable
knowledge, and a considerable insight into many
branches of science. He was punctual in the
26 From Peasant to Prince:
performance of his duties, and patiently endured
the frequent outbursts of hasty temper from the
sovereign to whom he owed so much : this could
not fail to gain the heart of the generous mon-
arch, who placed unlimited confidence in him.
Nor was that confidence misplaced, for Menschi-
koff looked upon it as his bounden duty to bend
his will to that of the sovereign, and to study
his character, in order to be ever ready to devote
himself to him, and to forestall his least desires
as much as possible, without being servile. It
is therefore no wonder that he obtained not only
the confidence, but the love of his sovereign. He
never, however, forgot what he owed Le Fort ; he
took advantage of every opportunity to testify
his gratitude to his former benefactor, by fur-
thering the views of that good and great man,
and aiding him in all his plans for the welfare
of the people.
And thus several years passed away. In 1695
the Czar declared war against Turkey, with the
view of adding Azoph to his empire, and thus
prevent the Tartars from making incursions on
the borders of Russia. He accompanied his
army to Varonish, and thence to Azoph ; and in
several skirmishes which took place, MenschikofT
signalized himself by his bravery, and gave many
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 27
unequivocal proofs of his attachment to his
sovereign, who, in his turn, lavished on his
favourite marks of approbation and affection.
After the taking of Azoph, during the tri-
umphant entry of the troops into Moscow, it was
in vain that the good Nathalie sought her son
among the bands of soldiers ; and^ she returned
weeping to her desolate home, persuaded that
he had perished in the war. How, then, shall we
describe her joy, when, on entering the court-
yard of the little wooden hut, with which we
have already made acquaintance, and which her
son had vainly endeavoured to persuade her to
quit, she saw a tall, handsome young officer, who
rushed towards her, and, falling upon her neck,
saluted her by the fond and endearing name of
mother ? He remained with her nearly all day,
relating to her all that had happened to him,
rejoicing her maternal heart by an account of
the Czar's affection for him, and listening, in his
turn, to all her endearing epithets, and all her
fond, admiring congratulations.
As he was returning home late in the evening,
thinking of his mother's joy and his own good for-
tune, he was so absorbed in his reverie that he paid
no attention to the way he had taken, and thus
found himself in an unknown quarter of the town.
28 From Peasant to Prince:
About half-way between his mother's cottage
and the palace, a sound as of many voices fell
upon his ear, and looking up, he perceived a
handsome house brilliantly lighted up.
On inquiry, he was told it belonged to one
Sokovnine, commanding-colonel of the Streltzi,
a man of turbulent character, well known to be a
devoted partisan of the Czarevna Sophie Alex-
aievna, and suspected of forming and encouraging
many plots against the life of the young Czar.
Menschikoff was about to pass the house,
when he changed his mind, and as if attracted
by some irresistible impulse he could not ac-
count for, he approached the window and peeped
in. Among the guests there assembled, the
young man recognised many of the turbulent
Streltzi, whom he knew openly to belong to
the Czarevna's party, and he did not for one
moment doubt that they were engaged in plot-
ting some new infamy.
From the number of empty flagons on the
table, from the goblets scattered here and there,
it was evident the guests had been assembled
some time : the thick voices, bloodshot eyes,
and unsteady gait were sufficient indications of
the manner in which the time had been em-
ployed, and how the guests had been engaged.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 29
Some were standing round Sokovnine, speaking
fast and gesticulating furiously, the fierce ex-
pression of their countenances leaving no doubt
as to the subject of their discussion ; but in
spite of all his endeavours, he could not catch
a single word of their discourse. Certain, how-
ever, that they were actuated by no good
motive, and fearing that his sovereign's life
might be in danger, he was determined, if pos-
sible, to discover their intentions, and avert, if
it were in his power, their evil machinations.
Retiring from the window as noiselessly as
he could, Menschikoff approached the wicket
leading to the courtyard, but found it was
fastened inside. After reflecting a moment,
and looking around him to be sure that he was
not observed, he jumped lightly over the low
wooden paling which surrounded the house.
When once in the courtyard, he groped his
way stealthily on, with the intention of seeking
an entrance; but at that moment a door creaked
on its hinges : he heard approaching footsteps,
and had only time to conceal himself under the
flight of steps that led to the house, when he
saw* two of the Streltzi emerge from the dwell-
ing, and take their stand just over his head,
so that he lost not a word of their conversation.
30 From Peasant to Prince:
' Why did you call me out ? ' asked one.
' I scarcely know why myself/ answered the
other, ' but I am not at all easy in my mind ;
my conscience troubles me, and I don't like the
turn things are taking.'
'Well,' said tlie other, 'if I must speak the
truth, I am not quite so comfortable myself as
I should like to feel. How this is to finish, I
know not; but in whatever way it does, we
are sure to be the sufferers.'
' No doubt, no doubt, Ivan Michielovitch ; I
have thought so for some time, and have often
cast about in my mind how one could honour-
ably get out of the scrape.'
' I am quite of your opinion, that it would be
far better to be out of it ; but how to get out
honourably, as you say, is the question.'
' Well, it is for that I called you out ; I have
thought of a plan.'
' Speak ! speak ! '
' You will not betray me } '
' Can you ask me such a question, when you
know I am as anxious as yourself to get out of
the dilemma } '
' Swear that you will not*
' I swear by all that is most holy, I will not*
' Well, then, listen. The Czar is now at Pre-
Lif£ of Alexander Menschikoff. 31
obrajensky ; to-morrow, at dawn, we will re-
pair thither and reveal all to him/
' Willingly, for he is our sovereign ; and we
are in duty bound to save his life. But now
let us return to the house, and try to persuade
them to disperse ; for if they go on making this
noise, we shall have the watch upon us ; let us
see if we cannot prevail on them to go home,
and we, as soon as it is light, will repair to Pre-
obrajensky/
They then went into the house; and Menschi-
koff listened to their retreating footsteps with
a beating heart. His doubts were confirmed.
By what he had heard, he was convinced
that the life of his beloved sovereign was in
danger ; but the nature of the danger must
remain a secret till the following morning,
when it would be revealed by the repentant
conspirators ; but he trembled to think they
might again be led to change their minds. He
was therefore anxious to escape as soon as
possible to forewarn the Czar, that Sokovnine
and the other conspirators might be arrested in
time to prevent them from carrying out their
plans. Creeping cautiously from his hiding-
place, he groped his way towards the wicket,
thinking to withdraw the bolt that forms the
32 From Peasant to Prince.
usual inside fastening of such houses ; but no
sooner did he approach it for that purpose,
than an enormous dog, which he had not per-
ceived, but which had been quietly watching
the young man's movements, set up a loud
bark, and sprang towards him.
Menschikoff's hand fell mechanically on his
sword ; but the animal, as if divining his inten-
tion, jumped round and round him, barking
more furiously than before ; and ere another
minute had elapsed, several persons had ap-
peared in the courtyard, the dog continuing to
bark violently. Sokovnine himself advanced,
a lantern in his hand, the full light of which
fell on the intruder's features.
Seeing there was no hope of escape, he stood
quite still, and then, laying his hand upon his
sword, he boldly and defiantly faced the scowl-
ing and menacing regards of the ruffianly con-
spirators.
It was a dreadful moment, a moment of
awful and intense anxiety for Menschikoff,
who thus saw himself cut off from the possi-
bility of forewarning his beloved sovereign ; for
how could he hope to escape so many enemies,
— he who was alone ?
r%^|i|.^#3
CHAPTER IV.
THE DANGER.
OWN, Polkaw, down, sir!* exclaimed
the master of the house, descending
the steps. ' Here, sir, here !'
The dog obeyed his master ; but all the time
he was approaching him, he kept his eyes fixed
on Menschikoff, showing two rows of formidable
sharp teeth.
' What new guest have we here }' said Sokov-
nine, approaching the young man. ' Pray, who
may you be V
Menschikoff, driven to the very extremity of
despair^ endeavoured to escape ; but the dog,
ever on the watch, again sprang towards him,
growling and showing his teeth.
'Keep your dog back,' said he, 'or I will
instantly kill him.'
At the sound of his voice, Sokovnine started,
for it was familiar to him ; he lowered his lantern,
C
34 From Peasant to Prince:
and his eyes glared on the stranger like those of
a wild beast.
'An unexpected visitor !' exclaimed he, ironi-
cally. ' Welcome, nevertheless, Alexander Dan-
ilovitch. Pray, to what fortunate chance am I
indebted for the honour of this visit ? '
' Menschikoff ! * repeated several of the Streltzi
in evident terror, as they followed Sokovnine
out of the house.
The latter, approaching the young man,
raised his lantern to his face, and continued to
address him with assumed affability, though
his smothered irony could not fail to pierce the
hypocrisy.
'Walk in, pray walk in, Alexander Danilo-
vitch. Welcome, thrice welcome to my humble
dwelling ; though, as I before observed, I am
unable to account for so unexpected an honour
as a visit from you. May I inquire how it
happens that at night you are found prowling
about the courtyards ?' added he, his voice rising,
and his covert irony bursting forth as if he were
unable any longer to bear the mask he had put
on for the nonce. ' Did you come by chance to
sell pies in the old neighbourhood so familiar to
your youth i But, methinks, it is rather late for
that purpose ; besides, I see no tray on your
LiFjE OF Alexander Menschikoff. 35
head. Gently, Polkaw, gently, boy!' said he,
stroking his dog, which at the sound of his
master's raised voice began to utter a low growl,
and to show his large white teeth. ' Wait a bit,
old fellow, and you shall have sport enough to
content you for once.'
The situation of Menschikoff was one of
extreme danger. Before him stood the furious
Sokovnine, foaming with rage, and glaring on
him with hatred and revenge, backed by the
threatening gestures of the conspirators in his
rear, while the snarl of the savage dog every
now and then revealed to him what he might
expect from that quarter.
*What! no answer, Alexander Danilovitch .?
Not a word in self-defence ? ' went on the angry
Strelitz, waxing more and more wroth. 'But
you are perhaps struck dumb with shame that,
not content with becoming the lackey of Peter
Alexaievitch, you have accepted the part of
spy. It is worthy of the former pieman, very
worthy ; and I congratulate you on the end it
has brought you to !'
'Down with the spy! the cowardly spy!*
shouted the other conspirators. ' Suffer him not
to escape. Death to the traitor! tear him to
pieces ! '
36 From Peasant to Prince:
'Take not the trouble/ said Sokovnine in a
tone preternaturally calm, but his whole frame
quivering with concentrated rage. ' Tear him to
pieces, indeed ! that were to confer too great an
honour on him, vile spy as he is. You shall
rather see how Polkaw will deal with him ; it
will be rare sport ;* and calling the dog to him as
he spoke, he lavished on him all kinds of endear-
ing epithets, such as, ' Good dog, brave old boy !
thou wouldst never turn spy, wouldst thou?
Thou knowest well how to distinguish foe from
friend, dost thou not ? But be sure thou shalt
not go without thy reward, my trusty Polkaw,
my faithful old dog! Here, boy, seize the
traitor, and be sure thou leave nought but his
bones.'
The dog did not wait to be told the same
thing twice, but rushed forward and made a
spring at Menschikoff, who, quick as lightning,
made a bound on one side, and thus evaded the
first furious onset of the ferocious animal ; and,
at the same time, he had come to the resolution
to make at least one attempt to escape. He
was well aware, however, that that effort must
be by having recourse to stratagem.
'Vassily Petrovitch,' said he, in a calm and
dignified tone, ' call your dog off and listen to
(
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 37
me. I came hither with friendly intentions, and
for the purpose of making you a proposition,
which you would do well to take into consi-
deration/
' We know the nature of your good intentions
well enough, my friend. Seize him, Polkaw ;
seize him, boy,' cried the enraged Strelitz.
* Nevertheless, I came hither to offer you my
services,' said Menschikoff, parrying the dog's
attack.
* Your services ! ' said Sokovnine, wavering,
and calling back the dog. *In what way?
Explain yourself, I beg you.'
' This is neither the time nor the place to ex-
plain myself,' said the young man boldly, feeling
he had gained a great point. ' In your private
room I will explain myself fully, but here I
will say nothing.'
Sokovnine eyed Menschikoff suspiciously from
under his shaggy brows ; then, turning to
his fellow-conspirators, he asked their opinion.
They, in their turn, consulted each other, and
came to the decision that no harm whatever
could result from allowing Menschikoff to enter
the house ; ' for,* said they, ' if he be deceiving
us, we can treat him as he deserves just as
well there as here.'
38 From Peasant to Prince:
But Sokovnine still hesitated, and looking
suspiciously at Menschikoff, he said, ' How
came you hither ? '
' I climbed over the paling.'
'Why?'
' To see and speak with you/
'Why did you not come straight to the
house ? '
' The dog saw me.'
' Oh ! ' and Sokovnine cast another scrutiniz-
ing glance on him, as he said, 'Well, come
into the house ; but remember, if you attempt
to deceive me, better for you that the dog had
torn you to pieces. You will not be spared, I
promise you.'
'I tell you I came on purpose to offer you
my services.'
' Well, we shall see ; enter the house ; ' and
Menschikoff, followed by Sokovnine and all
the other conspirators, went into the house.
In order to explain the events just related, I
must go back a little in my narrative. The
Czar, Peter Alexaievitch, made it the one great
object of his life to civilise his subjects ; and
in order to render the Russians more liberal-
minded, and place his country more on an
equality with other nations, he thought it
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 39
better for the youth to travel, and see for
themselves the advantages to be derived from
associating with persons who had enjoyed
greater privileges than themselves in the ac-
quisition of knowledge and science. For the
purpose of carrying his plans into effect, he
had appointed one of his trustworthy noble-
men to accompany the sons of several high
families abroad, that they might become ac-
quainted with many branches of learning still
unknown in their own land, and acquire a taste
for study. He was, moreover, actuated in these
arrangements by another motive equally im-
portant. The absence of those youths would,
he thought, give him a hold on their turbulent
fathers, and help him to restrain the spirit of
rebellion which reigned throughout the petty
nobles. But the measures he had adopted had
produced an effect totally different from what he
had anticipated. One and all openly murmured
against the proceeding, as diametrically opposed
to the laws of the country, as unprecedented
and unheard of ; and they were upheld in their
opinion by the whole body of clergy, who
brought forward texts of Scripture in support
of their disapprobation of the step taken by the
Czar, citing, as one example among others, the
40 From Peasant to Prince.
misfortunes that had befallen the IsraeliteSi .
who had, in direct opposition to the commands
of God, entered into friendship with foreign
nations ; they even went so far as to say that
voyages undertaken by true believers into the
land of heretics would not fail to work the ruin
of their own ; and the Boyards were quite as
loud as the rest of the nation in their murmurs,
especially those who had embraced the cause
of the Czarevna.
This led to several conspiracies more or less
grave in their consequences ; that of the tur-
buFent Streltzi was the chief; and among the
most turbulent of that turbulent set was Sokov-
nine, the ferocious and unscrupulous colonel now
before us. The result of the conference which
took place between him and Menschikoff, how-
ever, must form the subject of another chapter.
J^^
CHAPTER V.
THE RUSE.
HEN Menschikoff entered the room, fol-
lowed by the conspirators, Sokovnine,
after locking the door, put the key
deliberately into his pocket, cast a scowling
glance round him, which was answered by mis-
trustful and uneasy looks by his accomplices.
The only one who appeared externally calm
was the person most in danger, namely Men-
schikoff. Not a sign of fear, however, did he
allow to betray him, not a muscle of his hand-
some, haughty countenance spoke of the inter-
nal anxiety, though the beating of his heart was
such that it threatened to burst its bounds, and
might almost be heard in the profound silence
that followed the general excitement. Some-
what paler than usual he might be, but his hand
trembled not, nor did his eagle eye lose aught
of its lustre as .he looked around, as if challeng-
42 From Peasant to Prince : !
ing the regards of the whole world, not only I
those of the ferocious monsters there assembled
' Menschikoff/ said the ringleader at length,
'here are fourteen men, all sworn friends, all
devoted to the same cause, and that cause to
maintain heart and soul the liberty of their
country. You are alone, no one near to defend
you : if you are therefore here as a friend also—
and you surely would not be so rash as to be
here in any other way — ^we are ready to listen
to you ; but be you sure that if you have any
intention of trying to deceive us, you do not
leave this house alive. I swear to you, by all
that is most sacred to me, you shall not;*
and he solemnly swore to that effect, while
all the conspirators repeated the oath after
him in sombre voices.
A cold shiver ran through the victim's veins
and chilled him to the heart, but he answered
in a calm voice —
* Sit down and listen patiently to me ; but
may I speak openly and freely ?*
' You may,' said Sokovnine ; ' all present are.
devoted to me.'
* Then be seated, and listen.'
The conspirators seated themselves, and Men-
schikoff began his tale — his tale, alas ! of sub-
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 43
terfuge, which we do not, cannot attempt to
vindicate, for all falsehood is wrong, and ought
never, under any circumstances, to be resorted
to. But we must remember that Menschikoff
had not been blest with the early inculcation
of truth as the principle of action ; and, besides,
he is not held up as a hero of goodness. We
shall, as we go on, find that want of truth and
uprightness was not his only defect ; but he had
not yet learned to look up to Him who is the
giver of truth and every other good thing. We
must therefore pity him, and not judge him too
harshly.
Menschikoff looked around : all were seated
and attentively regarding him. 'Gentlemen,'
said he, * I come to offer you my services freely,
unconditionally ; to place myself entirely at
your disposal. You are aware that I have
hitherto looked upon Peter Alexaievitch as my
benefactor ; but I can do so no longer, for he
has insulted me in such a manner that I can
never forgive him. He has degraded me in my
own eyes, and in those of the lowest menial.
Yes, Vassily Petrovitch, you were right just
now in calling me his lackey, for such I was —
his willing, servile lackey. Did I not look upon
him, as I said before, as my benefactor } Could
44 From Peasant to Prince:
I do too much for him who had done so much
for me ? But his slave I was not, nor will I
ever be/
' But in what way did he insult you ?' asked
one of the conspirators.
' You are well aware that I conducted myself
bravely in the Turkish wars; and you are
equally aware that my valour drew upon me
the encomiums of the Czar, and that he was
pleased to confer on me rank after rank as a
reward for my services. Now, as an officer, I
looked upon it as a degradation to clean cafflans
and boots, even though the cafftans and boots
belonged to the Czar himself.'
' Certainly, and you were quite right,* answered
one of the Streltzi. ' Such work is only fit for
a slave.'
' Such was my opinion,* said Menschikoff ; 'and
I accordingly turned the work over to one.
This morning, as preparations were being made
for a triumphal entry, Peter Alexaievitch rose
earlier than usual, and on entering the servant's
room, he found him employed in preparing his
uniform, and asked where I was ; and on being
informed that I was still asleep, he came to me
in a great passion, and awakening me, asked if
that were the way in which I served him. At
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 45
first I did not understand what he meant; when,
however, he explained, I respectfully but firmly
answered, that as I looked upon it as derogatory
to the rank of an officer to perform such offices,
I must leave them in future to his valet/
'And quite right,* said Sokovnine, who had
not hitherto spoken.
' Upon that,' continued Menschikoff, * the Czar
lifted his hand and struck me/
A general murmur of indignation ran through
the room.
*Nor was this all,' said Menschikoff; 'over-
whelming me with reproaches, he took a stick
which stood in a corner of the room, and began
to beat me; yes, to beat me,' continued Men-
schikoff with indignation and anger. * It is true,
I am indebted to him for much, for all, indeed ;
and truly grateful was I to him for all his bene-
fits, and most faithfully did I serve him ; but
such treatment as this has, in my opinion, com-
pletely absolved me from all gratitude, and
henceforth my only object shall be to seek re-
venge for such an indignity. This is my reason
for coming hither ; for, as I wish to transfer my
services to Sophia Alexaievna, I knew I could
not do better than seek you, and become one of
your adherents, if you will accept me as such ;
46 From Peasant to Prince:
for I am aware what faithful and zealous partisans
she has in her Streltzi/
Menschikoff was silent, and the conspirators
looked from one to the other without uttering
a word. Sokovnine eyed the young man rnis-
trustfully and doubtfully. After a few minutes
he rose, and looking him full in the face, he said
slowly and emphatically —
' You make a mistake, Alexander Danilovitch.
I thank you for the offer of your services, but
I cannot accept them. We are not assembled
here with the designs you attribute to us. It
is true we rose against Peter Alexaievitch at
one time, but being fully convinced that our
struggle with him would be unavailing, we at
length decided — '
' To kill him to-morrow,' growled one of the
Streltzi, waking up from a doze, into which he
had fallen during Menschikoff's recital.
'Silence, Paplovine,' said the master of the
house furiously; and again turning towards
Menschikoff, he added, 'Pay no attention to
him ; he is drunk. And so we have determined
to repair to the Czar to-morrow, and tender
him our submission.'
* To kill him during the fire,' cried the same
drunken Strelitz.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 47
' Take him out of the room/ said Sokovnine
to one of the other conspirators, pointing to
Paplovine ; and while they were obeying his
orders, he went on addressing Menschikoff.
'We intend to repair to Preobrajensky to-
morrow and swear fidelity to the Czar, trust-
ing to the generosity of his noble heart to par-
don us for our former rebellious actions/
But Menschikoff was not to be imposed upon.
He was perfectly aware from the words that
had dropped from the half-sleeping Strelitz, that
the life of the Czar was in danger, and he was
determined to make a last effort to escape,
in order, if possible, to put him on his guard
against the danger that threatened. His own
life was doubtless dear to him ; but, in justice
be it said, his own life was nothing in compari-
son with that of his beloved sovereign.
'Vassily Petrovitch,' said he, 'you will not
accept my services because you have no faith
in me. You do not believe my assertions ; be
it so. You will soon have an opportunity of
knowing me better, and consequently of judg-
ing me better. For the present I will say fare-
well, though with regret, for I had hoped to
serve you ;' and turning towards the door with
an air of assumed indifference as if to leave the
48 From Peasant to Prince:
room, but with a beating heart, for he well
knew that the door was locked, he bowed to
Sokovnine ; but the latter sprang forward, and
barring the passage, stood before him with a
scowling brow and flashed face.
'You bid me farewell, do you?' said he, in
smothered tones like distant thunder. 'You
think to go hence as easily as you came ? No,
brother, no,' added he with a grim smile ; ' we
are not quite so stupid as you take us to be.
The cunningly invented story you have been
trying to palm on us will gain no credence here.
No, friend, no ; you know more than you ought
to know. You offer us your services ; but well
do we know the value of such services. You
came hither as a friend of mine, with the inten-
tion of worming our secret from us, doubtless
thinking that we should immediately be but too
happy to receive you among us, take you into
our confidence, and reveal all to you, and then
be such fools as to let you escape, bidding you
God speed ; but you were mistaken, as you shall
presently see.'
'What do you mean to do }'
'What is generally done to spies,' answered
Sokovnine drily.
' I am no spy,' said Menschikoff proudly. ' I
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 49
did not come hither as a spy. I never was one,
nor shall I ever turn spy/
' It is not likely that you ever will/ answered
Sokovnine ; ' for we shall not leave it in your
power to be one.'
' Listen, Vassily Petrovitch,' observed one of
the conspirators ; ' perhaps he has spoken the
truth ; and if so, why refuse his services, when
they may be so valuable to us ?'
Sokovnine mused a moment, and then said,
* And if he betray us ?*
' How can he betray us ? He has no proof
against us.'
'You think it will be necessary to have
proofs, do you ? No, no ; not likely : as you
please ; but he goes not hence. Our plans are
so well concerted that we can do without his
services. To-morrow evening all will be ter-
minated, and till then Menschikoff shall have
the privilege of spending his time as pleasantly
as he can in my cellar. He may then be set at
liberty ; and if he be not deceiving us, we will
admit him into our set as one of us, for, as he is not
wanting in abilities, he may be very useful to us.'
* Well thought of,' said another Strelitz. ' To
the cellar with him ! to the cellar with him !
Let him go and cool his heels in the cellar !'
D
so From Peasant to Prince:
Menschikoff was in despair. He saw that all
his efTorts to save his sovereign were useless.
His subterfuge, his falsehoods, all had failed
Not only was he debarred the power of fore-
warning him of his danger, but in the moment
of that danger he would not be there to shield
him from it, to make a buckler for him with his
own breast. It was a terrible moment. His
utter inability to make any further effort over-
powered him. The sense of his weakness filled
him with deep grief, and for the moment utterly
deprived him of the very power of thinking.
For an instant he thought of fraying himself a
passage to the door sword in hand, bursting it
open, and endeavouring to effect his escape ;
but the scowling and furious looks of the
Streltzi showed him plainly that such a plan
was madness ; he therefore gave up all idea of
it. By degrees he came back to his better
nature, and resolved to put his trust in God,
and commit his much-loved sovereign to his
care. He felt sure that it was God who had
appointed Peter to be the deliverer of his
country, the instrument to awaken it from
ignorance, to aggrandise it, and work for its
glory, and that He would not, therefore, fail to
watch over and protect the life of his chosen
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 51
one. Menschikoff's heart grew lighter as he
thought of this, and raising himself with dig-
nity, he cast a look of supreme contempt on all
around him as he said calmly —
'You do not believe me. You are afraid of
being betrayed. You will be ; but not by me.
Shut me up in your cellar ; do what you will
with me ; slay me if you will ; but know that
there are traitors among yourselves, and it is by
them you will be betrayed.'
'Traitors among us!' said the Streltzi with
terror.
* Yes, among yourselves ; two men of your
own assembly. I shall be shut up in your
cellar; but to-morrow at day-dawn they will
repair to the Czar, and reveal all your plans.
Ah ! you turn pale. You cannot fail to acknow-
ledge to your own heart that secret treason is
worse than open enmity.'
* But who are the traitors } — name them,' ex-
claimed Sokovnine.
' Why,' said Menschikoff—' why should I >
You have refused my services. You have con-
demned me to your cellar. For what are
you waiting ? Conduct me thither ; I am quite
ready/
The conspirators were literally struck dumb
$2 From Peasant to Prince:
with the bold bearing of the young man. They
looked at each other, in consternation and terror,
at the accusation brought against those of their
own partisans.
