Read Ebook: The Foundling of the Wreck by Anonymous Whymper Edward Engraver

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 135 lines and 9071 words, and 3 pages

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.

Little ceremony was used at that period, especially in such a retired place, and Gerald was introduced at once into the presence of the Prince. Mentzikoff was seated on one of the benches, having a table before him, on which stood a bottle of spirits and a large horn cup. He had evidently been drinking rather too freely, which bad practice, though sanctioned by the example of the Czar, and the custom of the country, was a new spectacle to our hero, who had always been accustomed to see sobriety in his humble home.

'What is your business with me?' the Prince somewhat roughly demanded as Gerald advanced.

'Will your excellency do me the favour of introducing me to the Czar before he leaves the island in the morning?' Gerald said, at the same time making a low bow.

'For what purpose do you wish to be introduced to his Majesty?' Mentzikoff abruptly asked.

'Please your excellency, I have a favour to request.'

'What, boor? Dost thou think to enter the Czar's service? Thou art a dainty lad for thy station, but thou'rt not quite to his mind I fancy.'

'I do wish to enter the Czar's service,' Gerald replied; 'my request is that he will let me labour on the public works.'

The minister looked up as if doubting whether he heard aright:--'Art thou in earnest, boy,' he demanded, 'or art thou jesting with me?'

'I would not take the liberty to jest with your excellency,' Gerald replied: 'indeed my errand is not a matter for jest. I am in earnest. I wish to take the place of a man who has been more than a father to me.'

'Ha!'

'One Michael Kopt, once a fisherman on the Neva, has been upwards of two years upon the works, but his strength is failing, he can now be but of little use to his Majesty, and I have a strong arm.'

'Come hither at the dawn of day,' said the Prince.

Gerald again bowed, and was about to leave the room, when Mentzikoff calling after him said, 'Bid my servants find thee a lodging and a meal,' and added, 'come hither at the dawn, I'll take thee to the Czar myself.' Here he turned aside to re-fill the horn cup and quaff off another draught of spirits.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CZAR.

Gerald was true to his appointment, and he found the Prince prepared to receive him. But few words were exchanged; Mentzikoff beckoned him to follow, and they proceeded together to the Czar's hut. It is an odd fancy for an Emperor to live in such a place when he might live in a grand palace, thought our hero; however, he wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

Peter had been put out of temper the night before, by meeting with some trifling opposition to his wishes and plans; and the minister, though a very great favourite with his sovereign, was not quite sure that even he could get a hearing at that time. He had taken a fancy to Gerald, however, and he was determined to do all he could to serve him. Bidding him, therefore, wait without till he called or sent to him, Mentzikoff entered the Czar's hut alone.

Peter was up as usual and busy with his plans for the new city. The Prince did not, therefore, at once state the object of his early visit, but quietly listened to all his sovereign had to say. After a while, however, he ventured to lay the business before him.

The Emperor's brow darkened and became more and more contracted as the Prince proceeded. 'What were the boors made for but to serve their country in that way?' he fiercely asked.

'True, Sire;' returned the Prince, 'but this poor man is it appears unable to serve his country by manual labour any longer, and as the youth is so desirous of taking his place the exchange will be for your Majesty's benefit.

'Bring him hither,' was the Czar's abrupt rejoinder.

Gerald was the next minute ushered into the presence of the Emperor.

'Come here, boy,' he cried in a loud stern voice.

Gerald obeyed, but without shewing any signs of alarm.

'Thou'rt not Russian?' the Czar added, surveying his person with a scrutinizing glance.

'I know not to what country I belong, Sire,' the youth replied; 'I was shipwrecked on the coast hard by, and I owe my life and everything else I possess to Michael Kopt.'

'And who is Michael Kopt?'

'Sire, Michael Kopt is the man whose place in the public works I wish to fill.'

'Thou art of too slight a make for such work, boy,' cried the Czar.

'Nay, I have a stronger arm than I may seem to have, Sire; and if anything can nerve it for the work surely gratitude will do so.'

'My name is Gerald, Sire.'

'And how many years ago was it that thou wert shipwrecked on these shores?'

'It was a little more than twelve years ago, Sire, I was then an infant of only a few months old.'

'And you have never heard anything of your parents or friends?'

'Never, Sire. The river was at that time beginning to overflow its banks, and I have reason to believe that I was the only person who escaped the wreck.'

'Give the boy that, Mentzikoff,' he said; 'let him present it to the master of the works, and his request will be promptly attended to.'

As may be supposed, our hero lost no time in returning to the cottage with the joyful news of his success. But much as they all loved Michael, Margaret and the old people could scarcely rejoice in the thought of his restoration to his home when his liberty was to be purchased at such a cost. To the grateful boy, however, every task seemed light, and even his humiliation appeared honourable. Nor was this a delusive idea, for the most laborious employment derives dignity from a noble motive.

The different circumstances under which Michael and Gerald commenced the same task made a wide difference in their feelings when engaged in it. With the former it was compulsory, with the latter it was voluntary. Michael felt himself to be the unwilling servant of a tyrannical master. Gerald overlooked the fact of working for the emperor in the animating idea that he was conferring a benefit on those who had done so much for him. He had moreover the delightful consciousness that his sacrifice of self met with the smile of his Father in Heaven. Nor did Gerald repent of the noble sacrifice he had made, when the first excitement was over, and he came to endure the severe, and in some instances, unexpected hardships it had brought upon him. He not only commenced his work cheerfully, but continued to pursue it with the same happy spirit. His joy and thankfulness were unbounded when he received intelligence that Michael was gradually recovering his health under Margaret's careful nursing. At length the good woman herself came to visit him, bringing the news that her husband was now so nearly restored that he hoped to be able to walk as far himself ere long. Gerald thought, however, that it would not be wise for him to come, lest it being known that he was again capable of labour, he should be pressed a second time into the service, and his fears were not without foundation; for where there is a despotic government, the humbler classes of the people are looked upon as little better than machines, made for the sole purpose of executing the plans of those in power.

A GREAT AND UNEXPECTED CHANGE--OUR HERO IN MOSCOW.

When Gerald had been about six months at his new employment, to his great surprise he was one morning told by an inspector of the works, that an order had just come from the Emperor signifying that he was to be sent immediately to Moscow.

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet