: The Foundling of the Wreck by Anonymous Whymper Edward Engraver - Christian life Juvenile fiction; Biographical fiction; Conduct of life Juvenile fiction; Children Conduct of life Juvenile fiction; Foundlings Juvenile fiction; Enslaved persons Juvenile fic

@FreeBooksThu 08 Jun, 2023

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replied one of the men.

'Will you row me over with you?' asked Gerald, at the same time holding out a small coin.

'Have you any business with his excellency?' inquired one.

'My business is with the Czar, but I should be glad to see Prince Mentzikoff first, if I could get admittance to him,' Gerald replied.

'What is your business with the Czar?' demanded another.

'I have a favour to ask of him.'

'If that's the case, you cannot do better than get his excellency to introduce you,' rejoined the first speaker; 'come hasten into the boat, we must not tarry, or we shall be put into too hot an oven, and so repent of it.'

This speech of the man's had reference to the prime minister's origin. Mentzikoff was, when a boy, in the service of a pastry-cook at Moscow, and he first attracted the attention of the Emperor by the humorous manner in which he sang a song extolling his master's pies. Peter offered him a menial office in his household, but afterwards discovering that he had a genius for military affairs, he placed him in his army, where he rose rapidly. This young man was one of the Czar's companions on his journey to Holland and England.

As the men rowed the boat across the river, one commenced a song, and the others joined in chorus. The Russian people are noted for their love of music, and they generally lighten their labours by singing.

On reaching the island, they conducted our hero at once to the house of the minister.

The house of Prince Mentzikoff was very superior to the one occupied by his sovereign, for Peter took pride in demeaning himself when he was in the mood to do so; still it was but a rude affair, as our young readers will no doubt think when they hear it described.

It consisted of a number of wooden beams, so prepared as to fit readily into each other. Lattices and shutters for windows were also made to fit in, and these detached pieces could be packed up and carried to any place that the owner chose to reside in. Most of the houses in the towns and cities of Russia were, at that time, so constructed; and ready-made houses were common articles of merchandise in the public markets. The furniture of these dwellings was as rough and portable as the outside; a few shelves and some wooden benches were fixed to the walls, and a few tables were added. The benches served for bedsteads as well as for seats, and when these houses were put up in the country, it was seldom that they afforded the luxury of a bed.

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