Menschikoff himself had no difficulty in re-
cognising the two to whose conversation he had
listened, so deadly was the palor spread over
their faces, so horror-stricken were they when
he brought forward that accusation. 'Had I
been a spy,* continued he, ' should I have acted
as I have done ? A spy would not fail to take
the necessary precautions against being disco-
vered, whereas I have done nothing of the sort ;
on the contrary, I have come to you and opened
my whole heart to you. You refused my ser-
vices, and must abide by the consequences.*
Sokovnine curled his moustache, and, hold-
ing out his hand to Menschikoff, he said,
* Alexander Danilovitch, we accept you as one
of our own.*
* Yes, yes ; our own, our own ! * cried another
conspirator enthusiastically.
'And now tell us the names of the traitors,*
said Sokovnine.
'Listen!* cried Menschikoff; 'it is not so
much from attachment for you, as from a
thirst for vengeance for the insult that has
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 53
been offered me by the Czar, that I am will-
ing to become one of you after the mistrust
you have displayed. I can and will help you
with all my heart, and no means shall be left
untried for the success of your undertaking.
You say you can do without me: you might,
but I doubt it. The Czar is ever on his guard,
knowing that there is a spirit of discontent, and
consequently of rebellion, against many of the
measures he has taken. Against me he has
not the slightest suspicion. I can therefore be
of the greatest service to you. In the first
place, however, let us put it out of the power
of the traitors to betray us,' said he, pointing
to the two quaking culprits.
In a moment, twenty unsheathed blades glit-
tered above the heads of the wretched men, who
fell on their knees pleading for mercy.
* Death to the traitors ! Slay them without
pity ! * cried several of the Streltzi, rushing
towards them ; but Menschikoff stayed their
hands with a gesture of command.
* What are you about to do ? * said he. ' You
will ruin us all, and our plot will infallibly be
discovered. It is easy to know where the
traitors have been spending the evening, and
inquiries will be made for them to-morrow, and
54 From Peasant to Prince :
then all will be known. Besides, is it worth
while to soil your hands by shedding the blood
of such traitors ? No, my friends, they must
suffer a more ignominious death, provided our
plans succeed — they must be dealt with as they
deserve ! '
The Streltzi stood undecided.
* What shall be done with them in the mean-
time } * asked one among them.
* As Vassily Petrovitch boasts so much of the
commodiousness of his cellar, and so kindly
offered me a place therein,' said Menschikoff,
smiling, * I am quite willing to give it up to
them for a time.'
'Bravo! bravo! Alexander Danilovitch. You
are quite right ; it might mar our sport and
ruin our plans if they met the fate they de-
serve immediately. To the cellar with the
villains ! to the cellar with them ! ' cried several
of the conspirators.
The poor wretches, still on their knees,
pleaded for mercy ; but Menschikoff silenced
them with a tone of imperative authority, as
though he had already taken upon himself the
command of the body ; and Sokovnine leading
the way to the cellar, or rather the vaults be-
low the house, the unhappy men were dragged
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 55
thither, without any further show of resistance
on their part, and carefully secured against any
possibility of escape; after which Sokovnine
and the other conspirators returned to the room
they had just quitted, and the former, again ex-
tending his hand to Menschikoff, begged him to
pardon his mistake ; after which he proceeded
to unfold the plot devised against the Czar, to
which Menschikoff listened with horrified atten-
tion and a beating heart, for he durst not as
yet really believe in his own safety, and thus
be sure he should be in time to thwart the
fearful projects of the conspirators, and avert
the blow about to fall on the head of his sove-
reign.
*As it is not easy for us to obtain entrance
into the palace,* said Sokovnine, ' on account of
the suspicions entertained against us, we have
come to the resolution of setting fire to-morrow
night to two houses together ; and as it is well
known that the Czar himself is ever one of the
first at every conflagration, we shall not fail to
be there too, and — *
Here the ruffian paused, as if not quite sure
whether he was right in confiding his treacherous
plans to his new ally ; but recovering himself, as
if satisfied on reflection, he went on —
$6 From Peasant to Prince.
* During the confusion caused by the fire,
we shall surround the Czar's dwelling, and one
among us, destined to be the favoured deliverer
of his country, will slay him/
It was with the utmost difficulty that Menschi-
koff could conceal his horror ; scarcely could he
master his indignation ; but by a violent effort
he succeeded, and assuming a tone of sombre
satisfaction, he observed —
' But if anything should prevent the Czar from
being present? He may perhaps be fatigued
after the review of his troops ; but no, I will
see to it, and I promise you he shall be there/
* Give me your hand once more,' said Sokov-
nine, ' and look upon me as a brother. Believe
me, Sophie Alexaievna will not be ungrateful
for your services ; it is not she who will heap
insults on you ; she will reward you as you
deserve.'
After a little more conversation on different
subjects, the conspirators separated, and Men-
schikoff, once more breathing freely, was gallop-
ing at full speed to Preobrajensky, where the
Czar intended to pass the night.
CHAPTER VI.
TREASON.
JOT far from Moscow stood the village
of Preobrajensky, the favourite resort
of the Czar, Peter Alexaievitch ; a
picturesque, salubrious spot, with a delightful
climate and pure air ; above all, endeared
to the young monarch by a thousand remem-
brances of his childhood ; for it was his father
Alexy who had built the palace, and there he
had spent the greater part of his boyhood,
surrounded by youths of the noblest families of
Russia, who had been brought up with him, and
who, as they were all about the same age as
the young Czar, had shared his studies as well
as his sports.
These sports, under the guidance of the
monarch, had taken a military turn ; and it was
of these same youths that Peter afterwards
formed his favourite regiment of Patieshnicks,
58 From Peasant to Prince:
from the name of the village where his father
had spent the greater part of his leisure moments.
Every member of this regiment began his
career by taking upon himself the lowest rank.
Nor was Peter himself exempted from the dis-
cipline to which the others were subjected : he
shared all their duties, even to the very part of
sentinel, and helped to wheel in the barrows
of earth necessary for raising the trenches ; he
partook of their frugal fare, slept in the open
air, and was clad in the same coarse materials ;
in fact, he went through all the military discipline
necessary to form a hardy and practical soldier.
This little regiment afterwards became the
mainspring of Russian strength, and the report
of its wondrous feats of arms spread far and
wide ; and so great was its fame, that there was
not a noble family throughout the land but was
desirous of having its sons enrolled in its ranks,
so that, ere long, Preobrajensky became too
limited a space for the numbers desirous of
admission, and the neighbouring village of
Semeonoffsky was added to it ; and this was
the origin of the two regiments of guards still
existing in Russia under the same names, Pre-
obrajensky and Semeonoffsky. And now to
return to our story.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 59
No sooner was the Czar awake on the morn-
ing following the events related in our last
chapter, than Menschikoff entered his room and
informed him of the horrible plot that the
Streltzi had formed against him ; how he had
discovered it, and all the circumstances which
had followed the discovery. The Czar thanked
him warmly for his devotedness ; he was deeply
touched with the young man's attachment, and
at the same time as deeply grieved at the con-
tinual attempts of his sister to frustrate, by her
ambitious and selfish motives, his endeavours
to further the welfare of his country. He sat
down to reflect on the steps necessary to be
taken in the present emergency ; and it was
with a clouded brow and an agitated mind that
he called up before him the ingratitude of those
whom he had endeavoured to benefit. He had
so entirely forgotten self in his efforts to civilise
and aggrandise his country ; he was so sure
that its civilisation and aggrandisement could
only be effected by dispelling the ignorance and
introducing the glorious light of knowledge,
without which no country can ever be great or
noble ; so convinced was he that so long as
Russia was a prey to superstition, that light
could not pierce through the gross darkness in
6o From Peasant to Prince:
which the land was wrapped, that he had strained
every nerve to purge it from both ignorance and
superstition ; and though he continually met
with obstacles and opposition, though frequently
discouraged by all around him, he would not
give in ; he still went on striving, hoping against
hope, and buoying himself up, determined to
overcome, with God's help, every obstacle.
But now, after all he had borne, after all he
had done, again to be misunderstood, again to
be plotted against : it was indeed hard to bear.
* Will they never comprehend me ? ' said he
aloud, as if answering his own dark thoughts.
* God has endowed me with abilities, strength,
and power. He has placed me at the head of a
vast nation, with the responsibility of furthering
its welfare, and that welfare demands the ex-
tirpation of evil in whatever shape it shows
itself; and it shall be done at whatever cost'
So saying, he wrote a few words to Captain
Saponkine, ordering him to assemble his regi-
ment secretly, and to repair with it that same
night, at eleven o'clock, to the house of So-
kovnine. In the perturbation of his mind, he
wrote eleven o'clock instead of ten, which hour
he had intended to name.
The evening came, and the Czar, reckoning
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 6i
upon the punctuality of Saponkine, set out with
Menschikoff for the residence of Sokovnine.
But what was his astonishment, on his arrival,
to find all desert, all silent, not a soldier there,
not the slightest indication of one ! — the whole
neighbourhood seemed wrapped in silence as
deep as the house itself.
The Czar stopped the horses, and turning to
Menschikoff, looked at him with astonishment.
* I don't understand it,* said the latter un-
easily.
They alighted, tied the horses to a post not
far from the house, and proceeded to the habi-
tation ; they entered through the unfastened
wicket-gate into the courtyard ; but all seemed
as quiet within as without, and no sign of a
soldier or the arrival of soldiers. Peter shrugged
his shoulders impatiently, — a favourite gesture
of his, — and for a moment appeared undecided,
but only for a moment. He went straight to the
flight of steps leading to the house, Menschikoff
in his rear, and keeping as close to him as if he
were his shadow, and they both entered the
room in which the conspirators, already come,
were assembled, waiting for the others, and con-
sulting on the surest means of destroying the
Czar in the approaching crisis ; and drinking
62 From Peasant to Prince:
deeply, as if to inspire them with courage for the
occasion.
On the opening of the door, one or two
raised their eyes, with an air of indifference,
doubtless persuaded that the newcomers were
their missing companions ; but their indifference
was soon succeeded by surprise and terror, for
there, on the threshold, they beheld the com-
manding forms of Peter and Menschikoff. Ad-
vancing into the room with his ordinary majestic
mien, the Czar looked undauntedly around him,
without manifesting the slightest sign of the
angry emotions working in his heart, at the
neglect of the orders he had given Saponkine.
The Streltzi rose simultaneously, and re-
spectfully saluted the Czar ; but Sokovnine,
mechanically laying his hand on his sword, cast
a ferocious glance at Menschikoff, who was
standing behind his sovereign ; and the latter,
feeling how necessary it was to gain time, gave
an amicable nod, and pretended to take no
notice of his displeasure.
*Good evening, Vassily Petrovitch,* said the
monarch calmly ; ' methinks you are making
merry to-night.'
* A few of my friends have come to see me,'
answered Sokovnine, bowing low. * But to what
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 63
do I owe the honour of a visit from Peter
Alexaievitch at my humble dwelling ? — an
honour as great as it is unexpected.'
'To the friendly persuasions of Alexander
Danilovitch/ answered the Czar, pointing to
Menschikoff. *We have been taking a drive
together, and on going past your house, we
perceived a light ; so, as it was too early to
retire to rest, and I enjoy a chat with cheerful
company, I yielded to Alexander's persuasions,
and here I am.'
* Welcome, sire ! doubly welcome ! ' said So-
kovnine. ' May I beg you to be seated ? '
' Many thanks,' said Peter, as he seated him-
self on the first vacant chair; and casting a
scrutinizing glance around, he added, ' Ah ! all
old acquaintances here, I perceive. But how red
you are, Sicklain ! it is to be seen that you
have been drinking deeply, for the beer has
sent the blood to your head. And you, Poush-
kine, why are you so pale ? I fear you are not
well ; you must take care of yourself, for you
are too useful to us to be lost. My sister
Sophie prizes your services very highly ; she
often speaks of you as one of her most valuable
adherents ; and those esteemed by her are very
dear to me.'
64 From Peasant to Prince:
' I have done nothing to deserve your esteem/
said Poushkine doggedly.
' If you have not yet, I doubt not you will
do so in future/ answered the Czar blandly.
'But why are you all so silent.^ I hope it is
not my presence that has put an end to your
cheerfulness. Menschikoff assured me I should
be a welcome guest*
* How could you be otherwise } * observed
Sokovnine, who had by this time recovered his
presence of mind ; and advancing to the table,
he seized a tankard, and filling a goblet with
foaming ale, he cried, * To the health of our
beloved Czar, Peter Alexaievitch ! God g^rant
him a long life and a happy reign ! '
* Long live the Czar ! ' echoed the other con-
spirators.
' Thanks, my faithful subjects/ said the Czar,
taking a glass offered him by one of the traitors ;
and as he was putting it to his lips, Sokovnine,
approaching one of the others, whispered, ' It is
time.*
' Not yet/ said he softly.
Peter saw the movement, and suspected the
tenor of the words ; he felt that the decisive
moment was come, and rose. With herculean
strength he aimed a blow at Sokovnine, which
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 65
felled him to the earth, saying, as he did so,
' Yes, it is time ! '
The conspirators were confounded for ^ mo-
ment ; but one of them, unsheathing his cutlass,
threw himself upon the monarch, and he might
have succeeded in putting his base design into
effect, had not the faithful Menschikoff made a
rampart of his own body, and arrested the mis-
creant's hand.
* Soldiers ! to the rescue ! * cried Peter in a
stentorian voice, intending to frighten the con-
spirators : and his words were not spoken in
vain ; they reached the ears of the soldiers. As
if by magic the door opened, and Captain Sapon-
kine, followed by his guard, entered the apart-
ment The conspirators fell on their knees in
terror, and sued for pardon ; they were soon
disarmed by the soldiers, and sullenly awaited
their doom.
The Czar, turning to Saponkine, reprimanded
him for his want of punctuality ; but the latter,
drawing a paper from his pocket, presented it to
the monarch, who, with his usual generosity and
love of justice, acknowledged his mistake, and
offered an apology, determining in his own mind
to raise his rank at the very first opportunity ;
and giving the conspirators into his keeping, he
F.
66 From Peasant to Prince.
turned towards Menschikoff, saying familiarly
and affectionately —
* We' have now finished our business, let us be
gone/
'Not quite, sire/ said Menschikoff; 'we must
liberate the unfortunate men shut up in the
cellar ; they surely deserve their pardon ere we
go hence/
' True,' said Peter ; ' they have doubtless suf-
fered enough since yesterday evening ; let us go
and put an end to their tortures.'
Who may describe the feelings of the wretched
men, when, on being liberated, they were as-
sured of a free pardon ? They threw themselves
at their sovereign's feet, swearing fidelity to him.
One of them, a young man called Ivan Seme-
onoff, became from that moment the most faith-
ful and devoted follower of Menschikoff in weal
and woe ; and we shall have frequent oppor-
tunities of witnessing the most undoubted proofs
of his gratitude.
CHAPTER VII.
PROMOTION.
[HE chief conspirators had, after open
trial, been condemned to death ; the
others, who had been led away by those
cleverer than themselves, were too insignificant
to be dangerous ; they were therefore pardoned,
and doubtless from that moment became the
faithful followers of the Czar.
MenschikofT's service and fidelity, his attach-
ment and gratitude, rendered him dearer and
dearer to the monarch. Every day, from the
night on which he had accompanied Peter to
the house of Sokovnine, he scarcely ever left his
side ; even in state affairs he took a prominent
part ; and his intelligence, perspicuity, and calm
judgment rendered him of the greatest service
in the council to which he was ever admitted.
Peter, who never failed to reward those who
served him faithfully, was not likely to forget
68 From Peasant to Prince:
the man who had risked his own life to save that
of his monarch, who now regarded him second
only to Le Fort himself, and who never under-
took any serious step without consulting him.
We must now pass over several years — years
which had proved very eventful to Russia, both
by conquest and improvement. Peter had, ac-
companied by his favourite, visited many foreign
states, there to study the laws and customs,
as well as to gain an insight into the com-
mercial arrangements, in order to introduce
whatever seemed good to him into his own land.
Konigsberg, Amsterdam, Saardam, and Lon-
don, were the spots he looked upon as most
worthy of attention. At Saardam he had with
his own hands worked at the construction of
the vessels, in order to become acquainted with
the art of shipbuilding, and thoroughly learn
the fundamental principles of forming a navy at
home. This had been his darling project for
years ; but hitherto the turbulent spirit of the
Streltzi had rendered it imprudent to quit his
own land in order to carry out his intentions.
In London he visited the Houses of Parliament,
and took the deepest interest in the debates
carried on therein, as well as in all the laws
and common civil affairs of the kingdom. After
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 69
quitting England he travelled through Ger-
many, accompanied by Menschikoff, and ex-
ploring with the greatest interest such towns
as were likely to afford him any opportunity
of making improvement at home. Vienna,
Dresden, Presburg, Baden, and many other
towns were visited in turn, and in every place
the monarch of the north was received with
honour and interest. On his return to Russia,
Peter had the great grief to lose Le Fort, who
departed this life in 1669, regretted by all who
knew him, and sincerely mourned for both by
his sovereign and by Menschikoff, who never for a
moment forgot that it was to Le Fort he owed all
his success and good fortune, and who wept over
him such tears as only a grateful heart can shed.
The death of Le Fort opened the way to a
new and more brilliant career to Menschikoff,
who had already risen to the rank of major-
general, and who was now made governor of
Pskoff, a post of high honour and considerable
emolument His landed property was vast, for
his sovereign had been generous in the extreme.
He was, moreover, united to a lady of rank
and property — Daria Andraievna, a daughter
of the noble family of Arsainieff, to whom he
was warmly attached, and who returned his
70 From Peasant to Prince:
affection with all the ardour of a fond and
devoted heart.
But higher honours were in store for him.
He was made master of the household of
Alexy Petrovitch, the son of Peter and heir
to the crown, governor of Finland, and minister
of the home department, while orders of all
kinds were showered upon him. But it must
be acknowledged that if his advancement was
rapid, his services both to the state and in the
army were eminent; and Peter, who never
forgot any service rendered either to himself
or to the state, knew full well how to ap-
preciate them. On one occasion, when his
favourite came to thank him, with tears in his
eyes, for some new favour conferred on him,
the monarch said to him affectionately —
*You owe me nothing, Menschikoff; for, in
raising you to honours so high, I did not think
so much of you as of the general welfare of
my subjects ; and had I found any one worthier
than you, you would doubtless have remained
in your own humble position.'
It would be difficult to say to whom these noble
words do the most honour, to him who uttered
them, or him to whom they were addressed.
In the meantime many had been the con-
Life of Alexander Mensciiikoff. 71
quests of Peter, aided by the bravery and skill
of his favourite. The shores all along the
Neva belonged to him, and he determined to
put his favourite project into execution — that
of founding a fleet to protect him from the
incursions of his enemies. He had long wished
for a port on the Baltic, in which to place that
fleet ; and it was then that he conceived the
almost incredible project of raising the vast and
beautiful city of St. Petersburg, on the shores
of the beautiful Neva. We say incredible, for
it was only in the mind of a man like Peter
such a project could exist, to which so many
obstacles must present themselves ; for the site
on which this fine city now stands was then one
vast bog. But with Peter, to project was to
execute. No sooner had he thought of it than
one building rose after the other : first a for-
tress on one side of the river, the Admiralty on
the other ; and while these and other edifices
were in course of construction, he himself was
content to inhabit a small wooden house, still
carefully preserved in memory of the great man
who, while doing so much for his country, was
so simple in his habits, so unselfish, and so
generous. Menschikoff" was made governor of
the possessions taken from Sweden, and super-
72 From Peasant to Prince:
intendent of the new city, which would be
situated in his government ; and he retained
all these titles till the death of his benefactor,
who thought he could not lavish enough wealth
and honours upon him.
At first the city rose but slowly, on account
of the protracted war ; but in 1709 a complete
victory was gained, the Swedish army totally
defeated, and the conquered towns fell into the
possession of Russia. And now all along the
shores of the Neva there rapidly rose building
after building ; so rapidly, indeed, that you might
have thought they had sprung up under the
magic wand of some great genius. The city was
divided into two parts, one on each side of the
Neva — the commercial part, and the country part
or island part ; and on the latter of which still
stands the gigantic palace built by Menschikoff
for himself, and now occupied by a military
corps, called the First Cadet Corps. He now
removed from Moscow, and took up his abode,
with his wife and family, in his new and magni-
ficent residence. His tastes and habits were by
no means so simple as those of his monarch's.
He had a body-guard of his own, consisting of
1000 picked men ; and he was made commander-
in-chief of a regiment, consisting of the tallest
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 73
and finest men that could be found in the
country. To him was confided the construction
of Cronstadt, not far from which he built him-
self a country house, which he fitted up on a
scale far more magnificent than the palace of
the monarch himself. Fortune seemed to be
never weary of heaping new honours and
favours on this her favourite. Not only at
home were orders and riches heaped upon him,
but foreign princes seemed to vie with each
other in bestowing titles and gifts on this great
man. He received the order of the White
Eagle, was made Captain of the Flemish Regi-
ment ; while Joseph I., Emperor of Austria,
named him Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1705 Peter made him General of the Artil-
lery, and in 1707 created him Prince of Tjursky,
his patent of nobility being written in the mo-
narch's own hand. Nor was this all. After
the victory of Poltava, Peter, embracing him
in the presence of the whole army, made him
General Field-Marshal; and in 1709, Peter
having an interview with the King of Prussia,
the two monarchs dined together, Menschikoff
being of the party, and, after the repast, the
Prussian king with his own hands adorned him
with the order of the Black Eagle.
74 From Peasant to Prince:
But his rapid rise to greatness, and all these
favours lavished upon him, never for a moment
made him forget his duty to his benefactor, nor
relax in his faithful and devoted service to him.
Nor was he unmindful of those who had rendered
any service to himself, or who were in any way
dependent on him, as may be seen from part
of a letter which, about that time, he addressed
to Peter the Great : — * If your Majesty have not
time to write to all your generals, will your
Majesty deign to send in your letter to me
some special message to each, signifying your
Majesty^s interest in each ? By such conde-
scending attention they would feel rewarded
for their services, and encouraged to go on in
their duty/
In 1 710 Peter laid siege to Riga, and Men-
schikoff, by his skill and bravery, contributed
greatly to the taking of the place, thus gaining
new honours and favours ; and about this time
the Duke of Courland made overtures for the
hand of Peter's niece, Ann, the daughter of his
deceased brother John, and Menschikoff was
chosen to convey the monarch's consent to the
union, as well as to make the necessary arrange-
ments for the ceremonies and festivals usual on
such occasions. At a dinner given by him to
JuiFE OF Alexander Menschikoff. 75
the newly-married couple, two large cakes being
placed upon the table at dessert, there emerged
from them two dolls beautifully dressed, and
danced a minuet.
In 171 1 the Czar declared war against the
Ottoman Porte, and headed his army in person,
confiding the command of Liefland to Menschi-
koff; and in the same year he received the
order of the White Elephant, and was made
commander-in-chief over the army sent into
Pomerania, whither he repaired in 17 12, and
where, after the termination of the war, be re-
ceived the portrait of the King of Denmark set
round with diamonds.
This was the last of his military campaigns.
In 17 1 2 he returned to St. Petersburg, where he
devoted himself to the affairs of the state, and
gave his valuable services to the welfare of his
country at home.
f
CHAPTER VIII.
THE UNWELCOME GUEST.
E have now followed Menschikoff, step
by step, till he reached the highest, the
very highest, on the ladder of great-
ness. We have seen how Fortune, on turning
her wheel, had showered on him honour after
honour, till he stood on a pinnacle of grandeur,
covered with glittering orders from all parts of
the world, and loaded with riches and glory.
Never had any man risen so rapidly to that
height on which he proudly stood. Nor was it
without merit on his own part ; for it was by his
talents and devoted attachment to his sovereign
that he gained his entire confidence ; and once
having gained this, it would not have been easy
to shake Peter in either his faith in his favourite
or his devoted affection for him. In the vast
dominions of the Czar, Menschikoff stood second
only to the sovereign himself; and the latter,
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. ^^
whose tastes were simple, and who was averse
to pomp and ostentatious ceremony, was so
entirely absorbed in his noble schemes for
the furtherance of the welfare of his beloved
country — ever thinking what plans to adopt for
its civilisation — that the grandeur due to him as
a monarch, and of which he might justly have
been proud, he gave up to his favourite, as
well as the parade and glitter of festivals and
court balls, at which he appeared from time
to time only as the guest of Menschikoff, in
whose palace all that could be procured of the
grand and the magnificent was to be found ;
for the Prince, proud of his riches and high
station, lost no opportunity of displaying the
wealth that had been heaped on him by his gene-
rous sovereign. Silk and satin, velvet tapestry,
marble and ivory, were lavished on all sides
throughout his spacious apartments ; precious
stones, gold and silver lamps of every descrip-
tion, adorned the pedestals ; while the furniture
was of the most elegant form known at that
time, covered with the costliest damask ; in
short, nothing was wanting that could dazzle
the eye, or please the senses. Nor was the
master of this magnificent mansion less splendid
in his attire than was his residence in its rich
^S From Peasant to Prince:
adorning. Covered with orders, sparkling with
diamonds, he paraded his splendid abode, cast-
ihg a look of satisfaction and gratified pride
around ; and his heart beat more quickly as
he saw how all bowed to him, how all feared
him, — how to obtain a smile from the all-power-
ful favourite of the Czar, the highest noble
would flatter him, would cringe to him — the
former pieman, the poor vagabond who had
run about the streets gaining his livelihood, and
content to gain a few pence day by day I But
no, not all : there was one who never failed to
exhibit his disdain on every occasion that he
could do so with impunity ; but it was done so
adroitly, that even its victim, though wounded
to the quick, though galled to the heart's core,
could not lay hold of any just reason to re-
quite his malice ; and this was the powerful and
high and noble Prince Dolgorouky, of one of
the most ancient houses in Russia.
And now this same Prince Dolgorouky was
come with the rest of the nobles, at the special
invitation of the great favourite, to a festival
given by him on some particular occasion ; and
he cast his disdainful regards over the pomp
and brilliancy of the hated pageant, at which his
high rank obliged him to be present — that pomp
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 79
which filled the master of the house with such
satisfaction, who drank in with such intense
delight the delicious draught of flattered vanity
at the scene before him.
