CHAPTER XII.

My child-Visits of guests-The Nizegorodtyow family Parental authority - Ladies' dresses Costumes peculiar to each class- Evils arising from change of class.

THE 22nd of June is memorable to me as the birthday of my eldest daughter, Paulina. The first anniversary of this festival that I passed at Berezov, on awakening in the morning I fervently prayed to God for her; and whilst my thoughts and feelings were thus hovering over my beloved child, my heart was ready to burst, and scalding tears gushed from But mournful as the subject was, I my eyes. could not tear my soul away from reminiscences which, though so harrowing, were so dear.

Recalling to my mind the whole of my daughter's life, I in vain tried to explain to myself why my Paulina, brought up as she had been under the eyes of affectionate parents, and amidst a circle of relatives whom she tenderly loved, had far outstript the joyous age of youth, with all its buoyant freedom, and its playful gaiety, without in the least enjoying it; though such incidents of the past, even at the most advanced age, are wont to recur fondly to our memories, ever shedding a glowing halo over our existence. Although she had scarcely completed ten years, yet she was, I might almost say, mature both in mind and heart. All her thoughts were grave, her sentiments fixed and deep, her judgment clear and penetrating, so that amidst the most perplexing circumstances she was never at a loss to discriminate at the first glance between truth and falsehood. Often have I had occasion to put her childish understanding to the test by consulting her on most delicate questions, and of a nature most intricate and difficult. I found her solve them all with a penetration and correctness I could not but admire. Hardly emerged from childhood, with a delicate frame of body, and placed amidst

most trying circumstances, God constituted her the sole guardian, with duties of a second mother, to a bereaved family. My Paulina, I am confident, did not shrink from or falter in this great calling; she fulfilled it at her own great cost, but without even reckoning it a sacrifice. I cannot but think that God, having so prematurely marked her with the emblem of the cross, has thereby destined my child for that important mission which she had in our present trials to accomplish.

Full of such reflections, I gave them utterance in prayer, exclaiming: "O, merciful God! if

Thou dost take into account the emotions of a mother's heart; if our sufferings, our sorrows, our tears, and our prayers are beheld with commiseration by Thee; if innocence and sacrifices have a claim on Thy protection, vouchsafe to listen to the mother's fervent supplication for the happiness of her child."

Being so deeply moved, I avoided all company. At such a moment the presence of any one would have been most unwelcome, an unholy intrusion upon me.

Contrary to my usual custom, I laid long in bed, pretending to sleep. At last, hearing that

our fellow-lodger had dressed and gone out, I got up to follow my daily occupations.

I had intended to spend the whole day by myself, in complete seclusion, communing only with my thoughts and feelings, This purpose, however, was completely frustrated; for, all my acquaintances at Berezov, as if they had mutually agreed upon an invasion, which perhaps was the case, came in the afternoon to visit me.

First of all appeared Madame Nizegorodtyow, the rich old dowager, whose house I have already described. She was the mother of five sons and five daughters, the latter of whom were all bestowed in marriage on the principal government officials of the place. This lady was soon followed by her daughters and sons-inlaw, and by her sons and daughters-in-law, all heads of different and most respected families. It was quite a levee; and I was obliged to exert myself to do the honours of the house.

Madame Nizegorodtyow was about fifty; and when young she must have been very handsome. Even at this time she was very active, and in her conversation evinced a sound, clear judgment in everything. She was the acknow

ledged head of her house, even in its mercantile transactions, in the management of which she was assisted by her sons. These young men

were far from being emancipated from her control, though the property their father had left was estimated at one million rubles.

I always derived much pleasure from my intercourse with this old lady, for I found it unincumbered by any conventional forms, and her conversation was simple and sincere, and characterized by singular frankness.

In giving me one day the story of her life, she said that she was married at fifteen. When brought to her mother-in-law's house, she was subjected to a most severe noviciate, was obliged to obey her implicitly, and do the work of the humblest menial. Immediately after her wedding, her mother-in-law sent her, when the cold was 40° below the freezing-point, to the river to wash the linen; and though at her own mother's house she had never been required to do any work, and was afraid that, in complying with such a demand, she might lose some of her limbs, she obeyed without a murmur and happily sustained no injury.

After such perfect obedience to her mother