travels.

Terrible snowstorms overtook her; bewildering her, and all but freezing the very blood in her veins; yet still she plodded on her way. Of money she had little; sometimes she thought this was best, as robbers infested. the country, and would certainly have deprived her of any store she might have had.

The Russian peasantry are kind and hospitable, and never asked for aught in return for the bread and milk bestowed on the shivering girl; clothes and shoes they were too poor to give, and Elizabeth's garments were now in rags—a poor protection from the biting winter.

Often her heart sank within her, but she never faltered in her course. On reaching the banks of the Volga, which she must needs cross, she was roughly told by the boatmen that the river, then in a state between water and ice, could not be passed; boats could not cross it, and it was not frozen enough to walk over; a fortnight's delay would be necessary.

Poor Elizabeth, in her anguish, poured out her piteous tale to one of the men, imploring him to help her, for a fortnight's delay would exhaust her little money, and then how was she to reach St. Petersburg? The man was touched, and conveyed her half-way across in his boat; when, finding it impossible to proceed, he leapt with her from block to block of ice till they gained the opposite shore in safety. Then she thanked him, and pressed into his hand a little coin-one of her few left; but he-one of those noble men whom God plants in low estate—refused to take anything from her.

"Rather," said he, "let me add to your little store: it may bring a blessing on my wife and six children." At the same time giving her a small sum, which the grateful girl did not refuse.

Other dangers now surrounded her path: she lost herself

in a frozen wild; the dreaded robbers appeared; but, struck with wonder and pity when she told them her story, did not molest the helpless girl. Fatigue and cold were her daily portion, but still she persevered.

And now she was near Moscow; and here a joyful surprise awaited her. The Emperor was there, awaiting his coronation, so the long journey farther to St. Petersburg was needless. At Moscow, too, the weary girl found friends; the kind sisters in a convent took her in, fed her, and clothed her; then the son of the governor of the little Siberian province met her in the street, and knew her, and by him she was presented to the Emperor; and he, deeply impressed by her long and painful journey, her youth and her devotion to her parents, granted her the greatly-desired pardon for her father.

Elizabeth had the pleasure of accompanying the messenger who conveyed the glad tidings.

How different a journey was that! A comfortable carriage, relays of horses, and a heart full of joyful hopes.

The story ends happily. Elizabeth's parents were restored to wealth and rank in their own country-Poland; and she herself, after sharing their happiness for a short time, was married to the governor's son, who had long loved her, and who was in every way a husband worthy of this affectionate daughter.

A HARD MAN.

CHAPTER I.

T does not always follow, as we know, that children of one family should greatly resemble each other, either in form, face, or disposition; but surely never was such contrast to be seen as in the

twin boys at Rotherly Grange.

Every one remarked it from their very childhood. Charles, the youngest-he must be mentioned first-so handsome, bright, and radiant; Jasper grave, plain, and silent.

The father, a well-to-do yeoman farmer, though he loved both his boys alike, yet could hardly keep his eyes off his beaming little lad, while the mother did not attempt to conceal her partiality for her show-child, as the neighbours from the first called little Charlie.

Surely so much brightness and beauty gave promise of a brilliant manhood.

Our Charlie was to grow up wise and great and rich and admirable in all ways. So at least thought and said the fond, somewhat foolish mother.

And Jasper? Oh, he would do well enough-never set the Thames on fire, though.

And so childhood drifted into boyhood, and Jasper, who had accepted the second place in heart and home from earliest babyhood, still followed in the wake of his bright young brother, a faithful if rather dull shadow.

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