Who, on looking at the tall, commanding
figure gliding from room to room, addressing a
word of affability to some, smiling graciously
at others, receiving homage, either real or as-
sumed, from all, would have recognised the
little pastry-cook of Moscow, who had formerly
attracted customers by his merry songs and his
winning ways ?
And now the servants in rich liveries were
serving round refreshments, the most exquisite
wines in golden goblets, the rarest and most
costly fruits, when all at once, on the threshold
of the drawing-room door, there appeared an
aged woman, poorly but cleanly clad, whose eyes
were riveted on the scene before her. Dazzled,
doubtless, by the brilliant lights, the rich attires,
and display of luxury on all around, she stood
as it were transfixed, till perceived by one of
the servants in waiting, who rudely asked her
what she wanted there, and endeavoured to
push her away.
. 'I wish to see Prince Menschikoff,* said the
old woman simply and gently ; but the atte.n-
So From Peasant to Prince:
dants, turning angrily towards her, told her to
be off, and one, taking her roughly by the arm,
endeavoured to drag her away.
The poor woman's eyes filled with tears, and
she was about to follow him, when all at once
her straining gaze fell on a nobleman in dazzling
uniform, who was advancing in that direction.
*Oh!' then the yearning voice of her heart
broke forth : ' Alexander, my son ! my beloved
son!' cried she in piercing tones, that reached
the farthest corner of the crowded apartments.
* Saasha ! my own Saasha ! come to me.'
Menschikoff started, turned ashy pale, and
there followed a moment of deep silence, inter-
rupted only by the sobs of the aged woman.
All looks were wonderingly fixed on the Prince
and his mother — for she it was. Menschikoff
soon recovered his presence of mind, and ad-
vancing towards his poor old mother, he took
both her hands in his, saying, as he did so —
* How glad I am to see you ! Come into the
next room, we shall be more at our ease there.
Pardon me, ladies and gentlemen,' he went on,
turning to his guests ; * I will be back immedi-
ately ; but I must speak to this good old woman,
she has come from a great distance to see me,'
and he dragged her into a private room.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 8i
Bitter were the feelings of the poor mother.
Was this the meeting she had looked forward
to ? Was this the reception she thought to
meet with from the son whom she had not seen
so long — the son for whom her heart had
yearned so tenderly? She had anticipated his
throwing himself upon her neck in a transport
of joy ; whereas he was evidently mortified, and
restraint was visible in every feature.
But a mother's heart is so great, so forgiving ;
and when they were once fairly in the room,
where curious eyes could not follow them to
pry into their secrets, Menschikoff embraced his
mother tenderly, and taking her wrinkled hand
in his, he kissed it over and over again, and
looking at her fondly, he said, * And is it really
you, my own mother y
His mother looked at him long and earnestly ;
she took his head between her hands ; she bent
over- him, and kissed him fondly, almost reve-
rently, on both his cheeks and his forehead ;
after which she said —
' Pardon me, my son ; pardon me for disturb-
ing you ; but I did so long to see your face once
more before I die! And now I have seen it,
farewell !*
'Mother, mother mine, you did not disturb
F
82 From Peasant to Prince :
me ; I am so glad to see you ! ' began Menschi-
koff; but his mother interrupted him.
' Nay, my son, nay, I am a foolish and ignorant
old woman, and I acted without reflection. I
should have known better than to have gone
straight into the room in which your guests were
assembled. Forgive me, Alexander ; I thought
only of the joy of seeing you, my own child,
from whom I had been separated so long; be
not angry with your poor foolish old mother.*
Menschikoff was touched even to tears; he
kissed his mother over and over again.
' If you did but know how glad I am to see
you !' said he fondly, his better nature aroused
by his mother's devotedness, and a feeling of
remorse stealing over his soul. Drawing her
towards an easy chair, he placed her on it, and,
seating himself by her side, he laid his head on
her shoulder, and for a moment or two he was
again the little pieman, living over the scenes in
the crazy hut in the suburbs of Moscow.
' Alexander, how grandly you live ! ' said the
old woman, casting her astonished gaze around
the room.
' Thanks to my benefactor the Czar,' answered
he. *But tell me, my dear mother, how you
came to Petersburg. How is it you did not let
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 83
me know your intention, that I might have sent
for you ? '
* My son,' said she, ' I had been so long with-
out seeing you, and my heart did so yearn after
you, I did so long to look upon your dear face
once more before I went home, before I left this
world for another. I am no longer young, you
know, and cannot expect to live long. I know
not how soon I may be called to appear before
the throne of God.*
' Oh ! mother, say not so. Let us not speak
of anything so sad.*
' Why not, my son ? Why should it be sad ?
I have lived long enough, and God has been
very good to me. Am I not happy that my
son has been chosen to save the life of his
sovereign ; to serve his country ; that it is to
his talents and merits that he owes his great-
ness ; that by those very services he has gained
his sovereign's love, favour, and esteem ? And
now I have beheld your beloved face once more,
my Saasha, now I have seen how grand and
happy you are, I can die in peace ! But tell
me, my child, that you forgive me for coming
thus inopportunely upon you.*
'Speak no more of it, my dear mother. It
was my place to come to you ; and truly ashamed
84 From Peasant to Prince:
do I feel that you should have been obliged to
do that which it was my duty to have done.
But I have so much to do, so many things of
importance devolve upon me, I have so much
to arrange, that time scarcely suffices for all ;
but tell me, mother mine, are you come to stay
long here?'
Another stab for the poor mother's heart ! It
sank within her at the question, * Are you come
for long?' She had hoped he would not allow
her to leave him again ; she had hoped to spend
the remainder of her days in the bosom of his
family ; and he was already anxious to get rid
of her. * Are you come to stay here long ?'
Menschikoff was not a hard-hearted man ; but
the heart of the highest and noblest is more or
less the slave of public opinion ; and the power-
ful prince, the favourite of his sovereign, re-
membered with a pang of bitterness that he
had risen to the high rank he held, that it did
not belong to him by birth. Gladly would he
have expunged the fact of his low origin from
the memory of all ; hence his love of pomp,
hence his desire of conciliating the favour of
high and low, rich and poor, by his costly
festivals, his generosity, his hospitality and affa-
bility ; and now, when he had dared to hope that
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 85
he had to a certain degree succeeded, his poor
old mother had appeared to destroy all.
Strange and unaccountable problem, not pe-
culiar to the heart of Menschikoff alone ! Alas !
how many, who have emerged from obscurity,
who have attained greatness by their own merits,
have been ashamed of that which should be the
subject of thankfulness — that they have been
chosen by Providence to stand out as a shin-
ing light for others above them in rank and
station !
This inconsistency can be accounted for only
in one way — it can be attributed only to the
mistaken notions about true honour. It is not
wrong to glory in the great feats and noble
actions of our ancestors ; they should never fail
to nurture in the heart sentiments of admiration
and thankfulness ; and if any kind of pride be
excusable, it is surely that of exulting in the
glorious deeds of those from whom we are
descended. But of all false pride, the pride of
birth is the most incomprehensible ; and it can
surely be only those of limited capacity and
narrow minds that can pride themselves on a
circumstance purely accidental. Be this as it
may, it was the weakness of Menschikoff; and
at the question he put to his good and aged
S6 From Peasant to Prince:
parent, the latter shook her head, and answered
him, as calmly as she could —
* Only for a few days, my son. I would not
for the world intrude upon you/
'Then we shall see each other again. You
must be tired, and I will order a room to be got
ready for you.'
* Not so, Alexander. I am staying with an
old acquaintance, who is very glad to have me.'
* Then I will send you home.'
* Why hurry so ? I am not tired. Oh ! my
son ! my son ! let me feast my eyes on you a
little longer,' said the poor old woman, with
touching pathos. 'It is so long, so very long,
since I saw you.'
'But I have company,' said Menschikoflf kindly,
affected by his mother's great love ; ' and it is
not polite to leave my guests so long.'
The poor old woman rose, keeping down with
great difficulty the sobs that were nearly choking
her. She, however, managed to stammer out,
'You see what a foolish, ignorant old woman
I am ! Forgive me, my Alexander ; I ought to
have remembered that you no longer belong
to your poor old mother.* She then fervently
blessed him, and took her leave. MenschikofT,
however, insisted on her staying till a carriage
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. Sy
should be ready to convey her to her place of
abode ; and while she was thus waiting, she
asked him, in a voice trembling with emotion,
if she might not see his wife and children.
*Not to-night, dear mother/ said he in a
constrained manner ; ' the children are asleep,
and my wife is attending to the guests. But
to-morrow you shall see them all. And now
the carriage is ready ; good-bye till to-morrow.'
To-morrow ! The poor mother left him with
a full heart — ^that heart which had been so
light on her arrival. She blessed him never-
theless, fervently, fondly blessed him, and bade
him farewell ; and when she was gone, Menschi-
koff returned to his guests.
* Allow me to congratulate you, Prince, on the
arrival of your Highnesses illustrious mother,'
said Dolgorouky, approaching and bowing low.
Menschikoff^s brow darkened, and his eyes
shot fire ; but he mastered every outward ap-
pearance of his inward anger, and answered
haughtily —
*Your Highness is mistaken; it is not my
mother, but my nurse, who, from old habit,
calls me her son.'
No sooner had the falsehood, the mean, des-
picable falsehood escaped his lips, than he bit-
88 From Peasant to Prince.
terly repented it. But, alas ! the mistaken and
stupid conventions of society had made him
deny his mother, who, poor thing, was sobbing
out her heart's bitterness, and watering with her
briny tears the rich cushions of the splendid
carriage in which she was returning to the
house of her former acquaintance.
But the morrow came, and her fond heart
was fully satisfied with the tokens of love her
son lavished upon her. His better angel, his
wife, had brought him to a sense of his duty ;
and now there was no longer any constraint,
he was her own Alexander again, as he had
been when he had visited her in their humble
home in Moscow.
In his wife she found the kindest of daugh-
ters, and his children were taught to regard
her with love and respect. Nor was she
allowed to remain with strangers, or to return
to her lowly home ; but an apartment was
fitted up for her in her son's mansion, where,
surrounded with all, nay, more than all that
her modest desires could anticipate, she spent
the few remaining years of her life with her
beloved children and grandchildren, and died
in the arms of that son for whom her heart
had ever beat so fondly.
PART II.
CHAPTER I.
HUMAN FRAILTY.
E have seen how Menschikoff had
reached the pinnacle of fame and for-
tune. Was he happy ? We shall see.
The nature of man is such that he can never
be said to be completely happy with what he
possesses ; and, generally speaking, the ambi-
tious man, who has attained the highest
honours, before whose determined will every
difficulty has disappeared, who has trampled
down every obstacle, and succeeded in all his
projects, underrates those very honours because
he has attained them so easily.
The ambitious wishes of Menschikoff, high
and extravagant though they were, had been
fulfilled beyond his greatest expectations. He
90 From Peasant to Prince:
now constantly resided either in St Petersburg
or at his country seat, surrounded by the wealth
lavished on him by his grateful and generous
sovereign for the eminent services he had ren-
dered both to him and his country.
But, alas ! all his services, all his capacity,
all his good qualities, were obscured by a
passion far worse than even ambition — a
passion so degrading, so revolting, that the
great and noble shudder to think of it, for it
debases all that it touches — the passion of
cupidity. The germ had hitherto lain dor-
mant in his bosom ; but it now burst through
its sheath, and unfolded itself, exhaling all
its baleful and poisonous odour, and spreading
its noxious influence on all around He be-
came its most unhappy victim ; for, to satisfy
it, he scrupled not to stoop to the lowest and
most degrading baseness. The love of wealth
for the sake of wealth, for the means of ad-
ministering to his sordid views, became the
one predominant craving of his heart, and
nothing proved an obstacle to his all-absorb-
ing care of amassing and gloating over his
ill-gotten gains, although he was not without
his moments of remorse ; for, when he had
leisure to cast a retrospective glance over his
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 91
past life, when he looked back to his youth,
and remembered the poverty and obscurity
from which he had been drawn by the hand,
the open liberal hand, of the glorious monarch
to whom he was so dear, and who had spared
nothing to further his advancement, he could
not help feeling how unworthy the return he
was making for such kindness. With his re-
morse, too, there came the fear that his nefari-
ous dealings might become known to the Czar,
and he shuddered to think of the terrible con-
sequences such knowledge might produce. His
beloved master's severest displeasure stared him
in the face ; for his own conscience told him that
displeasure was but too well deserved. He
shrank from the bare idea of falling into dis-
grace ; and yet he endeavoured to drown the
warnings of the faithful monitor, he endea-
voured to lull it to sleep. Alas ! the seedling
had taken root, and had grown into a tree, and
was bearing its fatal and baneful fruit.
He had, as we have already observed, been
chosen by the Czar as his deputy in all the pomps
and ceremonies of the state ; and this raised him
many enemies, and involved him in a continual
round of gaiety, and a succession of visits. This
continual routine of display and magnificence
92 From Peasant to Prince :
fanned to a glowing flame the desire of wealth.
That wealth, however, was not employed for the
public welfare, nor did it contribute to the
glory of the monarch, but it was lavished on
the unpardonable gratification of his own vanity.
His nefarious embezzlement of public money
kept him in perpetual dread lest his unjust deal-
ings should be discovered by the monarch, or
revealed to him by his enemies ; and how fre-
quently, after his valet had performed his duties
for the night, and he was left alone to his own
reflections, did the unhappy man pace his room
in mortal agony, as he passed in review his day's
dark deeds ! And he was not then to be envied.
Far happier had he been when, a poor pieman,
he retired to sweet repose on his hard pallet
after running about the streets, for he had earned
the repose by honest industry ; he had wronged
no one, he had offended no one, and he feared
no one. But now what were his thoughts as he
walked to and fro his magnificent apartment —
he the Prince Menschikoff*, the highest dignitary
of the realm ? What did he ask himself night
after night } Let us see. His first thought was,
whether he had by any means increased his
wealth ; had he added to his greatness ; and had
he, above all, succeeded in the overthrow of any
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 93
of his enemies, and thus removed a witness
against him, and diminished by ever so little
the probability of losing his sovereign's favour ?
For he sought by every means in his power to
hide his unworthy conduct from him, and piti-
lessly planned the downfall of any whom he
looked upon as likely to reveal that conduct,
whether justly or unjustly, frequently resorting
to cruelty as well as injustice. How dark were
the pictures conjured up by his overwrought
imagination, as he thought how he might best
get them into his power ; what punishments he
should inflict upon them when they really should
fall into his hands ; how he would deprive them
of their places, and even of their liberty if it
were necessary ; following them in his mind's
eye to Siberia, and cruelly gloating over their
privations and sufferings there, till, wearied out
with the cares and fatigue of the day, he would
throw himself on his bed, hurriedly making the
sign of the cross, and muttering a few unmeaning
words by way of prayer ! Prayer ! Alas ! it was
but a mockery of the word, for it came not from
the heart. He had indeed need of prayer, for his
soul was hardened ; his riches had corrupted it.
He could not pray, he durst not pray. Had he
really and truly prayed, he would never have
fallen so low as he had done ; he would never
94 From Peasant to Prince:
have been forced to seek by any means, how-
ever unjustifiable, the destruction of those who
had it in their power to denounce him. Alas
for him ! he was not to be envied, but pitied.
The love of riches has taken too deep root in his
heart to allow the growth of more generous
sentiments : yes, far happier had he been when,
a cheerful pastry-cook, he had sung his merry
songs about the streets of Moscow.
But now all is silent in the sleeping apartment
of the all but royal prince of the empire ; no-
thing is heard save the deep-drawn breath-
ing of the weary and over-excited man. Is he
asleep ? Can that dull and heavy slumber into
which he has fallen be called sleep ? Alas !
his repose resembles not the wholesome, invigo-
rating, and refreshing sleep of the labourer who
has fulfilled the duties of the day, and who is
gaining strength for those of the morrow; his
senses, indeed, are buried in slumber, but his
mind is still wrestling with the anguish that
shook his frame in his waking hours ; and the
impression left on his lying down is following
him into the land of dreams. His vivid ima-
gination pictures his having fallen into disgrace ;
he is threatened with exile and death, the work
of his triumphant enemies. Before him stands
the yawning fortress, into which he is driven by
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 95
some invisible power. In vain does he endeavour
to resist ; in vain does he try to escape ; he
glides onward and onward, as it were, over a sea
of ice towards the portal ready to receive him,
and to close its gates on him for ever — nothing
to cling to, nothing to protect him ; onward, still
onward, is he impelled, and he groans aloud. So
deep, indeed, are the sighs drawn from his over-
charged heart, that the servant who sleeps in the
adjoining room creeps uneasily from his couch
to see what is the matter, and listens with an ear
of pity to the signs of such deep distress of mind.
It cannot be supposed that such repose could
be beneficial to him. It was with weary limbs
and an aching head that he would rise in the
morning ; and, after partaking of breakfast,
served up on a magnificent service of curiously-
wrought silver, he would repair to that part of
the palace occupied by his wife and children,
where he was ever met with a smile and cheer-
ful greeting from his loving and amiable partner,
who was fondly attached to him ; but alas ! her
tenderness was too often restrained by grave
looks, and an air of absence most painful to
her. Never, however, did a reproach escape
her lips. She knew how absorbed he was in
the duties of his station ; and though she could
96 From Peasant to Prince:
not but regret that those duties necessarily
weaned him from his family, she would not,
by a single complaint, add to the burden she
saw was almost too heavy to bear. She little
thought what rendered that burden so terrible,
or her heart would .have sunk within her. His
children too, though they never failed to ap-
proach him, and kiss his hand, would look up
anxiously and inquiringly at the haggard face
of their father ; but they no longer bounded
forward with a light step and a shout of glee
when they heard him coming, and they won-
dered at thq change that had come over them,
though they could not account for it
Then followed business. Here how much
unpleasantness awaited him ! How many diffi-
culties had he to contend with in his wishes
to do good, prejudices to overcome — prejudices
that had become giants in their strength, for
they had been the growth of centuries ! Annoy-
ances of every kind did he meet with in his
round of daily occupations. It was impossible to
satisfy all those who came to solicit favours ; and
he was frequently obliged to bestow favours on
those whom he knew to be unworthy recipients
of them, that he might not draw upon himself the
punishment he knew he so well deserved. And
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 97
yet, with all his precautions, his enemies made
head against him. It was in vain he conciliated
some, sent away others by banishing them to
Siberia. For every one banished by him, there
rose two or three against him. He stood over
a volcano, which threatened to engulf him at
every moment. And this was the man who
excited universal envy, who, under a smile of
bland suavity, was devoured by pangs that
made the soul writhe, and might have been
pitied by those very enemies themselves !
And yet how different it might have been ;
how truly great and glorious might have been
his career ! for it was neither his high station,
nor the sacred duties imposed upon him by
his rank, that need have caused his misery and
ruin. However momentous and arduous the
duties and responsibility of a statesman ; how-
ever difficult his task, if he undertake all in a
right spirit, and with the conscientious motive
to render all subservient to the welfare of his
fellow-creatures, not seeking to enrich himself
at the expense of others, he can perform his
duties to the general satisfaction of the good
and great. But such was not the case with
Menschikoff: his love of riches, like the tares
in the field, choked the good seed, and de-
98 From Peasant to Prince.
stroyed every noble principle save one — his
great love for his sovereign. And yet that
love, deep and sincere though it was, was not
sufficiently strong to make him relinquish his
base passion : it did but add another sting to
the remorse which gnawed into his heart like a
venomous serpent, and lacerated it in a thou-
sand different ways, the most poignant of which
was his fear of discovery. Nor was that fear
groundless. Many of the nobles, indignant at
his nefarious dealings, and exasperated at see-
ing their fellow-nobles being sent one after
another to linger out their days in Siberia, at
the instigation of the favourite, came at length
to the resolution of risking the displeasure of
their sovereign by opening his eyes to Men-
schikoff's guilt. Grief and anger struggled for
mastery in the heart of the large-hearted sove-
reign on hearing the accusation brought against
his favourite, who was said -to have signed a
contract to provide the regiments with bread.
The money had been paid down, but the com
had never been forthcoming.
An investigation into this disgraceful affair
was instituted, and confided to a committee
of nobles under the command of Vassily Demi-
trovitch, Prince Dolgorouky,
cy^r^t*S^#i)
CHAPTER II.
DISGRACE.
HE Czar was seated, grave and alone,
in his apartment, listlessly turning
some object, and looking up from
time id time ; but it would' have been evident
even to a casual observer, that his thoughts
were not upon the work before him, but were
painfully engrossed in some subject far more
important than that work in which he was
apparently engaged.
Peter the Great devoted much of the time
which he allowed himself for recreation to his
favourite amusement of turning ; and he carried
it to a degree of great perfection — a degree
really remarkable — as may be seen by many
interesting objects of his performance in the
Hermitage, and the ivory pulpit in the For-
tress Chapel, which is an exquisite piece of
workmanship.
100 From Peasant to Prince:
The room set apart for his work was fitted up
with all kinds of lathes adapted for the purpose,
and the different implements necessary for his
use ; and here the Czar had now retired, sad and
grave, evidently the prey to some deep grief.
All was silent ; the very wheel slackened its
movement, and few were the shavings that had
fallen on the floor, that was usually strewn all
around. The Czar at length seated himself,
with a piece of wood in his hand, to which from
time to time he gave a chip with some sharp
instrument ; but he seemed buried in deep
thought, and he now and then heaved a deep
sigh, as though his heart was overburdened
with grief, as doubtless it was ; for he was think-
ing of the crimes of the man he so tenderly
loved, the man whom he had raised from the
lowest rank to the highest pinnacle of greatness
— in fact, he was thinking of Menschikoff.
His reverie was interrupted by the entrance
of Prince Dolgorouky, who, bowing low, pre-
sented him a paper which he held in his hand.
' Ah ! it is you, Prince Vassily,* said Peter
familiarly ; * what good news do you bring me V
* Alas ! your Majesty,* answered the Prince,
* I am sorry to say that it devolves upon me to
be the bearer of evil tidings.'
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. ioi
The brow of the monarch became still more
clouded, and he asked abruptly what had been
done about the affairs of Menschikoff.
' The tribunal of judges appointed to investi-
gate the business/ answered the Prince respect-
fully, ' have conscientiously and impartially done
so, your Majesty/
* Well, and what is the result of their investi-
gation ?' asked the Czar.
'They have come to the unanimous decision
that Prince Menschikoff is guilty.'
The Czar rose hastily, threw the piece of
wood he held out of the window, and, with his
hands behind his back, he paced to and fro
the room in the greatest agitation. At length,
stopping before the Prince, he looked at him
fixedly, and said —
* Prince Vassily, I know you love not Menschi-
koff. I am quite aware that for some time you
and many others have endeavoured to under-
mine him in my esteem and affections ; but woe
to you all if, upon the investigation which I in
my turn intend to make, I find your decision
unjust, the effect of prejudice, hatred, and envy.'
'Your Majesty/ said Dolgorouky with dig-
nity, * we may safely and with a clear conscience
leave the matter in your hands, and rest per-
I02 From Peasant to Prince:
fectly calm as to your Majesty's decision with
regard to our integrity, and the impartiality of
our judgment/
* It is well/ said the monarch, going towards
the door, and locking it He then returned to
the table, and seating himself before it, he gave
the paper to Dolgorouky, and made a sign that
he should read it. The latter proceeded to do
so slowly and distinctly, pausing from time to
time to give the Czar an opportunity of making
any observation he might think fit. Not a
word, however, escaped the sovereign's lips ;
now and then he sighed heavily, but he said
nothing.
When the Prince had finished his reading, he
laid the paper on the table, and said respect-
fully—
' Our task is now ended, your Majesty. The
rest remains with you.'
Peter was still silent.
Those who have read the history of Peter
the Great must know how severe he was in the
administration of justice, — how careful he was,
however, not to decide too hastily; yet, when
once fully convinced of the guilt of the party
accused, how inflexible he was in punishing the
offender ; and the higher the rank of the crimi-
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 103
nal, the greater the punishment was sure to be ;
for, with all his severity, the Czar was just.
Never could he be accused of acting unjustly.
We may then easily imagine the fearful struggle
going on in his mind about his unhappy fa-
vourite ; and how dear that favourite must
have been to him, since he could not come to
the resolution, convinced though he was of his
guilt, to inflict upon him the just punishment
of his crimes.
Turning at length to Dolgorouky, he said,
* What is your opinion of the case V
* Sire,' said the Prince, * the crimes of Prince
Menschikoff are less pardonable from his having
been loaded with such benefits by his sovereign.'
* Prince,' said the Czar, ' it is neither for you
nor any one else to judge between Menschikoff
and myself God alone can do that. God alone
has the right to do it. I made you a judge
of his actions towards those you say he has
wronged, not of his actions towards me.'
*Your Majesty,' returned the Prince, 'I am
aware, indeed we all are aware, of the signal ser-
vices that Prince Menschikoff has rendered to
his country. We all know that he has not been
raised to his present greatness by blind fortune,
but by your wisdom and goodness. But he has
104 From Peasant to Prince:
now shown himself unworthy of the confidence
reposed in him by his sovereign, by the abuse
of that confiding trust ; and by his base conduct
and nefarious dealings, he has forfeited the good
opinion of all honourable men. Let not your
Majesty, I beseech you, lay so unjust a charge
upon your faithful subjects, as to think us
moved either by envy or jealousy in the present
instance. Deign to exonerate us from all ill-
feeling towards him, and to listen to what we
propose.'
* Proceed/ said the Czar.
* Punish with death, not Menschikoff, but his
aid and counsellor, Kursakoff; let it be done
publicly, that it may serve as an example, not
only to Alexander Danilovitch, and thus deter
him for the future from such dishonest dealings,
but to all those who are in any way entrusted
with the public weal.'
Still Peter sat silent and irresolute for some
time ; then rising, he said sternly, * I myself
have determined what to do ; and I think I
know of a better plan than yours. Read the
paper once more.'
The Prince was about to do as he was desired,
when a faint tap was heard at the door.
'Who is there .^' asked the Czar angrily; for
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 105
he did not like to be disturbed in his occupa-
tions.
No answer was returned ; and the Czar re-
peated his question still more angrily than
before, rising at the same time, and going to-
wards the door, which he opened quickly.
On the threshold stood the guilty favourite,
pale, and trembling, and his appearance was
evidently as unwelcome to the Czar, as it was
unexpected. Menschikoff, as if to read his fate
in the face of the sovereign, cast on him a be-
seeching look ; but Peter was too angry at the
intrusion to pay any attention to the mute
appeal, and only asked him sternly how he had
dared to come into his presence unsummoned.
* Grace, grace, sire !' said the unhappy man. ' I
throw myself on your clemency and protection ;
and I entreat your Majesty not to give me over
to the pitiless animosity of those who would
rejoice in my ruin.'
The Czar had not time to utter a word, ere
Dolgorouky, addressing the culprit, said, ' Alex-
ander Danilovitch, your affairs have been im-
partially looked into by a committee of honest
and honourable men, not by enemies who wish
to ruin you in the opinion of your sovereign.
Your complaints are unjust, for the charges
io6 From Peasant to Prince:
brought against you are clearly proved; and
those charges are, the embezzlement of Govern-
ment money confided to you for the purchase
of corn, which purchase has never been made/
' Neither you nor the other members of the
committee have taken the trouble to investigate
the matter fairly and impartially,' said Menschi-
koff; 'you have only been too ready to take
advantage of the unjust accusation of my
enemies ; but I throw myself on the justice and
mercy of my prince, who will not allow me to
fall into the hands of those who hate me.'
' Czar,' said Dolgorouky, turning towards his
sovereign, ' permit me to withdraw, since it were
beneath my dignity to listen to the injurious
insinuations of Prince Menschikoff.'
'Take the papers with you,' said the Czar.
*I will make known my decision to you in a
short time.'
Dolgorouky took up the papers, made a low
bow, and left the room. Menschikoff fell on his
knees, and remained in that posture, while Peter,
with his hands behind his back, and with a stem
brow, paced the room hurriedly and long. At
length, coming to a halt before the culprit, he
said, * Alexander Danilovitch, why do you thus
grieve me ?*
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 107
The wretched man tried to speak, but tears
choked his utterance ; he endeavoured to seize
his sovereign's hand, but Peter, snatching it
away, said angrily —
' Is it possible that I have been mistaken in
you ? Is it possible that love so great as mine
has failed to ennoble your base slavish heart?
Can it indeed be that Prince Menschikoff has
retained in his high estate the ignorance of the
peasant, that he does not understand that by
the love of such dross as riches, and by sordid
avarice, man debases himself and grovels in the
dust, instead of raising his head high as the
angels ? I repent me that I did not know thee
better ; I repent me that I raised from the dust,
to be my friend and companion, the man who
prefers that dust, that base degrading love of
riches ! *
*Pity! sire; pity!'
' Begone from my sight ! Thou hast saved
my life ; thou hast contributed to the welfare of
thy country by following my instructions ; thou
hast rendered efficient aid in carrying out my
plans,* said the monarch ; * and for that thou
hast deserved my gratitude and friendship ; and
Heaven be my witness, I gave both with all my
heart, and was happy in doing so. But thou
io8 From Peasant to Prince.
hast abused my confidence to the detriment of
others ; thou hast deceived me, and drawn upon
thyself the resentment of good and honest men ;
thou hast excited the people against thee ; thou
hast returned evil for good, by making a base
and unworthy use of the power invested in thee,
and I can trust thee no longer. Begone, I say ;
begone from my sight ! '
' Mercy ! sire ; mercy !'
'Away! away!' said Peter angrily.
Well knowing that Peter never suffered any
one to answer him when he was in one of his
angry moods, Menschikoff rose slowly, dried his
tears, and humbly left the room.
With sorrowful regards did Peter follow his
favourite ; then, as if determined to make an
effort to overcome his grief, he took a turn at
his lathe ; but his work went on slowly and
sadly. The wheel went round, it is true, but
the master's heart was not in the work, and
more than one tear fell from the eye of the un-
daunted ruler of a vast empire, so deeply was
he grieved by the guilt and ingratitude of the
man he loved so dearly.
CHAPTER III.
THE TRIAL.
HE unbounded love of Peter the Great
for his favourite, though it warded oft
the punishment due to his crimes, did
so but for the moment. It could not, and did
not, avert it entirely ; for there were too many
just causes of discontent against him, and his de-
linquencies were too numerous and too glaring
not to afford reasonable grounds to his enemies
to triumph over him, and they availed them-
selves of them to endeavour to work his ruin.
Nor was this unnatural. Menschikoff* had him-
self reduced too many families to beggary, and
inflicted misery on so many hearts, that retri-
bution could not fail to visit him in his turn, as
it ever does, sooner or later, though it may seem
to tarry long ; and Prince Dolgorouky, in pur-
suing his investigation concerning the shameful
proceeding with regard to the non-delivery of
no From Peasant to Prince:
the corn, had discovered so many nefarious
dealings of the same kind, that he thought it
incumbent on him to make them known to his
sovereign. The Czar was more than afflicted ;
he was inexpressibly shocked. Still, his affec-
tion for the Wretched man was so great, that he
determined not to condemn him without looking
into the affair himself; and being thoroughly-
convinced of his guilt, that neither envy nor
jealousy might aggravate appearances against
him, he called to his aid a committee, appointed
from the captains of his own guard, men on
whose justice and impartiality he could depend.
The crimes of the unhappy man were but too
evident, the accusations against him but too well
founded ; and he was called upon to answer for
his conduct in open court, the Czar himself
being present, deeply afflicted, but firmly re-
solved that justice should have its course.
Menschikoff, fully aware that his base con-
duct could no longer be concealed, and really
grieved thus to have caused his kind benefactor
such deep sorrow, resolved to have recourse to
the only means in his power to avert the blow
about to fall on his devoted head, — he resolved
to invoke the clemency of his sovereign. He
therefore wrote a petition to Peter the Great,
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. hi
and determined to carry it with him into
court.
The assembly met, and the Czar was, as we
have already said, himself present
Menschikoff was called. With his head bent
on his breast, and with an air of profound re-
spect and humility, he advanced towards his
sovereign, and bending on one knee, he pre-
sented his petition, saying, as well as his emotion
would permit —
'Most guilty am I, noble Prince; most un-
worthy have I proved myself of all your past
favours ; most infamously have I requited you
for all the benefits you have conferred on me.
Punish me therefore in any way you think fit ;
but refuse not to read my petition. Banish me
not from your presence ; pity me, and allow me
still to serve you ; give me one more opportunity
of proving my gratitude, and the great love I
have for the master who has been so good to
me ; one more opportunity of rendering myself,
by new services, worthy of your esteem.*
Peter was deeply touched. None knew better
than he what services Menschikoff had already
rendered to his country ; none knew better than
he how to appreciate those services, and his
heart bled for his unhappy favourite. Taking
112 From Peasant to Prince:
the petition from his hand, he silently perused
it ; but as he read it, his face grew dark, and he
exclaimed angrily —
* Why, even this petition you did not know
how to word properly! ' and, taking up a pen, he
began to correct it
The members of the committee looked at
each other in silent displeasure ; and one of
them, a captain, still very young, rose, took up
his cap, and turning to his comrades, he said, as
he advanced towards the door —
* Our presence here is no longer necessary.'
Peter raised his head haughtily, and, looking
at the young man severely, he asked him whither
he was going.
' Home,' answered the captain undauntedly.
' Home, when I am still here ?*
'There is nothing for us to do here, your
Majesty, when you yourself teach the culprit
what he is to answer.'
The monarch's brow lowered, and his eyes
flashed lightning ; but it was only for a moment.
The calm and respectful look of the young
captain immediately disarmed him, and he
motioned him to his place, saying, as he did
so —
* It is for you, as the youngest member of the
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 113
committee, to pass your opinion on the affair in
question/
*As it is by your Majesty's appointment we
are assembled here as judges, we must request
you to read aloud the petition you have received
from the culprit ; while he, as being the party
accused, must remain at the door. After the
perusal of the paper, he must leave the room,
and I, as the youngest member of the com-
mittee, must pronounce my judgment on the
matter of the petition, and say what punishment
I consider ought to be inflicted on him, each
member in his turn doing the same/
The Czar made a sign to Menschikoff to re-
tire to the door, which he did silently and re-
spectfully.
When the petition, or rather confession, of the
culprit had been read, he was ordered to quit
the room ; and the young captain before named
rose and gave his opinion in the following
words :
* The first nobleman in the empire, raised to
that high station by the unheard-of, unexampled
Favour and bounty of his sovereign, ought to
serve us as an example, not to break the laws,
but to follow them to the very letter, so that
10 shame may possibly be imputed to him, his
H
114 From Peasant to Prince:
sovereign, or his country. As, however, he has
swerved from his duties, and debased himself
by deceiving his sovereign, and defrauding the
public, thus casting a stigma on the laws of
the land, he ought, in consideration of his high
rank, and the great privileges he has enjoyed,
to be set forth as a striking example for the
warning of others, and punished more severely
than an ordinary culprit would be ; and it is
my opinion that he should lose his head, and
that his wealth and estates should be confis-
cated to the state/
A deep silence followed this declaration,
which was only broken by the order of the Czar,
* Let the next speak ; ' which he did, and his
sentence was followed by that of each in his
turn, more or less severe ; but all, without ex-
ception, condemning him to condign punish-
ment.
Not till the last had passed sentence on the
unhappy man, did Peter offer a single remark.
He sat listening silently, attentively, and re-
spectfully to all ; then rising, and addressing
the assembly, he said solemnly and emphati-
cally —
' When justice has to be administered fairly,
and when the life and honour of the accused are
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 115
at stake, that justice should be put into the
balance of impartiality. In one scale should
be placed his faults, in the other the services he
has rendered to his country ; and should the
latter outweigh the former, as in the present
case, mercy should be the attribute of the judge.
There is not one among you unacquainted
with the innumerable and great services of
Menschikoff, both to his sovereign and his
country ; not one of you but knows how he
has warded off danger, when danger was near —
how he has saved my life at the peril of his
own ; and shall this be passed over unregarded }
Let it, on the contrary, weigh against his defects.
Let it suffice to reprimand him severely in the
presence of you all, to inflict a heavy fine, one
in proportion to the sum he has fraudulently
embezzled ; but allow me to plead for him,
that he may, as he himself begs, redeem the
past by future services.'
Peter ended, and the young captain rose,
bowed, and said —
' It is our duty to accede to the will of our
sovereign. Therefore, as Prince Menschikoff
was the happy and favoured instrument chosen
by Heaven to save the life of the monarch, it
is but just his own life should be spared. I
ii6 From Peasant to Prince.
respectfully yield myself to your Majesty's
decision.*
All the other members having announced
the same opinion, the accusatory indictment
was presented by the Czar to the committee,
who affixed their signatures to it, stating that
though Prince Menschikoff was convicted as
guilty of having embezzled the money con-
fided to him for the public good, and appro-
priated it to his own use, the Czar, out of
consideration for the talents and services of
Menschikoff both to himself and his country,
graciously forgave his past offences, hoping that
his future conduct would justify the monarch's
clemency in not withdrawing his confidence;
although, he was sorry to say, that confidence
could not but be somewhat shaken, till time
should restore it to him, by his probity and
honourable conduct.
CHAPTER IV.
REPENTANCE AND RELAPSE.
E must now pass over several years,
during which time Peter the Great, by
the unanimous consent of all crowned
heads, assumed the title of Emperor, and never
for a moment relaxed in his endeavours to pro-
mote the good of his subjects. Menschikoff,
at the same time, as if wishing to repair his
faults, had occupied himself as zealously in his
duties, and had regained his sovereign's entire
confidence, and was restored to his favour,
being again the first nobleman in the kingdom.
Wherever he went his arrival was hailed with
the same honours as the Emperor would have
been — cannon being fired off in his honour, and
whole towns illuminated to greet his appear-
ance ; in short, nothing was wanting ; all pro-
claimed him the acknowledged favourite of his
sovereign.
ii8 From Peasant to Prince:
It is true his services to his country were
most signally useful ; and now that war was
likely to break out again between Russia and
Sweden, Menschikoff, as field-marshal, was ap-
pointed to review the troops both at home and
far up the country, and his efficient aid showed
that, during his cessation of military service, he
had lost none of his ability or activity. It
seems almost incredible that one man could
have done so much to facilitate the duties of
the generals under his command, and contri-
bute to the comfort of the soldiers. No won-
der, then, that he was loved and honoured by
those who knew him only as their friend and
benefactor. Alas ! the darker passions of this
unfortunate man had but slumbered during this
time, and they again broke forth with fresh vio-
lence when he once more felt himself secure in
his master's favour.
Who would believe that the indulgent and
merciful decision of Peter could have failed to
correct the criminal of his base and degrading
cupidity ? Yet such, alas ! was the hold it had
got of him, so deeply was it rooted in his
heart, that its wretched victim could not pluck
it out, it weighed him down to the very earth ;
and again he was called upon to answer for his
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 119
unworthy and dishonest actions, before a court
invested with the full authority of their sove-
reign to deal with him according to his crimes.
He was nearly the richest man in the king-
dom ; for, not to speak of the enormous sums
of money which he possessed, his landed pro-
perty and numerous slaves brought him in
yearly more wealth than he could calculate ;
and yet, in defiance of all law and justice, he
violently took possession of his neighbours*
estates, harboured their slaves when they ran
away — nay, even encouraged them to do so ;
in one word, nothing was sacred to him. His
only aim in life appeared to be to heap riches
on riches, no matter how they might be ob-
tained. Surely Mammon must be a hard
taskmaster thus to choke every good seed in
the heart, and destroy every noble sentiment ;
to lead his victim on and on till he grovels in
the very dust ; to extinguish every spark of
feeling for others, and only think of self; and
to immolate all upon that altar of self, till it
groans beneath the weight, and buries its very
victim in the fearful and pitiless ruin it has
wrought.
Menschikoff was again tried and found guilty,
and once more he had recourse to the merciful
I20 From Peasant to Prince:
interposition of his indulgent sovereign ; but
this time his petition, humble and penitent
though it was, failed to produce the effect he
hoped for. Peter was too incensed at his base
and flagrant delinquencies to come between him
and the punishment he so justly deserved. He
was condemned to return the estates he had so
fraudulently appropriated to himself, and to in-
demnify the owners for the losses to which he
had subjected them. He was ordered to send
back at his own expense all the slaves he had
enticed away from their masters, and to pay a
heavy fine for his fraudulent dealings. Peter
the Great hoped that this severity would prove
a sufficient warning for the future. He was un-
willing to disgrace him by further exposure.
His own open and generous nature recoiled
from what he considered as derogatory to the
rank of a nobleman. Alas ! he too soon had
other proofs of the abuse his favourite made
of his clemency. We have already said that
the monarch, averse to pomp and ceremony,
confided all the etiquette of the court to Men-
schikoff, who was accordingly provided with all
the means of carrying on the necessary splen-
dour : attendants innumerable, pages, and even
noblemen, were in constant waiting around him.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 121
He one day solicited the rank of officer for his
pages.
* How can I do so/ said Peter, * when they
have not served as soldiers ? However, I will
think of it ;' and not long after this he signified
his consent, on condition that they should be
enrolled as soldiers in the regiment of guards.
This, however, Menschikoff did not see fit
to comply with. Trusting to the goodness and
forbearance of the monarch, he assembled his
pages, conferred on them the rank of officer,
and then made it known in the regiment.
Some time afterwards the Emperor, on look-
ing over the military report, observed that the
Prince's pages were invested with the title of
sergeants ; and, sending to the officer whom he
had appointed to make his will known to Men-
schikoff, he reprimanded him for his breach of
duty.
' Did I not order you to inform the Prince
that he must first enrol his pages as soldiers.?*
said he.
'I scrupulously fulfilled your Majesty's or-
ders,' answered the officer respectfully.
* Impossible !' said the Emperor. * He would
never dare thus to act in defiance of my orders.'
* I know not, your Majesty ; but I can assure
122 From Peasant to Prince:
you that I delivered your Majesty's message to
him.'
' Go to him immediately/ said Peter, ' and
ask him, in my name, how he has dared to
disobey me.'
When Menschikoff heard how angry the
Emperor was, he hoped to appease him by
waiting upon him personally, and he accord-
ingly repaired immediately to the palace.
But no sooner did Peter perceive him, than,
losing all patience, and seizing his stick, he
actually gave him a caning with his own hands,
and upbraided him with his ingratitude and
disobedience. The favourite fell on his knees
imploring mercy and forgiveness.; but the
monarch was too angry to listen to him. At
length he ordered him to be gone from his
sight, and immediately enrol his pages as com-
mon soldiers.
The great and generous prince was, however,
too just to allow the poor young men to suffer
for the fault of their master ; and, soon after,
hearing they had become the laughing-stock of
the whole regiment, he reinstated them in their
rank.
And now, for the third time, Menschikoff was
summoned to appear before his judges, accused
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 123
of practising unjust and dishonest dealings, and
Peter was determined to abide by the decision
they should come to ; nor would he, by sign
or word, plead in any way for the man who
had proved himself unworthy of the distinction
with which he had regarded him. It was in
vain the unhappy man sought an interview with
his sovereign, trusting to the strength of his
affection for him ; the monarch persisted in his
refusal to admit him into his presence. The
sword now hung over Menschikoff's head by a
single hair, and seemed ready to fall. Once
more was Peter seated in his room, gloomy and
sad ; for his thoughts were busy about the base
conduct of the man he had loved so dearly,
whom he had raised so high, but who, in spite
of all he had done to correct him, refused to
be won over to noble or honourable conduct,
either by indulgence or severity. Fearful was
the struggle going on in his heart — the struggle
between justice and attachment. This time,
however, justice fought hard for the mastery ;
and Peter was determined no longer to shield
from the law the man who could take so unjus-
tifiable and base an advantage of his affection
and clemency.
While he was thus absorbed in the reflection
124 From Peasant to Prince:
of his unworthy favourite's base conduct, the
door was softly opened, and a stranger, in
plain clothes, advanced slowly towards him,
and, bending on one knee, he laid his sword
and all his orders at the feet of his sovereign.
He made several efforts to speak, but could
not utter a syllable ; at leng^, choked with
sobs, he began, and, gathering strength as he
went on, he said —
'Your Majesty had loaded me with wealth
and honours, kindness and affection ; and though
I proved myself unworthy of your unwearied
favours, you forgave me all, and restored to
me the confidence which, for a while, you had
withdrawn. Take back, I beseech you, all
th^e memorials of your great goodness, punish
me as you think fit — nay, kill me with your
own hand if you will ; but one thing allow me
to crave on my bended knees : deliver me not
into the hands of my enemies, who do not, in
this affair, act so much with a view to the wel-
fare of their country and the public good, as
that of animosity towards me, and envy on
account of your Majesty's favour to me.'
'Alexander Danilovitch,* said Peter, moved
even to tears, 'once more I ask of you why
you thus grieve me? Is it possible that you
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 125
are not satisfied with the wealth and honours
lavished upon you? Is it possible that base
and sordid cupidity has taken so firm a hold of
your soul as to predominate over all the other
good qualities which you possess, and which
have rendered you so eminently useful to your
country ? Have you not received sufficient for
your services that you turn thief? Friend,
friend, I have defended you, I have had pity on
you, I have upheld you. Even against my own
conscience have I tried to justify you ; but you
have now gone too far, justice must be satisfied,
the law must have its course/
'Put me to death, my Emperor, my bene-
factor ; put me to death with your hands. I will
submit to whatever you may think fit to orcler
me, but deliver me not over to my enemies.'
' Silence, man ; do not dare to accuse men
more honourable than yourself You have no
enemy but yourself. Go ; I cannot, I will not
listen to you ; I have no right to admit you
even to my presence. Go and await the deci-
sion of your judges.*
So saying, the monarch left the room, and
Menschikoff was left alone to his despair, for
he had lost all hope of moving the Emperor in
his favour.
126 From Peasant to Prince:
There was but one glimmer of hope left
him, which was to seek the Empress Catherine,
to throw himself at her feet, and beg of her to
plead for him and shield him from the punish-
ment he so well deserved ; after which he re-
turned to his own home, there to await his
doom.
Nor was he kept long in suspense ; the very
next day he received orders to attend a dinner
given at the palace.
He grew deadly pale ; and when at his toilet
his valet handed him his state uniform covered
with gold, he could scarcely summon the courage
to put it on. When he stepped into his carriage,
he could have wished it would convey him to
the further end of the world. On ascending the
grand staircase, his knees trembled under him
to such a degree that it was with difficulty he
could keep his footing. With a heavy sigh did
he look at the star glittering on his breast, and
willingly would he have resigned all his honour-
able orders to have purchased the peace afforded
by a pure conscience.
Bowing to their Majesties and the different
guests already assembled, of whom, contrary to
custom, there were many present that day,
Menschikoff took his seat at table, casting an
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 127
imploring look at both sovereigns ; but he could
glean nothing from their countenances : that of
the Emperor was calmly severe, not a vestige of
anger could he trace on it ; the eyes of the Em-
press were not raised to his for a single moment.
The conversation at dinner was of a desul-
tory nature, turning chiefly on the monarch's
favourite way of employing his leisure moments.
Menschikoff made an effort to join in it, but not
a word could he utter. Neither could he swallow
a morsel ; had he attempted to do so, he must
have been choked. The wretched man a second
time cast a look of inquiry, of agonizing entreaty,
on Peter; but nought could he read, and the
torture he endured till the meal was over might
have softened a heart of stone. His breath came
fast and thick. His blood seemed to boil in
his veins, when, at a sign from the sovereign, all
conversation ceased. One of the courtiers rose,
with a paper in his hand ; and Menschikoff was
ordered to stand up, which he could scarcely
do, so violently did he tremble in all his limbs.
But at last, when he had succeeded, the courtier,
looking sorrowfully and deprecatingly upon him,
as if asking forgiveness for the pain he was
about to inflict, read in a faltering voice as
follows : —
128 From Peasant to Prince:
'Alexander Menschikoff, son of a poor
peasant woman, raised by the goodness of his
sovereign from the lowest to the highest rank
of power and greatness that can be reached by
any mortal : Noble qualities, exemplary fidelity,
indefatigable zeal, and untiring activity gained
for him the unbounded confidence of his prince,
who could not fail to appreciate such valuable
services, and who rewarded him with wealth and
honours such as none had ever received before.
But, alas ! he returned his benefactor's favours
with ingratitude, and abused his confidence
most unworthily. The Emperor, however, out
of consideration for the invaluable services of
Menschikoff — services rendered both to himself
and his country — ^has more than once pardoned
the great offences of the criminal, hoping by his
clemency to touch the heart of the culprit and
lead him to repentance and amendment ; but it
has been of no avail, for the mercy of the
sovereign has but tended to encourage him to
repeat his nefarious dealings, and lead him to
commit greater injustice. Time will not permit
us here to enumerate all the crimes of which
he is accused, but the following are a few of
them : —
' I. Alexander Menschikoff has appropriated
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 129
to his own use large sums of money confided to
him by the state.
* 2. He has unjustly and unlawfully deprived
his peaceable neighbours of landed property,
and had recourse to cruelty in order to insure
their silence.
* 3. He has encouraged serfs to quit their law-
ful owners, receiving them on his own estates ;
nay more, enticing them by false promises to
come to him.
* 4. Alexander Menschikoff has continued to
carry on these fraudulent and dishonest actions
notwithstanding repeated warnings ; for he once
undenvent a fair and impartial trial for similar
delinquencies fully proved against him, but was
pardoned by the Emperor, who hoped by his
noble clemency to reclaim him. Now the cup
of his iniquities is full to the brim ; one drop
more, and it will run over. The criminal was
once a poor unlettered man, who got his living
by hawking pies about the street. He is now
greeted by the highest titles of the land ; first
statesman and privy counsellor of his sovereign ;
and, as if all were too little, is looked upon
by that sovereign as his greatest friend, being
second in the empire only to the monarch him-
self. Yes, this criminal, this man who has
I
I30 From Peasant to Prince.
acted like a thief and a robber, has been loaded
with wealth, covered with orders, weighed down
with honours and titles ; this man is the high
and mighty Prince Menschikoff'
The reader ceased, bowed, and resumed his
seat. Menschikoff still remained standing. Dur-
ing the reading of the paper, he had from time
to time cast a furtive glance on the counte-
nances of those present; but no one look of
triumph could he trace. All eyes were fixed
on the ground, so great was the power of the
favourite still.
And now Peter the Great took up the word.
* Prince,' said he, * you have drawn this humilia-
tion on yourself; may it prove an effectual
warning to you. As to the present accusation
brought against you, it will be looked into by
a committee appointed for that purpose, and
you must abide by that judgment. But re-
member my words: one drop more in the
cup of iniquity, and it will overflow. I can do
nothing for you. I can no longer avert the
blow by preventing the ends of justice.*
CHAPTER V.
THE DEATH OF PETER THE GREAT.
T was a cold stormy November evening,
and the Gulf of Finland sent its angry-
waves against the steep rocks, and with
a wild roar they dashed furiously backwards
and forwards, covering the whole expanse of
waters with a thick white foam. The wind
howled fearfully, and the sky was darkened with
heavy grey leaden clouds ; all nature seemed to
threaten a coming storm.
On the shores of Sisterbeck, where Peter had
constructed an arsenal, and several fabrics of
arms, there stood a group of men who appeared
to have just landed, while several sailors were
busy drawing the boats to the shore, and others
were standing, either conversing or looking on.
Among the latter there was one taller and more
commanding-looking than the rest ; he was pale,
and of a haggard countenance, as though recover-
132 From Peasant to Prince:
ing from a recent illness of a severe nature. It
was Peter the Great, who had indeed been for
some time confined to his bed with a painful
malady, and who had now quitted the house in
direct opposition to the orders of his physician,
Dr. Blumentrost; for he did not consider him
strong enough to go out, or indeed to transact
any business of a serious nature, or which was
likely to cause him the least uneasiness or
fatigue. Peter the Great, however, was not of
a disposition to remain inactive when once out
of immediate danger. Anxious, moreover, to
look into the affairs of his beloved country, he
no sooner left his bed, to which he had been
confined for four months, than, finding the air of
his rooms too stifling, he ordered his yacht to
be got ready, and taking advantage of some
unusually fine weather in the beginning of
October, he set out for Schlusselburg, ordering
Blumentrost to provide himself with medicine,
and follow him thither. It was in vain that the
doctor entreated him to renounce his project,
telling him all the danger of a relapse, beseech-
ing him to consider the fearful risk to which he
exposed himself. Peter would listen to nothing.
The yacht weighed anchor, and the Emperor set
sail for Schlusselburg, whence, coasting along
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 133
the Ladoga, he visited his fabrics, gave all the
requisite directions for carrying on the neces-
sary works, and the weather continuing favour-
able, he went on to Old Ladoga, Novogorod,
Lake Thuen, and Starra Russe, at which latter
place he inspected the saltworks he had there
established, and the canals, which were already
far advanced.
This had taken up the whole of the month of
October. But though Peter was so fully en-
grossed with his important duties, there came
over him, from time to time, a full conviction
that his illness had left its traces in his constitu-
tion — traces sufficiently serious to prove very
detrimental to the exercise of that activity to
which he was so accustomed, that it had become
a second nature to him; and in the beginning
of November he determined to return to Peters-
burg, and follow the advice of his physician by
taking a little rest. But before doing this he
resolved to perform one more important duty,
and that was, to visit Sisterbeck on his way
home, and see how all was going on there in his
fabrics of arms ; and it was after this exami-
nation that we saw him standing, with a few
followers, on the shore, watching the gathering
storm. His three companions were Menschi-
134 From Peasant to Prince:
koff, his physician Blumentrost, and Paulson,
his head surgeon.
' Majesty/ said the physician, ' I implore you
to wrap your cloak more closely round you.
And pray do not stand here any longer in this
dreadful weather ; a cold caught at this moment
might bring on a second attack of your Majesty's
illness, and the consequences would doubtless be
fatal'
' For pity's sake,' added Menschikoff, ' listen to
your doctor's advice. The weather is getting
worse and worse ; pray take care of your health,
so precious to us all.'
'Come, come, Blumentrost, do not be so
fidgety,' said Peter, smiling. ' To-morrow I return
to Petersburg, and there resign myself entirely
into your hands. You may do with me what
you will ; I promise to swallow all your nauseous
draughts, and to obey you in all things.'
The Emperor was turning from the shore as
he said these words, wrapping his cloak more
closely around him ; but casting one last look
on the still foaming waters, he suddenly stopped,
for at some distance he perceived, dancing on
the heaving billows, a boat heavily laden with
soldiers and sailors, who were wrestling against
the furious waters, and straining every nerve
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 135
to reach the land. But they could scarcely hope
to do so ; for, alas ! there were too many in the
boat.
* Look ! look ! * said the Emperor, pointing to
the tossing bark. ' Help ! help ! Quick ! oh !
quick ! for pity's sake, or it will be too late ! '
Scarcely had he spoken, when the billows
dashed over the fragile bark, washing away
some of the wretched men who were in it, and
it remained evidently stranded on a sandbank.
Heedless of the doctor's warning, deaf to
Menschikoffs entreaties, Peter rushed towards
the sea, and gave orders that a boat should be
sent to the rescue of the unfortunate men ; but
all efforts to dislodge the vessel from its peril-
ous position were useless. The Emperor, im-
patient at their want of promptitude, himself
jumped into another boat, and ordered the men
to row for their lives.
'For God's sake, stop, your Majesty!' cried
Blumentrost. / Do not thus expose your life.
Remember the state of your health ; think ' —
* When the lives of my subjects are in dan-
ger, I dare not think,* said the magnanimous
monarch.
'The lives of a thousand of your subjects
will not redeem that of your Majesty,' said the
136 From Peasant to Prince:
physician in despair ; but the monarch heeded
him not.
' Row ! row for your lives ! ' said he to the
sailors.
Menschikoff, determined not to be separated
from his master in the hour of danger, had
barely time to jump into the boat before it
pushed off. Scarcely had they gone a hundred
yards, when they too were on a sandbank ; but,
regardless of danger, anxious only to come to
the help of the perishing crew, Peter jumped
from the boat into the water, and with super-
natural strength dragged it off the sandbank.
He was rewarded for his exertions by saving
the lives of more than thirty men. But alas
for his own ! he fell a victim to his generous
and magnanimous action ; for, on the following
morning, after having passed a sleepless night,
he was seized with a burning pain in his
stomach, and a deadly sickness. On his ar-
rival in Petersburg, he once more took to his
bed, which he never left. All his physician's
worst fears were realized, and in the month of
December the case of the monarch was hope-
less. In January he breathed his last, after
supporting the most excruciating pain with
patience and fortitude, occupying himself to
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 137
the very last for the welfare of his people, and
evincing the greatest gratitude for the attention
of those immediately about his person.
Among the latter was Menschikoff, who never
for a moment quitted his beloved benefactor,
and who, when he had ceased to breathe, gave
way to all his grief and despair.
'Lord, receive the soul of thy servant into
thy kingdom ! ' sobbed Catherine ; and she was
carried insensible from the chamber of death.
Peter the Great passed away ; but the glory
of his name and deeds shall descend from gene-
ration to generation : children and children's
children will think with pride and veneration
of their great and revered monarch, Peter the
Great.
CHAPTER VI.
CATHERINE.
N the death of Peter the Great, his
widow ascended the throne under the
title of Catherine L, and the power of
Menschikoff, which during the last five years
had been on the wane, became greater and
greater every day ; and the Empress, whose
gratitude towards him for his attachment to
her late husband knew no bounds, thought
she could never do enough for him. She put
an end to all the judicial proceedings that had
been pending, and, by a special ordinance,
exempted him from all further investigation
into the accusatory denunciations against him.
New favours were showered upon him, fresh
honours awaited him ; but his insatiable ambi-
tion and cupidity could not rest, and petition
after petition was presented to the Empress ;
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 139
and no sooner was one granted than another
came, more shameless than the last
At length he brought his ambition to a cli-
max by begging Catherine to appoint his eldest
daughter Mary the betrothed wife of Peter
Alexaievitch, the heir to the throne ; and even
this was granted him by his indulgent sove-
reign, who immediately made her will to that
effect. And now, surely, he must have reached
the highest aim of even his inordinate desires.
He was the highest nobleman in the whole
land ; the future father-in-law of the monarch
himself; to his decision were all state affairs
submitted ; his wealth was unbounded, — ^surely
he must at last be satisfied. Not so. His
fatal passion — ^his base cupidity — left him no
repose. Perhaps this might in part be attri-
buted to the poverty of his childhood, the
privations to which he had been exposed in
his early years, but still more to the ignorance
in which those early years had been spent ; for,
having been then exposed to the influence of
the rude and uneducated, and having had no
firm principles inculcated in his mind while it
was still pliable, having passed from a state
of poverty to one of prosperity and luxury, the
temptations of his sphere were too great for
I40 From Peasant to Prince:
him, and the temptatipns to fraud too power-
ful to be withstood by one so weak-minded.
We have seen when he was a lad in Moscow
that the germ of cupidity already showed itself
in his heart. Alas ! it had grown and grown,
it had spread and spread, till it had become a
large tree, and it was now yielding the fruit of
its culture and training.
The love of riches, we are told, is the root of
all evil ; and although it is not often that this
truth is so fully exemplified as in the case before
us, it is nevertheless a fact. It is not often that
such opportunities for the development of this
fatal vice fall to the lot of a single individual.
The devoted attachment of his sovereign had
tended to foster it ; and though it had Iain dor-
mant during the last few years of that sove-
reign's life, it now awoke again in all its vigour,
and with tenfold force and energy. Nothing
stopped him in his headlong course after the
acquisition of wealth and honours ; for, alas ! he
possessed neither principle nor religion to im-
pose any restraint upon his unbridled passions.
Is he the only one who has fallen a prey to the
machinations of the Evil One.^ Have we not
seen instances, quite as sad, of men very diffe-
rently brought up, whose cupidity has caused
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 141
them to trample on all the laws of honour and
rectitude, and hurried them on till they stooped
to the most degrading and pitiable meanness in
order to satisfy it ? Let us not then judge too
harshly, nor condemn too unmercifully, the poor
uneducated peasant boy, suddenly exalted to
the highest posts, loaded with wealth, satiated
with adulation, and favoured by circumstances
to enrich himself; let us not wonder that he
should have been spoiled by fortune, and that
he fell so low as to covet the wealth of others
in order to administer to his own unlawful
desires. Let us remember with humility that
man, left to himself, is but a weak and helpless
creature, subject to sin of every kind ; unable of
himself to resist temptation — and cupidity was
the temptation of Menschikoff: every one has
some predominating evil propensity. But while
we are obliged to bewail that it was so, let us
not forget his good, his great qualities, and tlie
benefits he bestowed upon his country : how
liberally he rewarded those who served him ;
what encouragement and facility he afforded to
the followers of the arts and sciences ; how he
studied the improvement and civilisation of his
native land ; how he sought to raise its name,
to draw it from the ignorance it was wrapped
142 From Peasant to Prince:
in, from its prejudices, from its superstition.
Posterity has not failed to do him justice : let
us not therefore condemn him ; let us not expose
his failings, nay, even his crimes, but from the
desire that they may prove warnings to others.
We may not draw a veil over them for this very
reason, or we would fain do so; but we may
confidently say, that if they be placed in the
balance beside the benefits he bestowed upon
Russia, the latter will far outweigh them, and
his country will be found to be a debtor to him.
As we said before, during the reign of Cathe-
rine the power of Menschikoff became greater
and greater every day; the whole business of
the state passed through his hands ; nothing
was decided without his sanction. And well
was it for that state that his judgment was
clear and impartial, and that his general actions
were guided by a head free from prejudice, and
a heart not naturally oppressive and cruel ; well
was it for his enemies that he was not revenge-
ful ; that when no longer in fear of their influ-
ence, and their desire to expose him, he took no
steps to banish them from court
At the death of Catherine, the grandson of
Peter the Great ascended the throne, under the
title of Peter II. He was, you remember, be-
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 143
trothed to the eldest daughter of Menschikoff,
and that nobleman now began to form the pro-
ject of uniting his only son to the sister of the
young monarch, thus to gain unlimited influ-
ence over Peter 11., and avert the evils which had
threatened him, and prepare a way to the throne
for his posterity. The better to insure the suc-
cess of his ambitious schemes, on the very day
of the Empress's death he removed Peter to
his own residence, under the pretence of consol-
ing him and taking him from the sombre house
of mourning, but in reality that he might be
entirely under his own influence, and that no
one might approach the young sovereign without
his knowledge. But while all seemed to smile
upon his projects, dark clouds were gathering
around him, and his star of glory was on the wane.
CHAPTER VII.
PETER 11.
E must not imagine that the enemies of
Menschikoff were slumbering during
this time ; they were slowly, patiently,
secretly, but surely preparing his downfall.
We have already said that Menschikoff had
removed the young Emperor to his own mansion ;
he there placed him under the superintendence
of those who were warmly attached to himself,
and devoted to his cause. Nor can we suppose
that his adherents were few in number ; for, as
we have before observed, Menschikoff was of a
grateful disposition ; he never forgot any one
who had rendered him a service ; and notwith-
standing his grasping love of money, he liberally
rewarded those who were about him. It is not,
therefore, surprising that they who had received
signal favour from the munificent prince, should
embrace every opportunity of testifying their
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 145
gratitude to him. Unfortunately, however, for
Menschikoff, he had caused the ruin and exile
of many a noble and ancient family ; and among
his immediate attendants more than one had to
mourn the banishment of those who were near
and dear to them, and who consequently felt an
implacable hatred against the man who had
thus bereft them of friends or relations. They
did not fail to take advantage of every available
opportunity to prejudice the young monarch
against the favourite, representing to him how
great the power of Menschikoff was, how he
abused that power by removing from his path-
way every obstacle that might frustrate his
designs; and they further hinted how he was
artfully planning to exercise the same unlimited
power over the young monarch that he had
done over Catherine, and that the projected
union of the sovereign to his daughter was but
one of the stepping-stones to reach that power.
Peter was just at that age in which the whole
soul revolts from undue authority; the age
when submission, of whatever kind it may be, is
regarded as servile bondage ; when youth be-
gins to aspire at manhood for the unbounded
liberty that manhood endows us with. He lent
to all the accusations and insinuations brought
K
146 From Peasant to Prince:
against Menschikoff but too ready an ear, for
he was already incensed against that nobleman
for depriving him of his liberty ; but child as he
was, he determined to conceal any displeasure
he might feel, and bide his time for the outward
manifestation of his feelings.
Nor was it long before a favourable oppor-
tunity presented itself, an opportunity afforded
by Menschikoff himself.
One morning, on leaving his audience-room,
the Prince met an attendant of the young
monarch's carrying a beautifully inlaid chest;
and on inquiry as to what it was, and whither
he was taking it, he was informed that it was a
box of ducats which had been presented the
previous day to the young monarch by the
merchants of Petersburg, and that, by the order
of his Majesty, he was carrying it to Natalie, the
Emperor's sister ; but Menschikoff told him to
convey it to his apartment.
'Prince,' said the bearer of the box, *I beg
your Highness's pardon, I received my orders
from the monarch himself, and I dare not dis-
obey him.*
* The monarch,* answered Menschikoff, * is too
young to judge how to dispose of his money, or
he would not think of making a present of such
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 147
a sum to a child like himself. Carry it into my
room, and I myself will explain the subject to
the Emperor/
The officer durst not disobey; the gold was
conveyed to Menschikoff's apartment ; but far
better had it been for him had he never seen it.
The next morning, when the Princess came as
usual to pay a visit to her brother, great was his
astonishment to hear that she had not received
his present to her of the previous day. He
could not believe his ears ; how was it possible
that so flagrant a breach of duty could take
place ? The Princess was frightened at the
scowl of displeasure that rested on her young
brother's face. He ordered the officer that had
been on duty the day before to be summoned ;
and when he came into his presence, he addressed
him angrily, demanding to be informed what
had become of the box of ducats he had con-
fided to his care.
' Prince Alexander Danilovitch ordered me to
convey it to his apartment, your Majesty,* said
the terrified officer; *he told me he himself
would inform your Majesty of the circumstance.*
The young Emperor was furious. It was in
vain that his sister endeavoured to appease him ;
it was in vain that she told him the Prince had
148 From Peasant to Prince:
doubtless some good reason for what he had
done ; that he would certainly give some satis-
factory explanation which would not fail to
justify his conduct. The monarch would listen
to nothing. He ordered Menschikoff to be
summoned to his presence, and begged his sister
to retire. Scarcely had she done so, when
Menschikoff entered the room with a smiling
countenance; but he was thunderstruck at the
words of the child-monarch, who, casting on him
a look of severe reproof, and pointing to the
door, said, in tones of smothered fury —
'You strangely forget the consideration due
to your sovereign, Alexander Danilovitch ; when
I do you the honour to send for you, it is your
duty to stand at the door and await my orders.*
Menschikoff looked at him stupefied ; he could
not understand until the angry child went on
passionately —
' How did you dare to appropriate to your
own use the money I sent to my sister as a
present ?*
The words fell on the Prince's ear like a
thunderbolt ; but he answered calmly, and in a
tone of dignity —
'Your Majesty is misinformed. I did not
appropriate the money to my own use.'
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 149
'Then for what purpose did you order it to
be conveyed to your own apartment ?'
' I considered' it my duty to do so/ answered
Menschikoff respectfully. ' The public coffers
are exhausted ; the state is in want of money ;
and this money has come at the right moment
to supply the deficiency.'
'Are not the public coffers exhausted by
reason of Prince Menschikoff having enriched
himself at their expense.?* said the boy sarcasti-
cally.
Menschikoff's brow flushed. He was about
to give an indignant answer to the insult ; but
he restrained himself, and replied with deep
emotion—
'Majesty, I did not expect such a reproach
from you. Allow me to say it is as unmerited
as unjust ; for I came even now to lay a state-
ment before your Majesty as to the manner
this money might be put to the most useful
employ.*
* I will not listen to any statement/ answered
the child with impetuosity. 'The money was
destined for my sister, and to my sister it shall
go-
'I am bound to obey your Majesty/ said
Menschikoff. 'And to prove that I had no inten-
ISO From Peasant to Prince.
tion of appropriating the money to my own use,
I will, if your Majesty allow me, lay at your
feet a million of roubles/
' I want none of your money ! * cried the
monarch more vehemently than before. ' I will
teach you that I am Emperor of Russia, and as
such I will be obeyed.'
So saying he turned scornfully away, and
entered the next room, leaving the unhappy
nobleman standing transfixed as though a thun-
derbolt had fallen at his feet.
The fiat had gone forth. The star of Men-
schikoff was on the wane ; the clouds which had
for some time been gathering over his head
were about to burst The Lord had spoken :
'Hitherto shalt thou go, and no further, and
here shall thy proud waves be stayed.*
(M^^tmm
PART III.
CHAPTER I.
THE FALL.
FTER the events related in the last
chapter, the young Emperor dismissed
Menschikoff, nor would he again ad-
mit him to his presence. Every attempt that
nobleman made to gain an audience was unsuc-
cessful. The future father-in-law was repulsed,
even harshly repulsed, whenever he sued for an
interview ; and the truth at last began to dawn
upon him, that he was no longer a favourite
with princes, that his empire was over, that his
glory was but a name. He made one last
effort to see his sovereign, begging admittance
in the name of his daughter, the betrothed bride
of the young monarch, but all in vain ; he was
152 From Peasant to Prince:
peremptorily refused, and he returned to his
apartments with a heavy heart. There he was
met by his wife and children ; but it was some
time ere he could say a word to them. When
they crowded round him, he clasped his hands
in agony, raised his eyes to heaven as if implor-
ing God to shield them from harm, and bowing
his head in the bitterness of his agony, he gave
utterance to a stifled sob. In vain did they try
to console him. He waved them off, and at
last found words to entreat them to leave him
alone. His favourite daughter drew near to
embrace him ; he took her hand in his, and,
imprinting a convulsive kiss on her pale cheek,
he sobbed like a little child. Ere the family
had time to leave the room a messenger from
the Emperor entered, placed a sealed packet in
the hand of the Prince, and withdrew. It was
some time before the unhappy man had courage
to break the seal ; and no sooner had he cast
his eye over the contents of the fatal packet
than it fell from his hands, and he sank almost
lifeless into his chair.
By order of the Emperor he was to be
depriyied of all his honours, dismissed from
service, and exiled from St Petersburg. The
place of his future residence was to be Orem-
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 153
burg, a town built and fortified by Menschikoff
on the borders of Ukraine. This was a blow
so totally unexpected that he was totally over-
whelmed for the time being, and his wife and
children stood round him in utter helplessness
and astonishment. This complete prostration
could not, however, last long. The natural
buoyancy of his temperament returned, and
rising from his chair, he exclaimed —
' Ah ! I understand now why the base crowd
of parasites did not bow down before me as
usual, why they cast such looks of triumphant
malice upon me. All is now explained. They
would never have dared to behave so in the time
of my beloved master Peter the Great. He
knew how to appreciate my services. Catherine
knew how to value them ; and a boy, a mere
child, rejects them. Is it for this I have sacri-
ficed my tranquillity, my life itself? Is it for
this I have neglected my family, toiled by day,
foregone sleep by night, to raise an edifice no
stronger than may be blown down by a puny
child like a house of cards ? Are the labours of
forty years to be forgotten in a few weeks, and
that by a child like this ? No, it shall never
be !* and he rang the bell violently.
' Let all the officers of my faithful regiment
154 From Peasant to Prince:
be summoned/ said he to an attendant who
entered the room.
* My husband ! my friend ! what are you going
to do ?' said his wife, throwing herself into her
husband's arms.
' Protect the rights of my daughter/ ex-
claimed Menschikoff; 'prove that the honour
of a prince's child is not a toy to be played
with, nor a bauble to be thrown away un-
heeded.*
'Prince/ said his wife sadly and solemnly,
you will ruin yourself.'
'But I shall fall honourably/ said Menschi-
koff with dignity.
' Your children must fall with you, and share
in your ruin,' answered his wife with a sigh of
despairing anguish. ' What have they done to
draw upon them such a blow ?'
'What indeed!' said the unhappy father
bitterly, but more calmly.
At that moment a servant entered the room,
and announced the officers of the Tugerman-
land regiment, who were there to await his
Highness's commands.
' For our sakes — ^the sakes of your wife and
children — ^think before you take any rash step,'
said his wife, embracing him.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 155
' Calm yourself, dearest/ said Menschikoff, as
he buckled on for the last time his diamond-
hilted sword ; and casting on her a look of un-
utterable affection, he went forth with a sad but
calm countenance, to give his orders to the
officers — the last words of his faithful and de-
voted wife still ringing in his ears, and turning
the current of his wrath into a more genial
channel.
'My faithful friends,* said he in a faltering
voice, but with manly bearing, 'you are, per-
haps, already acquainted with the disgrace that
has fallen upon me ; you are, perhaps, already
aware that I am stripped of my honours, dis-
missed from military service, and am conse-
quently not longer your chief, and have no
right to summon you to my presence ; forgive
me, therefore, for disturbing you. I wished to
see you once more before our parting, to thank
you for your faithful services, to beg your for-
giveness if at any time I have wounded your
feelings, and to transmit to my worthy and
trusty colonel my sword, the gift of my beloved
and venerated benefactor, now sleeping in God
— my master, my prince, Peter the Great
Take it,* said he, turning to the colonel and
embracing him ; ' take it as a token of my
I $6 From Peasant to Prince:
gfratitude for your valuable services and your
indulgence towards me/
All were deeply moved, as he turned once
more towards them, and, with tears in his eyes,
addressed himself to them, 'Serve,' said he,
'your present Emperor, Peter II., truly and
faithfully ; but do not forget, in your duty to
him, that while you served me I endeavoured
to inspire you with love and veneration for him
who is no more. Once more, farewell, and may
God be with you !*
The officers retired with tears in their eyes ;
they were all warmly attached to Menschikoff,
who had ever treated them with the kindness
of a father.
'Are you content, my love.?* said Menschi-
koff, turning to his wife, who had followed him
into the audience-chamber.
'Thanks, thanks, my Alexander,* said the
Princess ; ' you have just gained a greater vic-
tory than all your other conquests put together ;
and believe me, my friend, you will be all the
happier for it. You no longer belong to the
world ; you will no longer be pursued by the
jealousy, the envy of the multitude ; you are
ours ; you belong, henceforth, exclusively to
your family ; and we in our beautiful Orem-
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 157
burg, our peaceful solitude, shall spend many,
many happy hours. What have you to regret ?
For more than forty years you have devoted
yourself to the good of the state ; you have
worked for the glory and welfare of Russia ;
you have paid your debt of gratitude to your
sovereign by your zeal for mankind ; and not
in disgrace, but in all honour do you quit your
arduous task and eventful career. Come and
be happy henceforth with those who love you
so well.'
Menschikoff listened to the soothing and
encouraging words of his wife — ^gently and
quiescently did he listen to them ; but in
his inmost heart he felt that there was no
more happiness for him. It was no easy thing
to fall at once from the pinnacle of grandeur
to the depths of despair.
.^CCHyk
CHAPTER II.
THE DEPARTURE.
T was still early morning, when a great
crowd was gathered round the man-
sion of Prince Menschikoff, watching
the preparations for a long journey. Several
handsome equipages were already packed,
awaiting only the persons who were to take
their seats in them ; and the covered waggons,
about which lackeys and other attendants were
loitering, looked rather like vehicles in readi-
ness for the departure of a prince than those
of a disgraced exile.
* Look ! look ! Petrovitch,* said one of the
hangers-on to his companion, 'he does not
go off empty-handed ; he carries enough with
him, I hope.'
* When we rob we may as well be in for a
pound as a penny : it was not worth while to
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 159
be a thief for nothing. Yet I do wonder they
allow him to take it all with him ; it is more
than he deserves. If he had nothing but his
deserts, it would be nought but the tray on
which he used to hawk his pies about the streets
of Moscow !*
'Shame! shame!* said another; 'much you
know about deserts. If the Prince has great
riches and honours, he has worljed for them ;
and he has never oppressed the poor, and that
is more than can be said of many a born prince
and not a peasant boy.'
' Be you sure,' observed another, ' that if he
did not deserve what he has, they would not
let him carry it away with him.'
' If he deserves what he has,' said the first
speaker, 'why is he driven from Petersburg.?
Pity the tray is not left !'
But a sudden silence fell on all around ; for
slowly, and with downcast eyes, Menschikoff
descended the steps in plain clothes, not a
single order on his breast, on which erst there
had shone so many — so many, indeed, that the
cloth beneath them could not have been distin-
guished for the gold and precious stones that
glittered thereon. Slowly, but with dignity,
did he advance ; his face was deadly pale but
i6o From Peasant to Prince:
calm, and he bowed courteously to the gaping
crowd. He was followed by his wife and
daughters, who with difficulty restrained their
tears ; but their brother, who came last, cast a
haughty glance on those who were gathered
round the house, as if to defy their utmost
malice to work him any annoy. In the midst
of a universal silence did the exiles take their
seats in their travelling carriage ; but no sooner
was the door closed upon them, than a smothered
murmur ran through the crowd.
' The dastardly robber ! he has no more
than he deserves,* cried several in the same
breath.
' He has far more than he deserves,* said
another. ' If I had my will, he should be driven
from his carriage and made to go on foot, as he
has made so many others go.*
' Hot pies ! pies all hot ! all hot ! wholl buy
my pies?' cried one in a whining voice; and
the joke seemed to meet with universal appro-
bation, for it was followed by a roar of laughter,
and it fell on the ear of the unhappy Prince like
a funeral knell. Cowering up in one corner of
his equipage, he wiped the perspiration from his
brow as he said bitterly —
*And these are they who, not long ago,
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. i6i
blessed me as their benefactor ; these are they
who have been supplied with bread and fuel
from my coffers. O man ! man ! will you never
change your nature ? '
The tears flowed freely from the eyes of the
Princess as she pressed the hand of her deeply-
wounded husband ; but her heart was too full
to allow her to say one consoling word. She
endeavoured to shut her ears to the cutting
things uttered by the crowd, when suddenly
a deep voice was heard above that of the
rabble.
' Silence, curs ! silence ! How long is it ago
since you would have kissed the ground on
which the noble Prince trod, only to obtain a
kind word or a smile from him i How long is
it since you came fawning on him like the
curs you are ? How long is it since he listened
to the tales of your distress, sympathized with
you and relieved you ; and what is the reward
he meets with.? Shame, shame on you, false-
hearted, ungrateful wretches! But there, you
know no better; you do not understand the
heart you revile ; go, go, your time will come
yet'
The crowd then turned their anger against
the defender of their victim, loading him with
L
i62 From Peasant to Prince:
invectives. He was a grey-headed, kind-look-
ing man, and he let them raif to their hearts'
content, hoping thus to avert their insults from
the poor unhappy family in the carriages, vtrhich
now began to move on, followed by the hoots
and execrations of the rabble, and the poor
exiles were soon out of hearing of the .insults
heaped upon them. God help them ! it was
but the beginning of the bitter mortifications
which were to be their lot.
But a few days previous to the leaving of
MenschikofT, every head would have bowed,
every soldier at his approach would have
lowered his arms ; but now the field-marshal
went on his way without any token of recog-
nition or respect. Those who had bent low,
even to the ground, walked carelessly to and
fro, with their hands folded on their breast,
even, in many cases, turning their backs to him
and his equipages. The soldiers, offering no
salute, took no notice of him, — they did not even
change their negligent posture, or if they did, it
was to peer rudely into the carriage of the
fallen nobleman, or to sneer scoffingly at the
exiled family as they passed ; and well was it
for them if their ears were not wounded by
some scurrilous jest about the unfortunate child
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 163
who was to have become the wife of the Em-
peror. Poor child ! hers, at least, was not so
hard a fate as her father's, for she was innocent
of all ambition. The bolts, therefore, hurled at
her fell harmless ; but they entered like red-hot
iron into Menschikoff*s soul.
At last they were without the gates of the
city, and they breathed more freely. The Prince
was still absorbed in his sad and bitter thoughts ;
but his wife and children endeavoured to divert
him from his painful reverie, by painting the
pleasures that awaited them in their future
home, so different from the cold damp city
they had just left. One spoke of the beauties
of nature, another of the pleasure it would be
to Menschikoff to exercise the talents he had
never had time to appreciate in his various
state duties. His son told him with what de-
light they should listen to an account of his
travels with Peter the Great ; how they hoped
to hear his military exploits, and the deeds he
had performed for the good. of his country.
And then they formed plans for gaining the
hearts of those among whom they were about
to sojourn. All had something to say to con-
sole him ; and he listened to all, and endeavoured
to smile, and take part in their innocent con-
164
From Peasant to Prince.
versation ; but, alas ! his heart was too sorely
wounded. He soon fell into his painful train
of thought again, from which no one had the
courage to draw him.
CHAPTER III.
EXILE.
HE unhappy family went on their way
without further molestation, till they
had reached Tver; but their progress
was now impeded by the approach of an officer,
who stopped the equipages, and drawing near
the carriage in which the Prince and his family
were seated, he approached Menschikoff with a
sealed packet. The hearts of all began to beat
with hope, though none could clearly define their
feelings ; and they could not utter a word. The
father looked at his children, and the mother's
regards sought those of her daughters, while the
young prince eagerly bent forward to greet the
tidings. But, alas ! poor exiles, how soon and
how terribly were their expectations blighted,
how fearful the disappointment which succeeded
the hope that had sprung up in their hearts ; for
1 66 From Peasant to Prince :
the messenger, bowing low, and breaking the
seal of the paper he had in his hand, began to
read, in a distinct voice, a list of the crimes
which had drawn on him the displeasure of his
sovereign ! Menschikoff listened with an im-
patience he could ill conceal, but did not suffer
a word to escape, him ; he forced himself to
silence ; but what were his feelings when, after
a pause, the following words fell on his ear ! —
'For such crimes, and disregard of all law,
it is the Emperor's pleasure that Alexander
Danilovitch Menschikoff be deprived of all his
property, moveable and immoveable, and that
a seal be set upon all his goods and chattels,
except such as be absolutely necessary, and
that he and all his family be condemned to
perpetual exile in Siberia/
It were vain to endeavour to portray the
feelings of those who listened to the reading of
the fiat gone out against them, for they are past
all description. The poor victims, whose heart
had for a moment been buoyed up with a dawn
of hope, were utterly prostrated with the fearful
mandate, which fell like an icebolt on their soul.
Menschikoff was literally stunned, and, covering
his face with his hands, he fell with a groan of
stifled agony among the cushions of the carriage ;
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 167
while the Princess, pale as a statue, and almost
as lifeless, cast a stony and unmeaning gaze
upon the bearer of the evil tidings, as if she
did not understand the awful words. Utter
despair might be traced on the countenances
of all. The very servants, who had crowded
round the carriage to listen to the reading of
the missive, looked at each other in conster-
nation. They did not, however, long remain
silent.
* Siberia ? ' said one ; * we are to be sent to
Siberia ? Why, it is colder there than in
Petersburg.'
* Only bears and wolves live there,* observed
another.
* Thank you ; not very inviting for us. We
may be eaten up in no time. And, pray,
what is there to eat there } ' asked a maid-
servant.
'Nothing but fish, and bread made of the
bark of trees.'
'Then they will not get me to go,* said
another. ' Besides, who is to pay us our wages ?
Did you not hear that nothing is to be left
them, except the things absolutely necessary ? '
* Consequently they will want nobody to dress
them. They will neither want maids nor valets,
i68 From Peasant to Prince:
I reckon, in Siberia/ said an unfeeling maid;
* so I shall beg the officer to take me back to
Petersburg/
* And I shall go back without any asking at
all/ said another, pertly.
' And i;
* And i;
O man ! will you always be the same ? No
pity for the unfortunate ?
In the meantime a double guard was placed
round the family carriage. The poor exiles were
in despair too profound to cast even a look at
what was going on about them, or to make
a single request as to what they wished to
take with them. It was the same to them ; what
could they want in the dreary spot they were
condemned to live in for the future ? So, when
the superfluous equipages were sent back to
the capital, the servants took advantage of the
opportunity to return ; and, without a scruple,
without a thought of their benefactors, they
forsook those who had fed them and paid them
so liberally, and who had been so really kind
to them.
One old grey-headed man alone seated him-
self behind the carriage, which contained the
Prince and his family. It was in vain that his
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 169
companions endeavoured to persuade him to
follow their example ; he did not even answer
them, he shook his head sadly, and brushed
away the tears that were falling from his eyes ;
his heart was too full to say a word ; besides,
he knew full well how more than useless any
words from him would have been.
All were gone. The carriage moved on, and
did not again stop till evening, when it reached
the spot where they were to change horses.
Till then Menschikoff had sat wrapped in bitter
thought, perfectly silent ; not a single word had
escaped his compressed lips. He now called
for his valet, but there was no answer ; at
a second summons, the grey-headed old man
appeared.
' Send me my servants,* said Menschikoff. * I
cannot allow them to follow me to Siberia. I
will only keep those indispensably necessary.*
* Your Excellency,* stammered the old man ;
'pardon me,* your Excellency, your servants
understood but too well that they could be of
no further use to you, and, to spare you the
pain of dismissing them, and to avoid the
distress of a parting with you, they have re-
turned to Petersburg.*
Menschikoff looked at the old man as if he
170 From Peasant to Prince:
did not understand ; he could not believe his
ears. Putting his head out of the carriage
window, he saw that there was no other vehicle
in sight, no sign of servants. With a bitter
smile, he turned to his wife and said —
* Who could have expected such considerate
attention from servants ? To spare our feelings,
they have left us without one farewell word
But such is man/
* And what do you want ? ' said he, turning to
the old man angrily. 'Why did you remain?
Be off with you to your companions.'
' ril never leave your Highness,' said the old
man with touching pathos.
But Menschikoff repeated with redoubled
anger, * Be off, I say. I want no one ; let me
see your face no more. Go to the Dolgor-
oukies ; they can pay your services ; they are
rich, and I — I, alas ! am a beggar.'
* I'll never leave you,' said the old man firmly,
but respectfully.
* Oh ! ' said the prince, ' is it come to this ?
Have I lived long enough to be braved by a
lackey ? And so he will stay, forsooth, whether
I will or not ! But we'll see who's master here.
Be off, I will none of you.'
The wife and children cast an imploring
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 171
look on the old man, as if asking pardon for
the Prince's anger. He bowed low, left the
carriage door, and went to take his seat again
behind the equipage.
CHAPTER IV.
FIDELITY.
ND now the poor exiles went on their
way through sombre and solitary
ways, but not more solitary and
sombre than their own sad hearts. The weather
became cold, and the fierce wind pierced them
through and through ; but the cold from with-
out was less bitter than that from within-
Alas ! the chill that emanates from the heart be-
numbs the whole system far more effectually than
the keenest frost which nature ever allowed to
deaden the earth. As night grew on apace, the
howl of the wolf fell upon their startled ear, and
scared the sleep from their eyes. What would
they not have given for an hour's balmy repose !
But it came not, and heavily did the hours drag
on till morning. With the rising of the sun,
however, the wind grew stronger, and stripped
the trees of their last yellow leaves. From the
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 173
time they had left their home the exiles had not
tasted food ; for their grief had been too deep
to allow them to pay attention to aught but
the overwhelming sense of their calamity. But
nature did not fail to assert her rights, and they
requested the officer who had command over
the guard to stop at a small village inn that
they might take some refreshment. Opening
the carriage door himself, Menschikoff alighted,
and helped his wife out of the vehicle ; but
when his children followed they could scarcely
stand, so benumbed were their feet with cold.
The old servant on whom they had built such
hopes had disappeared.
*Alas!' thought the Princess, 'the unkind
words of my poor afflicted exiled husband hurt
him too deeply, and he too has forsaken us.'
They entered a large hut in the inn-yard,
where it was warm and comfortable ; but,
alas ! the heat which was so welcome to their
poor frozen limbs, was counterbalanced by the
nauseous smell, which nearly stifled them, and
turned them sick. They looked at each other
in silent consternation as they took their places
on the hard wooden settles fixed round the hut,
and they cast their eyes round in dismay. Fain
would they have partaken of some food ; but
174 From Peasant to Prince:
the soup then preparing smelt so strong, the
bearded host looked so dirty, the table and
wooden spoons so uninviting, that the poor
travellers turned away in disgust
'We had some tea with us,' observed the
Princess ; * but where shall we find it ? The
servants packed it up/
The young Prince returned to the carriage,
and, after rummaging among the different padc-
ages, he found the desired tea ; but then arose a
fresh difficulty — who knew how to prepare it?
The hostess declared that during her whole life
she had never seen such a thing. The young
Princesses did not want the good-will ; but,
alas ! they knew not how. They did their best,
however ; but when, after innumerable disasters^
they placed it upon the table, it was impossible
to drink it, so strongly was the taste impr^-
nated with that of smoke. They could have
wept with vexation when they saw their poor
mother, notwithstanding all her efforts to swal-
low a drop, place the cup upon the table nearly
untasted.
They were in despair. What should they
do ? They did not so much care for them-
selves ; but they saw how pale and weary the
Princess was, and they determined to make one
A Futhful StmUL—Pafr 17
f
III-
I'.-i'
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 175
more trial, when — ^judge of their surprise, their
joy — the door opened, and in walked the old
man, bearing in his hand a large tray covered
with a dean napkin and tea things — ^the teapot
sending forth the delicious steam of the fragrant
beverage so much desired ! Thick cream, white
bread, and some boiled eggs, too, greeted their
eyes, which filled with tears as they rested on
the welcome sight. But it was as they looked
on the old man that a cloud, as it were, was
removed from the countenance of one and all,
a ray of sunshine seemed to reach their inmost
soul. It seemed as if the face of an angel
was beaming upon them ; and the weeping
mother bowed her head in thanks to Heaven
as she saw the transfoanation his presence had
wrought in her beloved ones, so tenderly nur-
tured, so rudely exposed to the bitter blast of
adversity.
Yes, a faithful servant ! What an invaluable
treasure ! How ought we to prize it at all
times ! how do we prize it in moments of
trouble ! Scarcely, however, can any one fully
enter into the feelings of the poor exiles.
At the moment the rest of the attendants
were about to return to Petersburg, the old
man had busied himself in selecting all the
176 From Peasant to Prince:
articles most likely to prove valuable to the
unhappy victims doomed to the life of exiles;
and having carefully packed them in a large
box, he had tied it behind the carriage. When
they stopped at the inn, he immediately set
about preparing the welcome meal in a neigh-
bouring hut; and he now spread it out on a
table before them, standing respectfully behind
to help them to the delicious fare.
'You here?' cried Menschikoff when he saw
him ; ' you here ? Notwithstanding my orders
you still remained }*
' Pardon me, your Highness,' exclaimed the
old man, ' but I have already had the honour to
inform you that nothing on earth shall induce
me to leave you. Does not your Highness re-
member one dark night, years and years ago, in
Moscow — ^the night of the conspiracy against
the life of Peter Alexaievitch ? Do you not
remember the two unhappy men that sat
throughout that- night in mortal fear in the
cellar of Colonel Sokovnine, trembling for their
lives ? Who saved them ? Who spared their
lives ? You, your Highness. And do you not
remember the tears of gratitude shed by one of
those men, as he followed you after he was set
at liberty } That man is here before you — I am
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 177
he — I, Simionoff. From that day I swore to
serve you — never to leave you. I have followed
you by sea and land. How many times have I
been with you in the Swedish war when the
firing was at the hottest ! I have followed you
to Turkey, to Poland, and to Prussia. I was
with you on the field of Poltava. And do you
think I would leave you now in your hour of
adversity ? Never ! And whither should I go ;
a lonely old man that I am — no wife, no child
to mourn for me.^ Have pity on me, your
Highness ; send me not away, I beseech you ;*
and the old man fell on his knees sobbing, and
taking one of Menschikoff's hands, he covered
it with kisses.
The Prince was touched, even to tears.
* Get up, my friend, get up,' said he, as soon
as he could speak, passing his hand across his
eyes. ' I thank you for your attachment ; but
you know not to what you devote yourself.
Well, well, I see it is useless to argue with
you ; you are determined to stay with the
exiled family. Be it so. Heaven will reward
you for your fidelity — I never can.' And Men-
schikoff caught the old man's hand, and wrung
it as he had never yet wrung any man's hand,
in the midst of his greatest prosperity ; while
M
1/8 From Peasant to Prince:
the Princess, rising from her seat, did the same,
but she could not utter a single word.
When the travellers set out again on their
journey, their hearts were lighter; the affec-
tion and devotedness of the old attendant had
touched a chord in each. But, as they pro-
ceeded on their lonely way, Menschikoff once
more sank into his sorrowful reflections, and
even his wife and children began to think of
the bright past, and to dread the unknown
future.
For many days they continued their weary
journey without being allowed to rest, and they
were nearly worn out with fatigue and want of
sleep. As they proceeded the roads grew worse
and worse ; and though they were in an easy
and comfortable carriage, their progress was
continually impeded by enormous stones, the
trunks of trees, and the snow, which began
to fall heavily from time to time. At length
they were permitted to stop for repose at a
small town. But, alas ! where were the comfort
and luxury to which they had been accus-
tomed in their own home.? Where were the
soft mattresses, the down pillows, the wadded
counterpanes ? All was rough, dirty, cold, and
comfortless.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 179
The bed of old Simionoff was still harder and
colder than theirs, for he slept upon the floor,
his sheepskin coat serving him as a pillow.
But his sleep was calm and peaceful ; his con-
science was clear ; his debt of gratitude would
now be paid ; his sacrifice was accepted ; and
he thought not of past happiness, neither did
a vision of future privation and hardships come
to scare away his rest. No ; he slept — ^slept
like a little child.
But alas for Menschikoff ! He could not close
his eyes. He did nothing but reproach himself
for the cruel fate he had brought upon all those
so dear to him. His own misery seemed as
nothing to him when he thought of the priva-
tions henceforth to be endured by his delicate
wife, his young and tender offspring. How
should he bear to witness their constant suffer-
ings ? He groaned aloud, and cursed his ambi-
tion and cupidity. Willingly would he have
laid down his life to spare them ; but no, that
were a doom too merciful ; he must suffer
doubly .since they must suffer with him.
Nor did his wife sleep any more than him-
self, and it was with difficulty she could move
on the following morning. Her limbs were
numb, and a fierce fever ran through all her
i8o Fkom Peasant to Prince.
veins. She had doubtless caught a severe cold ;
but there was no doctor near to prescribe for
her. SimionofT made her some hot tea, and a
peasant woman rubbed her all over with the
common Russian brandy, while the children
stood over her with the tenderest solicitude;
and the poor exiled husband tasted the first
of that bitter bitter draught which he was to
drain to the very dregs.
But, ill as she was, she was forced to proceed
on her journey, and they at length arrived on
the borders of Asia. Before them lay the vast
and desert plains of Siberia, after which they
seldom saw a human habitation ; and yet they
were still far from the town of Beresowo — the
town to which they were exiled — situated on
the river Obi, in the government of Tobolsk.
:|^i/^|^P^^
CHAPTER V.
RETRIBUTION.
HE exiles stopped at a town on the
frontier of Europe and Asia, where, to
the grief of the whole family, the
Princess became alarmingly ill.
It would have been difficult to recognise in
the young princesses, accustomed from their
birth to the attendance of maids without num-
ber, and the various luxuries so necessary even
to the comfort of ladies of their station, — it
would have been difficult for their friends to
have recognised them at this period of their
journey. But this was the least of their troubles.
They had already become a little accustomed
to wait upon each other, to perform those little
offices of mutual kindness so familiar to one
and all of the gentler sex, that they seem to
be a part of their nature. Alas! troubles of
another kind awaited them ; for no sooner had
1 82 From Peasant to Prince:
they arrived at their resting-place, than a rough
man approached them insolently, ordered them
to take off their fine Petersburg dresses, and to
put on some far more appropriate for such as
they; adding brutally and pitilessly, when he
saw their look of consternation —
'You need not regret your finery, young ladies ;
it would be too cold for the place you are bound
for/ And then, taking two frieze coats from the
soldier who accompanied him, he presented them
to the poor exiles with a chuckle of delight,
observing, as he did so, ' They are not so grand
as those you have been accustomed to ; but they
have one great advantage over them, they'll not
soon wear out, nor will they be difficult to put
on; you'll require no valet to help you, — nor
you any maid, lady,' added he ; but seeing the
look of anguish the unhappy Princess cast upon
her daughters, even he appeared touched, for he
did not finish his sentence.
Menschikoff silently took the coat handed to
him, and turned away to hide the tears that
were welling to his eyes, as he saw his wife and
daughters go into the next room, whence they
returned in a short time, so changed, so trans-
figured, that it might have melted a heart of
stone to look upon them.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 183
Poor children ! poor mother ! Their first
thought was how they should hide their feelings
from the beloved father, whose cross was so
heavy to bear. Approaching him tenderly when
they re-entered the room where he was, already
in his exile costume, his daughters tried to com-
fort him by assuring him they were very glad to
have exchanged their light and flimsy garments
for dresses so much warmer ; and his poor sick
wife endeavoured to smile as she greeted him
with all her love and angelic resignation, saying
cheerfully —
' It is not so becoming as a ball dress, dearest ;
but far more comfortable/
Had his wife and children loaded him with
reproaches, had they accused him of being the
cause of all their woe, he could have borne it
better ; but their resignation, their kindness,
their loving gentleness, their endeavours to
console him, rent his heart. He put them
gently from him, and burying his face in his
hands, wept such tears as a strong man may
weep in his despair for others, though not
for himself. The storm swept over his head
like a torrent ; he could not stay it. The
look he cast on his patient, loving wife, — his
wife who had been brought up in luxury ;
1 84 From Peasant to Prince:
who in her greatest simplicity had ever been
arrayed in the finest linen, the richest silks,
upon whom the wind had never blown too
roughly, — spoke the despair of his inmost souL
And she bore herself so bravely. She who
had been so meek, so submissive to him, —
she who had brought up his children to re-
spect, nay, to revere him, — kept up that he
might not have to bear too much for them as
well as for himself. And those children, who
had been nurtured in luxury, who had never
known what it was to have a wish ungratified,
whose wealth had excited the envy of all Peters-
burg ; and his son too — ^his pride — who had had
a career so brilliant before him, — there they all
stood before him, arrayed in the rough coarse
garb of exiles, ready to share his fate, with
despair in their hearts, but with a smile of love
and a word of consolation for the author of all
their misery ! Yes, it was too much for the
strong man ; he fell on his knees before his wife,
he clasped her hands, he tried to speak, but
sobs choked his utterance.
' My husband ! my Alexander ! do not distress
yourself thus,' cried the Princess, throwing her-
self on his neck, and sobbing convulsively ; while
the children clung to both parents, and mingled
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 185
their wailings with theirs ; nor could the poor
old servant restrain his tears.
'Wretched, wretched man that I am!' said
Menschikoff, in a voice of despair. * I have
brought ruin upon you all by my unpardonable
ambition, my insatiable craving after riches.
My God ! God of all mercy, spare my wife and
children ; they are innocent ! On me, on me let
the thunderbolt of thy justice fall : punish me as
Thou wilt ; but oh ! have compassion on them.'
But the Princess placed her trembling hand
on the parted lips, and drawing her husband's
bowed head towards her, she said calmly yet
firmly —
' Compose yourself, my friend, compose your-
self ; we who have shared your prosperity and
happiness could not but endeavour to help you
to bear the burden it has pleased God to lay
upon you ; its weight will be less heavy when
borne together. Let us lift our eyes to the Al-
mighty, and look forward to the better life
which awaits us ; where there are no deceptions,
no misunderstandings, no sorrow, and no sin.
There we shall not be princes to-day and beg-
gars to-morrow ; no, we shall have our appointed
place at once, and no one can remove us from
it. My journey will soon be over ; and oh ! were
1 86 From Peasant to Prince:
it not for you, my beloved ones, how glad should
I be to go to that home of peace which awaits
me ! Why cannot I take you all with me ? But
you will follow me thither; yes, ere long you
will all be with me there/
Her eyes were lifted reverently to the heavens,
and the children understood but too well
that their beloved mother would not be long
with them. They inwardly resolved that their
whole efforts should be put forth to soften her
great grief as much as possible, and smooth her
passage to the grave ; not to aggravate her
sufferings by a display of their own despair, but
to bury their sorrow within the depths of their
heart's well of affection for her. The sanctity of
womanhood had fallen upon their young heads,
it had softened and purified their nature, and
they stood ready to act as that sanctified and
purified womanhood should prompt them.
Twice already had the guard, in a rough
voice, reminded the exiles that it was time to
resume their journey ; but so entirely had they
been absorbed in their grief, that they heard
nothing, till Simionoff, taking advantage of the
first lull, approached, and respectfully, nay,
almost reverently addressing the Prince, he said,
' Pardon me, your Serene Highness.'
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 187
At the words ' Serene Highness/ Menschikoff
shuddered, and started as if awakened from a
deep sleep.
* *Whom call you Serene Highness?' said he
sc^owfuUy. ' There is neither prince nor princess
here, only a poor family of exiles, lower and
more dependent than you ; for you can go
whither you please, whilst we must obey orders
and go whither we are commanded/ But ob-
serving the grief depicted on the old man's face,
he held out his hand, and added, ' Kind, good
Simionoff, call me not Highness, call me brother,
call me friend, for by your faithful constancy
you have gained the right to do so/
At this moment there came a sharp knock at
the door, and they were again reminded that it
was time to be moving.
The poor exiles collected their things together
as well as they could, and hurried to prepare
for their departure ; but what was their surprise,
on coming to the door, to see no carriage wait-
ing for them ! In its stead there stood four
kebeetkas covered with matting and strewed
with hay for their feet, and sacks of hay for
their pillows ; the fronts were not closed, so
that there would be no shelter from either wind
or rain.
1 88 From Peasant to Prince:
Menschikoff stood petrified. ' Is it possible,*
said he, 'that these kebeetkas are for us to
travel in ! My poor sick wife can never sup-
port — '
But he was cut short in his exclamations hy
the man standing at the door.
' And pray/ said he, ' why are not these ke-
beetkas good enough for such as you ? Who is
to blame for it but yourself, Prince Menschi-
koff.? Why did you not think of improving
them before it was your own turn to make use
of them? They were considered quite good
enough for the many unfortunate beings you
have doomed to exile in Siberia, and it is but
just you should know what they are like.'
These words were not spoken brutally, nor
even roughly ; they were said slowly, distinctly,
and solemnly, and they went like a knife to
Menschikoff's heart.
' God is just,' said he, bowing his head. It
was, alas! but too true. How many, by a single
stroke of his pen, had been condemned to the
same fate which was now his ! How often had
he turned a deaf ear to the supplications of their
wives and children ! How many delicately
nurtured ones had travelled in these same ke-
beetkas to the same exile, clad in the same kind
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 189
of dresses, exposed to the same cold ! And now
his turn had come. For himself he could have
borne it ; but his delicate wife, his tender chil-
dren!
How many, alas ! had said the same thing
before. / God is just,' repeated he, pressing his
wife's hand, as if asking her forgiveness ; but
his heart bled when he seated her in the equi-
page and tried to make her as comfortable as
he could.
Simionoflf, taking off his sheepskin coat,
wrapped it round the sick woman's feet, and
Menschikoff dropped a tear of gratitude on the
old man's hand for this act of kindness.
And now the poor travellers set off once more
on their journey. The cold was intense, and the
horses galloped over the hard creaking snow;
the kebeetkas grated to the moaning of the
wind ; and the children, no longer restrained by
the presence of their afflicted parents, gave free
vent to their anguish by shedding abundant
tears.
CHAPTER VI.
THE AURORA BOREALIS.
HE kebeetkas stopped ; it was time to
change horses. * How are you feeling,
my dear ?' said Menschikoff to his
wife, who had not spoken the whole way;
so that he had hoped she was asleep, and
had been unwilling to disturb her.
* Pretty well, my friend,' answered she.
'Would you like to drink something ?'
* Nothing, thank you, love.'
'Will you not get out and warm yourself.?'
* Oh no ! I am so warmly wrapped up that
I do not feel the cold.'
* Let me at least press your hand,' said the
sad husband, and his wife with difficulty drew
her hand from under her wrappers,
* I cannot get off my gloves,' said she, in a
wailing voice.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 191
* Do not attempt to take them off/ said Men-
schikoff, tenderly seizing the hand held out to
him ; but shuddering as he touched it, for it was
cold as ice ; and with inexpressible anguish he
looked in his wife's face, which was pale as
death, and a tremor shook through her whole
frame.
* You are ill, my beloved ; you are very very
ill,' said he, trembling all over himself. 'O
God ! O God ! what is to be done ? '
* Do not be uneasy, dearest,* said the patient
princess, with touching sweetness, trying to
smile in order to tranquillize her frantic hus-
band ; * I shall soon be better.*
It was in vain, however, that Menschikoff
chafed the cold hand in his ; he could impart
no warmth into it. He was in despair; but
he saw it would only distress her the more to
witness his intense grief ; so he resigned himself
to conceal his feelings as much as possible, and
he sat quietly by her side while fresh horses
were being put to the rebeetkas ; and they set
out again into the far distance.
Night came again ; a chill and cutting wind
blew over the vast plain, and drifted the prickly
snow into the faces of the travellers like the
points of so many pins. The cold became in-
192 From Peasant to Prince:
tense ; and even Menschikoff, who had been
accustomed to it in his campaigns with Peter
the Great, suffered from the bitter blast. What,
then, must have been the agony of those ten-
derly nurtured beings who were now travelling
with him ! Their poor feet were like blocks of
ice, their blood seemed to freeze in their veins,
and a shiver ran through their whole frame.
How they yearned for morning light! It
came at last ; the sun burst through the grey
mist that shrouded the earth ; its rays tinged the
snow with a crimson and lurid light. But there
was no warmth in those rays ; for all the heat
they diffused, they might as well not have shone
at all. Still it was pleasant to behold them.
The quantity of snow fallen in the night had
effaced all traces of the beaten track, and it was
with difficulty the coachmen could keep their
forward route. The four kebeetkas, proceeding
slowly over the snowy plains, looked like a
funeral train. The very tongues of the exiles
seemed frozen, for not a word was spoken by
any of them ; but whenever they halted, for ever
so short a time, the children flocked round their
mother with loving inquiries after her health.
Alas ! poor children ; how their hearts ached
when they looked into her pale face! She
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 193
touched neither food nor drink ; she spoke not ;
but remained in a state of insensibility, which
already savoured more of death than of life.
The second night arrived, when all at once
there appeared before the eyes of the travellers
a sublime but terrific spectacle. The whole of
the horizon seemed to be on fire ; a lurid light
spread like a veil from one side to the other ;
presently it diverged in different directions,
forming itself into pillars of fiery red, uphold-
ing a vault of flaming light, which threw its
reflections over the vast plain of snow beneath,
so that heaven and earth became one ball of
glowing crimson ; and all was so still and calm
around, that Nature herself appeared petrified
at the grand but dread spectacle.
The travellers gazed with astonishment at the
scene before them : Simionoff devoutly made the
sign of the cross. But the wonderful light did
not last long; by degrees the dazzling glare
faded from the heavens ; the fiery pillars seemed
to roll themselves up and disappear, and dark-
ness resumed its empire over the earth. With
darkness came the howl of the wolves, frighten-
ing the horses off at a rapid pace, and turning
the hearts of the travellers deadly cold.
'Alexander, my friend,' said the Princess
N
194 ' From Peasant to Prince.
feebly, * did you not see the Almighty seated on
his throne ? Methought He made me a sign to
come to Him. But where are you, husband
mine ? I see you not'
* I am here, dearest, close beside you,'
answered Menschikoff anxiously.
* But why can I not see you ?' said the poor in-
valid, with an accent of fear in her quivering voice.
* Why cannot I see you ; is it so very dark ?'
* Compose yourself, I beseech you,' said Men-
schikoff, as calmly as he could ; * the strong light
has dazzled your eyes, perhaps. You will be
better presently. Let me wrap you up.'
The sick woman yielded to her husband's
entreaties ; for she heard the tremor in his
voice, and she would not for the world have
given him an unnecessary pang.
'Are we far from Tobolsk.?' asked Menschi-
koff of the driver.
* We shall reach it by morning,' answered he.
' Make haste, make haste, for pity's sake,' said
the anxious man.
But the sufferer grew worse and worse. Her
husband gazed around him in despair, for no
sign was there of human habitation. Trees,
trees, and nothing but trees laden with snow,
studding the white plain which seemed in the
distance to melt into the misty horizon.
CHAPTER VII.
DEATH.
HE sun rose ; the hours sped quickly on
as usual ; but to the weary travellers
how long did they seem, for the Prin-
cess remained insensible ! How anxiously they
longed for their resting-place ! At length To-
bolsk was to be seen in the distance.
Tobolsk, now a considerable and flourishing
town, was at the time we are writing of scarcely
larger than a village ; nay, rather a hamlet.
But to Menschikoff it appeared like the Pro-
mised Land.
No sooner did the kebeetkas stop than he
alighted, and begged Simionoff to go in search
of a warm and comfortable room for the invalid.
At the sound of her husband's voice, the sick
woman appeared to revive. She raised her head ;
but on opening her eyes, she uttered a piercing
196 From Peasa^nt to Prince:
cry. The children crowded round her anxiously,
inquiring into the cause of her distress.
'Alexander, my husband, my dear husband,
where are you ? Oh I my heavenly Father,' said
she in accents of the deepest despair, 'shall I
never see my beloved ones any more ? Forgive
me, forgive me ; but it is hard to bear.'
'Mother, dearest mother, what is the matter.^'
said they, drawing closer to her.
'What is the matter, my darlings ?' wailed the
poor mother. ' I shall never again look upon
your loved faces. I am blind ; yes, I am blind.'
It was even so. The poor sufferer could no
longer see those she loved so tenderly. This
new misfortune quite overwhelmed Menschikoff ;
and poor Simionoff too, on his return, stood
petrified at the terrible tidings ; but he was the
first to recover his presence of mind, and to
administer what consolation he could to the
wretched family. Carefully and gently as any
woman did he lift the poor blind invalid from
the kebeetka, and with the aid of Menschikoff
he carried her into the room he had prepared
for her, followed by her weeping children.
But their troubles were not at an end. Their
passage was barred by a man, also clad in the
garb of an exile, who, peering into Menschikoff's
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 197
face, and bursting into a brutal laugh, he accosted
him deridingly, saying with delight —
'At length. Prince Menschikoff, I have the
honour of congratulating you on your arrival
here. How kind of you to come and pay a visit
to those you sent hither before you ! Come,
Serene Highness, come and see for yourself the
sufferings of those who were innocently con-
demned and sentenced to condign punishment,
that you might escape that due to you. But
your turn has come at last ; your hour of retri-
bution has tarried long, but it is now come.
And you, too, young ladies, it does the heart
good to see you. Welcome, welcome to the
exile's home ; that home provided so kindly for
us by his Serene Highness, your honoured
father. Prince Menschikoff!'
And with these words he spat in the faces of
the unfortunate maidens, and attempted to
handle them rudely; but their brother warded
off his brutal attempts, and would doubtless
have struck the cowardly wretch had he not
thought of his suffering mother.
Well was it for him that the hands of Menschi-
koff were at that moment bound. He trembled
with rage and indignation, and scalding tears
fell from his eyes on the face of the invalid,
198 From Peasant to Prince;
who had been mercifully spared this new afflic-
tion, for she had fainted away. He cast a look
of supreme contempt on the dastardly man, and
said, as well as his emotion would allow him —
* Begone ! villain, begone ! Vent your spite on
me as much as you wish, for I deserve it ; but
insult not the innocent who have never wronged
you/
Many spectators had gathered round the
exiled family, spectators attracted by idle curi-
osity, but apparently touched with their mis-
fortunes. Not a voice was lifted against them,
but a hushed murmur of ' Shame ! shame ! ' as
the exasperated wretch went on with his vitu-
perations. He was, however, at length driven
away by some compassionate bystander.
It was long before the poor invalid came to
herself again ; and the doctor, who had been
summoned to visit her, declared her to be in
the most imminent danger. He ordered her
to be kept warm, and the strictest quiet to
be observed. They stood round her, watching
anxiously some change. At length a slight
tinge of colour flitted over her rigid features,
and a profuse perspiration broke out in pearly
drops upon her forehead. Hope began to spring
up in the children's hearts ; but the doctor shook
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 199
his head, for he knew, alas ! how fallacious that
hope was. Gently approaching the sufferer, he
took hold of her hand, and all could see from
the concern on his countenance that they might
expect the worst. There was no hope. They
fell on their knees, and buried their faces in the
coverlid, that the dying woman might not be
disturbed by the sobs they tried in vain to
suppress.
Menschikoff was overwhelmed, stunned, power-
less. The shock was so great that his heart
seemed to turn to stone ; he could riot even
weep, but remained buried in his deep grief,
like one bereft even of action. As Byron says,
* Among the stones, he was a stone ; ' but at
a slight movement of his dying wife, he raised
his head.
'Alexander, my beloved husband,* said she
softly, but with inexpressible tenderness, stretch-
ing out her hands towards him. Menschikoff
took both those loved hands in his ; they were
cold as ice.
* My children, my darlings, come near me,*
said she again, but in a voice still weaker. ' I
cannot see you ; but come near, that I may feel
you are near me.'
The children flocked round her, and covered
200 From Peasant to Prince:
her hands with kisses. They looked at her, but
they could not utter a word. All at once an
angelic smile lighted up her pale features, and
a gleam of ineffable love seemed to rest on her
whole countenance ; her very eyes appeared
impregnated with it ; so radiant was her face,
that they almost fancied she could see them.
She tried to speak, but her words died on her
lips. Making one last effort to draw them to
that breast which had ever been their resting-
place, the loving, sheltering arms fell power-
lessly on her couch ; the eye in which so much
tenderness had ever beamed for them grew
dim ; death had touched her with his stony
fingers, and her sufferings were over.
But alas for those she left behind! Above
all, alas for him who had so long made her only
the secondary object of his life ; who had sacri-
ficed the tender, devoted, and pure love of a
being so noble, to the ambition and cupidity
which had ruined her and her beloved children !
Meet return for so much love ! What would
he do without her.? Not a tear came to his
burning eyelids ; but, bending over the lifeless
remains, he imprinted a fervent kiss upon her
marble forehead, and as he tenderly closed her
sightless orbs, he reverently exclaimed —
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 201
* O God ! I acknowledge thy justice. Thou
hast taken the innocent one to thyself. Thou
hast removed her from the sufferings brought
upon her by others. Thy hand is heavy upon
me ; make me to bow with resignation to thy
afflicting judgments ; mould me to thy will.'
The body was laid in a plain and simple
coffin ; the dead was followed to the grave by
her husband and children, and the faithful
servant who had followed them to their exile.
Such was the end of the Princess, whose fate
had, a short time before, been envied by the
highest ladies in the land! Such is the in-
stability of worldly honours, of earthly riches !
But what to her was either wealth or honour ?
During her life, her husband and children had
been her first earthly consideration ; her duty
to God and man had been her great object;
and now, when the coffin was lowered, when the
earth fell upon it, and the grave closed over the
mortal remains of the cherished object, there
was a light the less in the world ; but it was
gone to shed a bright ray the more in that
kingdom from which it had emanated.
No lordly tombstone was raised, to mark the
spot where a high-born princess lay in her last
dreamless sleep. But her slumbers were not
202
From Peasant to Prince.
less tranquil ; her grave was watered with
genuine tears of the purest affection ; and
the flowers which in time adorned the spot,
were emblematical of the pure spirit now trans-
planted into the garden of the Lord.
CHAPTER VIII.
REPENTANCE.
T was the depth of winter ere the family
of exiles reached Beresowo, which was a
collection of low wooden huts, standing
on an immense plain, where all was so solitary
and desert, that except for the smoke that might
be seen emerging from the chimneys, you might
have said it was uninhabited. From time to
time, a man wrapped in a sheepskin coat would
come out of his hovel, and hurry along the
single street ; but his noiseless steps, as he trod
the hard snow, did not break the deathlike still-
ness : here all was silent as the tomb.
The exiles were received by the governor of
the town with coldness, nay, even with stern-
ness. No kind word of sympathy greeted the
children that had been brought up so tenderly.
They were ushered into one of the low wooden
huts, consisting of two rooms only, round the
204 From Peasant to Prince!
bare walls of which were fixed rough wooden
benches. A large Russian stove stood in the
middle of the inner room, and a plain deal table-
This was the only furniture in the future abode
of those who had been accustomed to all the
luxuries and comforts of a palace surpassing
that of the Emperor himself; not a kitchen
utensil was to be seen, not a saucepan, not a
dish, not a plate, — nothing, in short
It is true Menschikoff was to receive a certain
sum of money monthly for the support of him-
self and his family ; but of what use was money
to him in this desert, where nothing was to be
had for it ? There was not even a baker living
there ; every family provided themselves with
flour in the autumn, and baked their own bread
in the winter.
The only things to be purchased here were
common brandy, frozen fish, and venison ; un-
less, from time to time, an itinerant Jew made
his appearance with a pack on his back, ask-
ing a price for his wares that he knew very
well could not be disputed, exorbitant though
it was. Here the exiled family were more than
ever aware how much they were indebted to
the attachment of Simionoff. He rose early in
the morning, heated the oven, baked the bread.
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 205
and prepared the tea which he found means of
providing for them. He went hunting with the
young prince ; put the princesses into the way
of occupying themselves with the household
affairs, so that the time might not hang so
heavily on their hands ; provided them with
working materials, and all that he thought
might be useful to them. Oh ! how they
blessed him for all his kindness to them !
But Menschikoff was entirely absorbed in his
deep and bitter grief, from which nothing was
able to rouse him. His eyes fixed gloomily on
the ground, scalding tears sometimes chasing
each other down his wan cheeks as he thought
of his lost wife, would he sit from day to day,
from week to week. How frequently would his
daughters pause in their household tasks to
gaze on their afflicted father I How willingly
would they have tried to console him ; but they
knew it would be a vain endeavour ! He never
repulsed them when they approached him ; nay,
he would open his arms to receive them, and
embrace them tenderly ; but they saw he pre-
ferred being alone. They were glad when their
brother returned from hunting with Simionoff.
With what interest they looked on the foxes,
ermines, and sables they brought with them f
2o6 From Peasant to Prince:
And how pleasant it was to listen to the adven-
tures they had met with in their rambles ! Their
account, too, of the wild beasts they had come
across ; the beautiful black-eyed gazelles, carry-
ing their little ones on their backs, and leaping
across the deep ravines ; the nimble grey squir-
rels, that scarcely seemed to fear their guns ; —
these and a hundred other similar tales were
poured into their wondering ears, and beguiled
many an evening of its tediousness. They were
so young and hopeful, they were so innocent
too, though they had been brought up in a
large city. They began to look forward with
pleasure to the time when they too should leave
their sombre hut, and breathe the first fresh
breeze of spring ; but they were grieved to
observe that their wretched father took no
part in their conversation. Silently, and with
the docility of a child, would he seat himself
among them at meal-times, eat but sparingly
of whatever was placed before him, and then
return to his wooden settle and his reverie.
No sooner did the weather become suffi-
ciently mild, than he urged his daughters to
go with their brother for a short walk ; and
when he felt himself quite alone, he fell pros-
trate on the ground, and poured out his whole
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 207
soul to the God of mercy and forgiveness.
How often did his children find him thus on
their return ; so absorbed was he, that he dicj
not even mark their entrance ! But it was with
consternation that his children observed that his
health became visibly impaired by his thus giv-
ing way to grief. It was, however, in vain they
tried to draw his thoughts into another channel,
and divert him from his sorrow. His son en-
deavoured to rouse him by begging him to
relate to them his travels with his beloved
sovereign, Peter the Great.
*My son,' he would mildly answer, 'why
dwell on such vain things now ? Why open
old wounds by calling up visions of the past,
which will never return.? My whole thoughts
must now be fixed on God. May He have
mercy on me, and forgive me for the way I
misused the power and privileges He invested
me with ! No, my son ; my only peace, my
only joy, must now be in fixing my heart where
I hope to meet your beloved mother, and wait
for you, my treasures here.*
At length the winter was over and gone>
with its short, cold, dark days, its long nights,
and its bright northern lights. Higher and
higher climbed the sun above the horizon ;
2o8 From Peasant to Prince:
the snow and ice disappeared under its be-
nign influence ; and here and there a tuft
of grass peeped out from under the thin coat
of snow, which still remained, as it were, to
shelter it from any treacherous frost that might
threaten it with premature destruction, till it
should be strong enough to brave the cold, and
put forth its blades to gladden the eye of man.
And now the joyous earth donned her summer
dress — a velvet carpet of rich green seemed to
invite the foot of the passer-by to tread its soft
luxurious retreats, where the violet and daisy
nestled among its fragrant tufts, as if to shun
the eye, and thus be spared the hand of those
who would wantonly tear them from their
beauteous home. The leaves burst through
their silken sheaths, and clad the trees in
their most delicate and tender tints ; the ice
broke up and floated down the Obi to its dis-
tant home, where it would once more be puri-
fied by mingling with its native seas, and
bound forth in joyous drops, no longer frost-
bound by the pitiless and iron hand that had
so long held them prisoner. And, with the re-
turn of the genial and beneficial summer, the
inhabitants of Beresowo seemed to be new-born.
They quitted their dark and lonesome habita-
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 209
tions, to take part in this general holiday of
nature.
One lovely morning, Menschikoff, yielding to
the earnest entreaties of his children, accom-
panied them to the shores of the Obi, where a
new scene — a scene of joy and animation — burst
upon his view. Vessels of all kinds — barks
and fishing-boats — taking advantage of the short
and fleeting season of fine weather, might be
seen sailing over the beautiful expanse of water
before them ; and all was bustle and life. The
few inhabitants of the little town were flocking
to the shore to lay in a store of provisions for
the long and dreary winter, which they knew must
follow the present joyous season — this transient
visit of genial sunshine. The air was filled with
balmy odours, and the song of birds once more
fell upon their ear. All nature seemed to re-
joice in the sunny holiday she was giving her
sad and weary children of the North.
On Menschikoff, perhaps, more than on any
one else, did the scene produce an electric im-
pression. His countenance, which had been so
gloomy, suddenly brightened up with such joy,
that his children gazed upon him with astonish-
ment and gratitude for the great change that
had come over him. Taking the hands of his
O
210 From Peasant to Prince:
daughters in his own, and drawing his son closer
to him, he pointed to the little mound before
them, saying, as he did so, 'Here, my chil-
dren, here I will, with God's permission, erect
a temple to his glory. For the space of forty
years did I labour to obtain vain glory and
perishable wealth. My remaining days shall
be devoted to his service, to show my gratitude
to God for my deliverance from g^ilt and sia
Yes, my gratitude for his mercies cannot be
more efficiently proved than by raising a temple
to his praise. My great and noble prince, Peter
the Great, of ever blessed memory, did not dis-
dain to wield the hammer and the axe for the
benefit of his country ; and I, a poor exile as I
am, shall I not consider it a privilege to make
use of those implements in honour of Almighty
God, our heavenly Father, who has graciously
opened my eyes, and softened my hard, ambi-
tious heart ? My children ! my children ! help
me to bless Him and honour Him for all his
mercies.'
MenschikofTs children entered heart and soul
into all his feelings. They rejoiced that any
occupation should be sufficiently interesting to
wean him from his fixed melancholy. Sorrow,
they knew, he must ever feel ; but when once
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 211
resignation had entered his heart — real, genuine
resignation — they felt sure all would be right ;
for real resignation never fails to sanctify the
sorrow, and open a new channel in the heart — a
channel for love to Him who sends the grief, not
for his own pleasure, but for our good, to wean
our affections from the false pleasures of this
world, and fix them upon those treasures in
heaven which cannot be exhausted.
CHAPTER IX.
RELEASE.
HE idea of building a church having
once entered the mind of the exiled
prince, he did not allow it to fade
away into chimerical visions. The timber was
purchased, and the spot fixed upon for the erec-
tion of the sacred edifice, and both father and
son were soon in full employ, surrounded by
those who were willing to share their labours.
The whole town was, ere long, busy and ani-
mated with the zeal of the exiles, and wrought
steadily and cheerfully at the fane about to be
raised to the honour and glory of the King of
kings.
But they were overtaken by winter before
they had completed their task; and winter,
alas! brought another trial to the afflicted
family. Mary, the elder daughter of Men-
schikoff, the affianced wife of the Emperor,
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 213
sickened, and, after a short illness, was called
to join her mother. The stroke fell upon the
father very heavily, it was so totally unex-
pected by him ; for the amiable and conside-
rate child had ever worn a cheerful smile for all
around her, particularly for him whose heart
had been so sorely lacerated for all their suf-
ferings ; and when at last death came, he was
thunderstruck. His grief found no vent in
words, but he silently and secretly wept over
his lovely flower thus nipped in the bud; and
again he had to bow the head and avow the
justice of God. This time, however, he could
trace the love and mercy that tempered the
justice. He knew she was taken from a world
of trouble to a paradise of bliss. He knew he
should not be parted from her long ; that he
should soon follow her and the loved one who
had gone before her ; and this time, therefore,
he sorrowed not as one without hope.
Winter had again taken his leave of his
northern empire for a short space, and nature
once more resumed her triumphant reign. Her
smile gladdened the earth ; and no sooner was
it possible to wield axe, and hammer, and saw,
than workmen were to be seen flocking to their
joyous task.
214 From Peasant to Prince:
Menschikoff worked with redoubled vigour
and ardour at the temple of the Lord, as if he
feared he should be called away ere it should be
completed. At last it was finished, and the
silver bell summoned all the inhabitants of the
little town to the 'worship of the Lord in the
beauty of holiness.' They came, one and all,
with awe and reverence, but with holy joy, to
pay their vows in the sacred edifice. With what
feelings of heartfelt yet chastened love did they
approach the altar! With what emotions did
they offer up their prayers to the God of their
salvation! How attentively did they listen to
the exhortation of their priest, and how fervently
did they sing the praises of the Lord of Hosts !
When the service was over, the little congre-
gation returned to their homes. As they left
the church, they respectfully made way for the
white-haired venerable man, bowed down with
grief and suffering more than with age, who
slowly and reverently passed on before them.
On leaving the church he had been privileged
to build, his face beamed with heavenly peace,
his eyes filled with tears of gratitude at the
unspeakable blessing vouchsafed to him, that of
raising a temple to the glory of the Lord.
He was followed by his son and daughter, a
Life of Alexander Menschikoff. 215
lovely and graceful pair — lovely, but subdued,
for they thought of those who had left them for
a short time ; and they were young, and could
not help regretting they had been taken from
them. And- now came the good old man
Simionoff, the faithful friend of the exiled
family. They all passed out, and the sacred
edifice was left to silence and solitude.
It seemed as if Menschikoff's aim was com-
pleted, for peace fell upon his soul — a peace
which he had never experienced in the heyday
of his prosperity, when all had been turmoil
and agitation, followed by disappointment and
vexation. Now all was calm and content ; the
soft shades of evening fell upon his soul, very
different from the glare of the sunshine that had
dazzled and fatigued him in the great city. It
sometimes troubled him, when he felt his strength
declining, to think what would be the fate of
those he loved so dearly that he must leave
behind him. But even this anxiety soon passed
away ; for, having once given himself entirely
to God, he confided his children to his care,
and his trust was implicit ; and when Death
came to summon him to a happier world, he
found him prepared. He left his children and
his faithful servant with a smile of happiness on
2i6 From Peasant to Prince.
his pale but radiant face, and his remains were
conveyed to the little church he had raised with
so much zeal, followed respectfully by the whole
of the little community.
Not long after his decease, Peter ii. was
carried off by that dreadful malady, malignant
small-pox ; and he was succeeded on the throne
by Anna Ivanovna, niece of Peter the Great
Again fortune turned her capricious wheel.
The Dolgorouky family, the great enemies of
Menschikoff, were banished to Siberia, and the
children of the deceased prince were recalled
from exile. But vain were all their entreaties
to prevail upon Simionoff to accompany them.
' Who would take care of my beloved master's
grave .•*' said he.
Good old man ! It was not long that he had
to perform the task he had imposed upon him-
self; for, soon after the departure of the young
prince and princess, he too lay beside the master
he had so devotedly served for so many years.
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proved by the 'knack in story-telling she inherits from her father.'" — Art
Journal.
THE LITTLE CHILD'S FABLE BOOK.'
Arranged progressively in words of One, Two, and Three
Syllables. Sixteen Page IllustratioRS by Gboroina Bowers.
Small 4to, price 3t. 6d, plain ; 5#. coloured, gilt edges.
ANIMALS AND BIRDS :
Sketches from Nature by Habjiison Weir, for the use
of the young Artist. Royal qaarte, pnblishing in parts, each
containing three plates and several subjects. Price l«. eiLc\v.
. (Parts I and 2 now ready.)
\
8 NEW AND INTERESTING WO&KS
WORKS BY THOMAS HOOD'S DAUGHTER.
T^ILES OF THE TOYS.
Told by Themselves. By Frances Freelino Bboderip.
'With illustntiona by her brother, Tom Hood. Saper-rojal
IGmo, price 3«. 6d, plain ; 4t. 6d. coloured, gilt edges.
"A capital conception well worked o\it."^Briti*h Quarlerly.
" Mrs. Broderip is to be congratulated on having achieved a novelty."—
Saturday Review.
WILD ROSES ;
or, Simple Stories op Country Life. By Frances
Freelino Broderip. With Illustrations by H. Anelay.
Post 8wo, price 3«. 6d. ; or 4#. gilt edges.
"Written with the grace and truthfulness which the daughter of Tom
Hood knows so well how to impart." — Art Journal,
MAMMA'S MORNING GOSSIPS ;
I or. Little Bits for Little Birds. Being Easy Lessons for
I One Month in Words of One Syllable, and a Story to read for
j each Week. With Fifty Illustrations. Foolscap 4to, price
lis. plain ; is. Gd. coloured, gilt edges.
i MERRY SONGS FOR LITTLE VOICES.
I The words by Mrs. Broderip; set to music by Thomas
MuRBY. With 40 Illustrations. Fcap. 4to, price 6s.
CROSSPATCH, THE CRICKET, AND THE COUNTER-
I PANE : a Patchwork of Story and Song. Super-royal IGmo,
price 3«. 6d. plain ; 4s. 6d. coloured, gilt edges.
' MY GRANDMOTHER'S BUDGET
I OF Stories and Verses. Price 38. 6d. plain ; 4s. 6d. coloured
gilt edges.
TINY TADPOLE,
AND other .Tales. Super-royal 16ino, price 3«. 6d, plain;
4s. Gd. coloured, gilt edges.
i FUNNY FABLES FOR LITTLE FOLKS. !
Second Edition. Super- royal 1 6mo, price 2s. 6d. plain ;
3». 6'J. coloured, gilt edges.
I '
ALICE AJID BEATEICE.
/ By Grandmamma. lUostratioDs by John Absolok. Saper-
-J royal 1 6mo, price 2%. 6d. pVaiii \ ^. ^d. coVvqs«&, ^t «d%e8.
\
PUBLISHED BY GRIFFITH AND FARRAN. i)
NEW PICTURE BOOK.
THE ATTRACTIVE PICTUEE BOOK :
a New Gift from the Old Corner, containing numerous
Illustrations by eminent Artists. Super-royal 4to, price
3«. 6^. plain ; 'J 8. Gud- coloured ; \0s, 6d, on cloth and coloured,
bound in an elegant cover, printed in gold and colours.
COUSIN TRIX,
AND HER Welcome Tales. By Georgian a Craik. With
Illustrations by F. W. Keyl. Super-royal 1 6mo, price 3*. (id,
plain ; 4*. Gd, coloured, gilt edges.
" Bright and lively, with a well- concealed moral."— Guardian.
PLAY-ROOM STORIES ;
or, How TO MAKE Peace. By Georgiana M. Craik.
With Illustrations by C. Green. Super-royal 16mo, price
39, 6d, plain; 4«. 6d, coloured, gilt edges.
NEPTUNE :
THE Autobiography of a Newfoundland Dog. By the
Author of " Tuppy." Illustrated by A. T. Elwes, Super-
royal I Gmo, price 28. Gd. plain ; 38, Gd, coloured^ gilt edges.
CORNER COTTAGE, AND ITS INMATES ;
or, Trust in God. By Frances Osborne. With illustra-
tions by the Author. Fcap. 8vo, price 28, Gd. ; gilt edges^ 38,
SUNBEAM;
a Fairy Tale. By Mrs. Pibtzker. With illustrations by
Alexander Charlemagne. Small post 8vo, price 38, Gd,
THE MAR KING :
a Narrative confided to the Marines by James Greenwood,
Author of "The Hatchet Throwers," &c. With Illus-
trations by Ernest Griset. Printed on toned paper. Small
4to, price 38, Gd. plain ; 58, coloured, gilt edges.
" More than amusing." — Saturday Review.
" Ably supported by Grisei's drawinga." — Alhenaum.
UPSIDE DOWN :
a Series of Amusing Pictures from Sketches by the late
W. McCoNNELL, with Verses by Thomas Hood. Coloured
Plates. 4to, price 28, Gd, fancy boards.
" Ludicrous and airusing." — IUu$iraltd Times.
\
10 NEW AND INTIRKSTING WORKS
THE YOUNG VOCALIST :
a Collection of Twelve Songs, each with an Accompaniment
for the Pianoforte, selected from Mozart, Weber, Men-
dtluohn, Spohr, &c., by Mrs. Mounsey Baatholoiuw,
Associate of the Philhsrmonic Society. 4to, price 29. imitation
cloth ; or St. M. bound in extra doth, gilt edges.
" These Lyrics an selected and composed for children who are too young
to sing opeiaiic or romantic songs, or too old fur those founded on nursery
tales. The melodies are all of a suitable compass, so that the voices nuy
not be injured by practice at an early A^e.**— Extract from Preface,
** Arranged with the best possible taste and skill."— if Mfc«^ fForld,
THE CONFESSIONS OF A LOST DOG,
Reported by her Mistress, Frwces Power Cobbe. With
a Photograph of the Dog from Life, by Frank H aes. Super-
royal IGmo, price 2*. cloth, gilt edges.
HIS NAME WAS HERO.
By the Author of ** The Four Seasons." Frontispieee by
Sir W. Calcott, R.A. Super-royal lOmo, price Is. sewed.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
HOW I BECilME A GOVERNESS.
Third Edition. Price 2#. cloth ; 2t. 6d, gilt edges.
DICKY-BIRDS :
a True Story. Third Edition. With Frontispiece. Price Gd.
MY PRETTY PUSS. With Frontispiece. Price M.
THE GRATEFUL SPARROW :
a True Story. With Frontispiece. Fifth Edition, price 6d,
THE ADVENTURES OF A BUTTEKFLY.
From the French of P. J. Stahl. Seven EngrsTings.
Price 8rf.
THE HARE THAT FOUND HIS AVAY HOME.
From the French of P. J. Stahl. Price 6d,
I
CHARLES BENNETT'S LAST WORK.
LIGHTSOME AND THE LinLE GOLDEN LADY.
Written and illustrated by C. H. Bennett. Twenty.four
Engravings. Fcap. 4to, price 'ds, (id, plain ; 4f . 6d. oolhwnd,
gilt edges.
" The work of a man who is sure to put some touch of a peeuliar genius
Into wbBtever he does.**— Pail Mall Ga»c((t.
" Then i§ rare fun for the UUU onmt «a4 iAmm Na nwacoj^Va. VIba fan/'—
PUBLISHED BY GRIFFITH AND FARBAN. 11
CASIMIK, THE LITTLE EXILE.
By Caroline Peaghev. With Illustrations by C. Stanton.
Post 8vo, price is. Gd. cloth ; or oa. gilt edges.
"The tone of 'Casimir' is healthy, and the story will be found no lesf
beneficial than interesting."— J Mew am/h.
LUCY'S CAMPAIGN ;
a Story of Adventure. By Mary and Catherine Lee.
With Illustrations by George Hay. Fcap. Svo, price 3«. ;
or 'ds. Gd, gilt edges.
"The adventures 'Lucy' goes through are detailed in a remarkably
agreeable manner." — The Queen.
BY THE HON. MISS BETHELL.
HELEN IN SWITZEllLAND.
By the Hon. Augusta Bethell. With Illustrations by
E. Whymper. Super-royal 16ino, price 3«. G^. ; plain 4«. Gd.
coloured f gilt edges.
" A pleasant variety of local legend and history, mingled with the incidents
of travel."— The Spectator.
ECHOES OF AN OLD BELL,
AND OTHER Tales OF Fairy Lore. lUustrations by F. W.
Keyl. Price 3«. 6d. plain ; 4«. Gd. coloured, gilt edges.
" A delightful book of well-conceived and elegantly-written fairy tales." —
Literary Churchman.
NUBSERY TIMES ;
or, Stories about the Little Ones. By an Old Nurse.
With Illustrations by J. Lawson. Imperial IGmo, price
3s. Gd. plain ; As, Gd, coloured, gilt edges.
'The Stories are full of fun and seriousness in happy eombinatioa."—
Noncunformitt.
THE SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF THE CLUMSY
BOY CRUSOE. By Charles H. Ross. With Twenty,
three Coloured Illustrations. Imperial 8to, price 2f,
INFANT AMUSEMENTS ;
or, How TO Make a Nursery Happv. With Pkvctictl
Hints to Parents and Nurses on the Moral and Physical
Training of Children, By W* H. G. Kingston. Post 8vo,
price t)#. Gd,
"We urge parents most stronglv to obtain this book forth wUh\ hi^Vxcim \
of no book tnat can compare with it in pmcX\c«\ n«\^«« '?Ai(^\ iStAi^\m.\sw \
vrorth the price of the book."- Our Fire4i<f f .
/ -
12 }rSW AND INTBBXSTINO W0BK8
TAKING TALES FOR COTTAGE HOMES,
in Piaia Langaage and iMtge Type. With Engravings.
Crown 8vo, price 4d, each.
No. 1. The Miller op Hillbrook : a Rural Tale.
2. Tom Trueman, a Sailor in a Merchantman.
3. Michael Hale and his Family in Canada.
4. John Armstrong, the Soldier.
6. Joseph Rudge, the Australian Shepherd.
G. Life Underground ; or, Dick the Colliery Boy.
7. Life on the Coast; or, The Little Fisher Girl.
8. Adventures of Two Orphans in London.
U. Early Days on Board a Man-of-War.
10. Walter the Foundling : a Tale of Olden Times.
11. The Tenants of Sunnyside Farm.
12. IIolmwood; or, The New Zealand Settler.
The Work may also be had in Four Volumes. Price U. Gd, each,
cloth, printed covers ; or 2 vols, cloth, extra, 3«. 6d, each.
WORKS BY LADY LUSHINQTON.
ALMEKIA^S CASTLE;
or, My Early Life in India and England. By Lady
LusHiNGTON. With Twelve Illustrations. Super-royal lOmo,
price 49. Gd, ; or 5^. gilt edges.
" The Authoress has a very graphic pen, and brings before our eyes, vrith
singular vividness, the localities and modes of life she alms to describe." —
London Review.
HACCO THE DWARF ;
or, The Tower on the Mountain, and other Tales.
Illustrated by G. J. Pinwell. Price 3f. Gd» plain ; 4«. Gd,
coloured, gilt edges.
" Enthusiasm is not our usual fashion, but the excellence of these stories
is so greatly above the average of most clever tales for the play-room, that
we are tempted to reward the author with admiration." — Athenaeum.
THE HAPPY HOME ;
or, The Children at the Red House. Illustrated by
G. J. Pinwell. Second Edition. Price 3#. Gd» plain; 4«. Gd,
coloured, gilt edges.
" A happy mixture of fact and fiction. Altogether it is one of the best
books of the kind we have met with." — Guardian.
FEATHEELAND ;
or, How the Birds lived at Greenlawn. By G. W.
Fenn. With Illustrations by F. W. Keyl. Super-royal
J6'iD0, price 2«. Gd. plain ; 3«. Gd. coloured, gilt edges.
"A delightful book for children. TYiet^ \« xko %\Qrs, but the happiest
perception of childish enjoyment Is coxvlaVweiV, \tv tsLTvc\^\x\ \\.«v«\k%\ «il\kVc^.
fife. " — Krnm iner.
PUBLISHED BY GRIFFITH AND FARRAN. 18
THE AUSTEALIAN BABES IN THE WOOD :
a True Story told in Rhyme for the Young. With Fourteen
Illustrations by Hugh Cameron; J. McWhirtie; Geo.
Hay ; J. Lawson, &c. Imperial 16mo, price Is, 6d, fancy
boards ; 29, doth, gilt edges.
TKOniE'S STORY BOOK :
True Tales in Short Words and Large Type. By the Author
of '*Tappy/' &c. Eight Illustrations by Weir. Thurd
Edition. Price 2s, 6d, plain ; *ds, 6d, coloured, gilt edges.
TINY STORIES FOR TINY READERS IN TINY
WORDS. With Twelve lUustrations by Weir. Fonrth
Edition. Price 2s, Od, plain ; 3s, 6d, coloured, gilt edges.
WORK IN THE COLONIES :
some Account of the Missionary Operations of the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. With Map
and Sixteen Illustrations. Royal 16mo, price 5^. gilt edges.
THE FAIRY TALES OF SCIENCE.
By J. C. Brough. With l(j Beautiful lUastrations by C. H.
Bennett. New Edition. Fcap. 8vo, price bs, gilt edges.
" Science, perhaps, was never made more attractive and easy of entrance
into the youthful mind." — The Builder.
" Altogether the volume is one of the most original, as well ai one of the
most useful, books of the season." — Gentleman'* Magazine,
EARLY DAYS OF ENGLISH PRINCES.
By Mrs. Russell Gray. Illustrations by John F&anklin.
New and Enlarged Edition. Super-royal IGmo, price 3«. dd,
plain ; As, Od. coloured, gilt edges.
PICTURES OF GIRL LIFE.
By Catharine Augusta HoW£LL. Frontispiece by
F. Elxzb. Fcap. 8vo, price 3s, ; or 3s, 6d, gilt edges.
" A really healthy and stimulating book for girls." — Nonconformist,
PAGES OF CHILD LIFE.
By Catharine Augusta Howill. With Three lUastr^'
tions. Fcap. 8vo, price St. 6d. doth.
14 NEW AND INTERESTING WORKS
WORKS BY M. BETHAM EDWARD&
THE PRIMOSE PILGRIMAGE :
a WoodUad Stoiy. By M. BfeTHAM Edwards. Illasfrated
by T. R. Macquoid. Imperial 16mo, price 2». ikl, plain ;
3s. Qd, ooloared, gilt edges.
" One of the best books of children's rerte that has appeared since the
early days of Mary Howitt." — Noncon/ormM.
\ SCENES AND STORIES OF THE RHINE.
By M. Beth AM Bo wards. With Illustrations by F. W.
I Ketl. Price 3t. 6d, plain ; 4s, 6d. coloured, gilt edges.
HOLIDAYS AMONG THE MOUNTAINS ;
or, Scenes and Stories of Wales. By M. Betham
Edwards. Illustrated by F. J. Skill. Super-royal IGuio,
price 3t. Ctd. plain ; 4f. 6d, coloured, gilt edges.
THE FOUR SEASONS :
a Short Account of the Structure of Plantsi, being Four
Lectures written for tbe Working Men's Institute, Paris.
With Illustrations. Imperial I6mo, price 3*. 6^/. cloth.
" Distingaished by extreme clearness, and teem with information of a
useful and popular character." — Ouardlan.
SPECTROPIA ;
or, Surprising Spectral Illusions, showing Ghosts erery
where, and of any Colour. By J. H. Brown. Fifth Edition.
Quarto. Coloured Plates. I^ice 28. Gd. fancy boards.
" One of the best scientific toy books we have seen." — Athenxntn.
" A clever book. The illusions are founded on true scientific principles."
•^Chemical Newt.
THE LOVES OF TOM TUCKER AND LITTLE BO-PEEP.
Written and Illustrated by Thomas Hood. Quarto, price
2«. 6cf. coloured plates.
«Full of fun and of good innocent humour. The illustrations are
excellent."— TAe Critic.
NURSERY FUN ;
or. The Little Folks' Picture Book. The lUasfrations
by C. H. Bennett. Quarto, price Sff* 6tf. coloured plates.
" Will he greeted with shouts ofUughUiVn wi tv^twrj .•*—«« Crilie,
PUBLISHED BY GRIFFITH AND FAB.RAN. 15
FUN AND EABNESI ;
or, Rhymes with Reason. By D'Arcy W. Thompson.
lUastrated by Charles Bennett. Imperial l6mo, price 3s,
plaiu ; or 4s. 6d, coloured, cloth elegant, gilt edges.
" Only a clever man with the touch of a poet's feeling in him can write
good children's nonsense; such a man the author proves himself to 'be.'*—
Examiner,
NUKSERY NONSENSE ;
or, Rhymes without Reason. By D'Arcy W. Thompson.
Sixty lUustratioDS by C. H. Bennett. Second Edition.
Imperial 16mo, price 28, Gd, plain ; or 4», 6d, coloured, gilt
edges.
" The funniest book we have seen for an age, and quite as harmless as
l.earty." — Daily Review,
BY MRS. HENRY WOOD.
WILLIAM ALLAIK ;
or. Running away to Sea. By Mrs. H. Wood, Author
of '*The Cbannings,'' &c. Frontispiece by F. Gilbsbt.
New Edition. Fcap. 8vo, price 28. (id ; or 3«. gilt edges.
" There is a fascinatitm about Mrs. Wood's writings (torn which neither
old nor young can escape." — BelPs Messenger.
HISTORICAL TALES OF LANCASTRIAN TIMES.
By the Rev. H. P. Dunster, M.A. Illustrations by John
Franklin. Fcap. 8vo, price 5;. gilt edges.
" A volume skilfully Uehtei." — Saturday Review.
** Conveys a good deal of information about the manners and customs of
England and France in the 15lh centur}'." — Gentleman' m Magazine.
MEMORABLE BAllLES IN ENGLISH HISTORY ;
WHERE Fought, why Fought, and their Results.
With Lives of the Commanders. By W. H. Dayenport
Adams, Author of '' Neptune's Heroes.*' Frontispiece by
Robert Dudley. Post 8vo, price ik, gilt edges.
" Of the care and honesty of the author's labours, the book gives abundant
p roof. " — Athentsum.
LITTLE BY LITTLE :
a series of Graduated Lessons in the Art of Reading Music.
By the Author of " Conversations on Harmony." Second
Edition. Oblong 8vo, price 8«. 6d, cloth.
''One of the best productiont of tlM kindwldfilL^^«')^\v8^wa^r<-:; \
CkarUs Steff^Uf Mu*. D, Canlab.
16 NSW AND INTBRE8TINO WORKS
ALFRED ELWES' BOOKS FOR BOYS.
With Illustrations. Fcap. 8to, price 59. each, gilt edges.
LUKE ASHLEIGH ;
or, School Life in Holland.
'*The author's best book, by a writer whose popularity with boys is
great."— i< thetneum.
GUY filVEKS ;
or, A Boy's Stbuoglbs in thb Great World.
RALPH 8EABR00KE ;
or. The Adventures of a Young Artist. .
FRANK AND ANDREA ;
or, Forest Life in the Island of Sardinia*.
PAUL BLAKE ;
or, A Bot's Perils in Corsica and Monte Cristo.
OCEAN AND HER RULERS :
a Narrative of the Nations who have held dominion over the
Sea ; and comprising a hrief History of Nayigation.
" The volume is replete with valuable and interesting information ; and
we cordially recommend it as a useful auxiliary in the schoolroom, and
entertaining companion in the library."— Jfornifij^ Pott.
I
THE FAITHFUL HOUND :
a Story in Verse, founded on Fact. By Lady Thomas.
With Illastrations hy H. Weir. Imperial 16mo, price 2f. 6<f.
i plain ; 3f. 6c/. coloured, gilt edges.
I JACK FROST AND BETTY SNOW ;
with other Tales for Wintry Nights and Rainy Days. Illus«
trated hy H. Weir. Second Edition. 2«. 6(f. plain ; 3«. C(/.
colourod, gilt edges.
" The dedication of these pretty tales proves by whom they are written ;
they are indelibly stamped with that natural and graceful mathod of
amusing while instructing, which only persons of genius pot8e8s.'*~ilrl
Journal,
DISTANT HOMES \
or. The Graham Family in New Zealand. By Mrs.
I. E. Aylmer. With Illustrations by J. Jackson. Super-
royal 16mo, price 3«. 6^. plain ; 4s, Od. coloured, gilt edges.
"EngUgh childien will be deVWYvted ^Vl\k \Yw« Y>\a\.«cY ot the Graham
Funiljr, and he enabled to form p\ea»wM aad imX^^aX cn\Mw^\.\u«A «\^iM
Distsnt Homes ' inhabited by i\vc\t Undied.**— AiKeii«u».
PUBLISHED BY G&IFFITB AND FABJIAN. 17
WILLIAM DALTON'S BOOKS FOR BOYS.
With Illastrations. Fcap. 8vo, price 5». each, gilt edges.
LOST m CEYLON :
the Story of a Boy's and GirPs Adventures in the Woods and
Wilds of the Lion King of Kandy.
" Clever, exciting, and full of true descriptioos of the creatures and
sights in that noble island." — Literary Gazette.
THE WHITE ELEPHANT ;
or, The Hunters of Ava.
THE WAE TIGER ;
or, The Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of
THE Young Sea-Chief and his Lad Chow.
NEPTUNE'S HEROES;
or, The Sea Kings of England, from Hawkins to
Franklin. By W. H. Davenport Adams. Illustrated by
Morgan. Fcap. 8vo, price 5«. gilt edges.
" We trust Old England may ever have, writers as ready and able to
interpret to her children the noble lives of her gretttest men.**-^Athen€eum.
HAND SHADOWS,
to be thrown upon the Wall. By Henry Bursill. First
and Second Series, each containing Eighteen Original Designs.
Quarto, price 2«. each plain; 28. Gd, coloured.
" Uncommonly clever — some wonderful effects are produced." — The Press.
OLD NUESE'S BOOK OF EHYMES, JINGLES, AND
DITTIES. Illustrated by C. H. Bennett. Ninety En-
gravings. Fcap. 4to, price *Ss. 6d. plain ; or 6s, coloured.
" The illustrations are all so replete with fun and imagination, that we
scarcely know who will he most pleased with the book, the good-natuied
grandfather who gives it, or the chubby grandchild who gets it, for a
Christmas Box." — Notes and Queries.
CLARA HOPE ;
or, The Blade and the Ear. By Miss Milneb. Fron-
tispiece by BiRKET Foster. Fcap. tfvo, price 3«. 6d. ; or
4s. Gd. cloth elegant, gilt edges.
" A beautiful narrative, showing how bad habits may he eradicated, and
evil tempers sxibdued."— British Mother's Journal.
HOME AMUSEMENTS :
a Choice Collection of Riddles, Charades, Conandnims, Parlour
Games, and ForCeitt. By FsTtt* Pomikwxll, SUq. New
Bditioii. With Frontlipitc* b| Ptti«% \^a!^<ljix^^
18 NEW AND INTBRB8TINO WORKS
W. H. 0. KINGSTON'S BOOKS FOR BOYS.
I
With Illustrations. Fcap. 8vo, price &8. each, gilt edges.
THUE BLUE ;
or, The Life and Adventures of a British Seaman of
THE Old School.
" There is about all Mr. Kingston's tales a spirit of hopefulness, honesty,
and cheery good principle, vrhich makes them most wholesome, as wc|ll as
njo««t interesting reading." — Era.
" With the exception of Capt. Marryat, we know of no English author
who will compare with Mr. Kingston as a writer of books of nautical adven<
ture."—IUuttrated Neic$.
WILL WEATHEEIIELM j
or, The Yarn of an Old Sailor about his Early Life.
FREl) MARKIIAM IN RUSSIA ;
or, The Boy Travellers in the Land of the Czar.
SALT WATER ;
or, Neil D'Arcy's Sea Life and Adventures.
PETER ITiE WHALER ;
HIS Early Life and Adventures in the Arctic
Regions. Third Edition.
NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION.
MARK SEAWORTII :
a Tale of the Indian Ocean. Price 3f . 0<f. ; or 4«. gilt edges.
t
BY W. H. G. KINGSTON.
OUR SOLDIERS ;
or, Anecdotes of the Campaigns and Gallant Deeds
OF the British Army during the Reign of Her
j Majesty Queen Victoria. With Frontispiece. Second
j Edition. Fcap. 8vo, price 3». ; or 3ff. G<f. gilt edges. '
; OUR SAILORS ;
I or. Anecdotes of the Engagements and Gallant
Deeds of the British Navy. With Frontispiece. Second :
] Edition. Fcap. 8vo, price 3y. ; or 3f. Qd, gilt edges. |
*' These volumes abundantly prove th&lYMth our ofliccrs and men in the
Artnrand Navy have been found as leaAy m «n«i \q ^«x« vti^L^A 4a aa was j
^^na snd done of yore, when \ed by a 1^ e\soTi ox % '^ «\\\Tvi,\wvr ^
PCJBI.ISHBD BY GRIFFITH AND FARRAN. 19
BY THE AUTHOR OF "TRIUMPHS OF STEAM," &o.
MEADOW LEA ;
or, The Gipsy Children : a Story founded on Fact. With
Illustrations by John Gilbert. Fcap. 8vo, price 4$* 6d, ;
or 58. gilt edges.
TUE TRIUMPHS OF STEAM ;
or, Stories from the Lives of Watt, Arkwrioht, and
Stephenson. With Illustrations by J. Gilbert. Second
Edition. Royal IGmo, price ds, Gd.
" A most delicious volume of examples." — Art Journal,
OUR EASTERN EMPIRE ;
or, Stories from the History of British India. Second
Edition. With Illustrations. Royal 16mo, ds, 6d,
" These stories are channing, and convey a general view of the progress of
our Empire in the £a.st." — Athenaum.
MIGHT NOT RIGHT ;
or, Stories of the Discovery and Conciuest of
America. Illustrated by J. Gilbert. Price 3«. Gd. doth.
" With the fortunes of Columbus, Cortes, and Pizarro, for the staple of
these stories, the writer has succeeded in producing a very interesting
volume." — Jliuttrated Newt,
TUPPY ;
or, The Autobiography of a Donkey. Illustrated by
Harrison Weir. Second Edition. Super>royal 16mOy price
2«. Gd. plain ; 'ds. Gd, coloured, gilt edges.
WORKS FOR DISTRIBUTION.
A WOMAN'S SECRET; or, How to Make Home Happy.
Twenty -ninth Thousand. ]8mo, price Gd.
By the same Author, uniform in size and price,
WOMAN'S WORK; or. How she can Help the Sick.
Seventeenth Thousand.
A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS ; or, The Mother's Assistant
IN Cases of Burns, Scalds, Cots, &c. Eighth Thousand.
PAY TO-DAY, TRUST TOMORROW : a Story illustrative of
the Evils of the Tally System. Sijcth Thousand.
NURSERY WORK ; or, Hannah Baker's First Place.
Fourth Thousand.
THB cook AND THE DOCTOR; or, Cheap Recipss and
Useful Remedies. Selected from the three first books.
Price 2d,
HOMB DIFFICULTIES; or, Whose Fault is it? A F««
Words on the Servant Question. 'Pfice \d.
\
20 NBW AND INTERESTING WORKS
THE LATE THOMAS HOOD.
FAIRY LAND ;
or, Recreation for the Rising Generation, in Prose
and Verse. By Thomas and Jane Hood. Illustrated by
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PUBLISHED BY G&IFPlTlt AND FARRAN. 23
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28 VJtW AND INTEBSSTIN6 WORKS
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5. TALES FOR GIRLS. Mrs. Leicester's School, and
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€, POETRY AND NAT1313C&, «>isLO«t ^c«aL%, and Trim-
I
Mhi&*a Introduction. ^
PUBLISHED BY GRIFFITH AND FABRAN. 29
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