Resen's own father and mother and beloved sister, had thronged with the rest down to the beach; and when they saw that dear, and long-wandered, and but so lately-restored relative rescued before their eyes, by the hand of the heroic monarch, after whose example he had so endangered himself in the cause of humanity, they forgot every ceremonial of man which would divide the grateful spirit from approaching that of its benefactor.

The old fisherman, from whom his dauntless follower had drawn his first breath, threw himself at the feet of the emperor, and embraced the hand that had given him back his son. His young and tender daughter, who felt her fraternal heart turn to none as it did to her brother, could not express her gratitude; but, awestruck in the attempt, fainted on the bosom of her venerable grandfather. The mother of Resen trembled under her sacred joy, and could not come forward. Peter looked on the group, and then he looked to heaven. The soul of Resen, too was prostrate before his God.

May the greatest of blessings the God of goodness can bestow on man, be poured on this gracious head!" was the cry of the multitude, when the door of the fisherman's hut closed upon their emperor in Lachta; and every member of the happy family hastened to bring clothes to cover their beloved monarch, while his own, which the sea had drenched, were drying. And so the night passed away.

The yacht, meanwhile, had found shelter from the severity of the storm, behind a headland not far distant; and in the morning, with the crew which had remained in it, appeared in front of the beach, to carry back its sovereign to St. Petersburgh. But how did it find him? Had the prayers of pious gratitude prevailed in a manner they wotted not of? Did the earth no longer deserve this patriotic prince? or had he fully performed his commission on it? and were the words pronounced-- Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!'

For-oh! the mystery of Providence !-notwithstanding the strictest care to avert ill consequences, the cold of the water at such a season, and the anxiety of his mind during his bodily exertions, had brought on a relapse of his disease, accompanied by a fever; which, before the vessel that conveyed him reached St. Petersburgh, had reduced him to the most imminent danger.

On being carried into his palace, he was laid on a couch; and Catherine I. an empress worthy of his bosom, though her own birth place had been a peasant's cottage, watched by his pillow day and night, her soul, in prayer, attendant on the unwearied services of her body, which took no rest. But her stay on earth was to be taken from her. He might, indeed, bequeath her his imperial crown; but it was the imperial heart that was the empire she prized; and a few years proved it. Meanwhile, he, Peter the Great, the mighty Emperor of all the Russias, closed his eyes on all sublunary grandeur; his good deeds alone following him' into that grave, where the poorest soldier, and the greatest prince, alike await the last trumpet of the captain of their salvation.

"Yes!' exclaimed the old seaman, 'it was in the first month of the year 1725, soon after the blessing of the waters on the Neva,—at which sacred anniversary the severity of his illness would not allow him to be present, that he resigned his earthly commission into the hands of Him who gave it. And well may I say, who knew him from the beginning of his reign to its end, that his life ceased as it had begun-a sacrifice for his people. And it spoke to all who mourned him, even from the tomb.'

And its voice is yet heard!-Resen!' answered the prince, to whom he so often related the story.

May it be so!' returned the veteran; and I, who thus speak to his imperial descendant of the fourth generation, shall then feel that my days have been prolonged beyond my master, even to behold the object of his prayers;-that Russia should never want a man to

stand before the Lord, in the grace of His anointed, for

ever!

The young prince bowed down his head in silence at this; and the aged narrator proceeded- But when I, a humble follower of his example, saw the gates of the grave shut upon him, what had I more to do with the great and the mighty? I retired to my native village;-I spared the old age of my father the perils of the ocean, in his precarious trade; and, when he ceased to need my cares, then my sister, who had married and become a widow:-for her and her orphans, my little sail was spread and my net cast. And thus I abided, in the seclusion of memory and duty, till my master's image called me to his feet again; and now his children's children bless me and mine. O! then, has not that sacred voice spoken from the grave for me!' the old man wept upon the hand of the prince, on which he had bent his grey hairs.

And

Yes,' replied the prince, it has spoken-and for many. It does speak-and, with heaven's will, shall speak to my heart and my soul, till I am called to where he is now? Father of them who trust in thee, hear my prayer!'

When the young heir of all the Russias uttered these last words, he had forgotten the presence of aught but the Divine Being to whom he addressed himself; and kneeling on the ground, with his hands closed upon his breast, and his eyes rivetted on the heavens, his spirit was, indeed, at the foot of the throne of his Maker; and the fire which then hallowed his lips it was not in the power of all the after-communications which the world and its ambitions pressed on him to quench or dim. The map of Peter's life was then unrolled to him; and a fair parchment spread for his own.

And will not future history tell of the lands he traversed, to bring home the roots and the fruits of learning and science from them all? Will it not tell of schools, of colleges, of hospitals, of refuges for the desolate, he founded? Will it not show a vast empire of many nations ameliorated into one people by the Christian principles of universal brotherhood? Will it not

exhibit the monarch also saving the lives of the meanest of his subjects at the peril of his own? At the tremendous inundation of the Gulf of Finland, when it met the overflowing of the Lake of Ladoga on the plain of the city of St. Petersburgh, in the spring of 1825! just one hundred years after Peter the Great had so preserved one perishing crew not far from the mouth of the Neva, here, on its very banks, did Alexander the First, in a little boat, piloting it from point to point, save thousands of his people; and then gave them that shelter by his parental care which the wild waters had rent away. Indeed, it was then said, and it is true, that his hand and his heart were like the ark of God;' for the temple of the Christian's hope was in his bosom; and where that is, all must be good.'

But the prayer was yet to have its amen! And so it came to pass. He, too, was to be gathered to his people'-'the just made perfect'-in the prime of his days! And his setting sun has left a bright track. Nor has a shadow yet eclipsed the golden road-on which the radiant characters are ever visible-Behold! and do ye likewise!"

I'LL LOVE THEE EVER.

CLEAR, my life, that clouded brow,
And let me see thee smile-
Why should our parting pain thee so?
It is but for awhile.

Say, can I slight so fond a heart,

Believe me, never!

Hear my vow before we part,-
I'll love thee ever!

Beauty's beaming eyes, sweet maid,
To smiles may kindle mine--
Yet deem not once thy love betrayed,
Each sigh shall still be thine.
For can I slight so fond a heart,

Believe me, never!

Hear my vow before we part,--
I'll love thee ever!

CHARLES M.

THE SLEEP WALKER.

A YOUNG gentleman travelling from London to the west of England, to the house of a worthy gentleman to whom he had the honour to be related, it happened that the house of the latter at the time was full, on account of a kinswoman's wedding that had lately been kept there. He therefore told the young gentleman he was very glad to see him, and that he was very welcome; but,' said he, I know not what I shall do for a lodging for you, for my cousin's marriage has not left me a room free but one, and that is haunted; you shall have a very good bed, and all other accommodation,' 'Sir,' replied the young gentleman, you will very much oblige me in permitting me to sleep there; for I have often wished to be in a place that had the reputation of being haunted.'

The gentleman, glad that his kinsman was so well pleased with his accommodation, ordered his chamber to be got ready, and a good fire to be made in it, it being the winter season.

When bedtime came, the young gentleman was conducted to his chamber, which, besides a good fire, was furnished with all suitable accommodations. After having recommended himself to the divine protection he went to bed; where having been some time awake, and finding no disturbance, he fell asleep, out of which he was awakened, about three o'clock in the morning, by the opening of the chamber door, and the entrance of a young lady in her night dress. He had not, however, a perfect view of her, for his candle was burnt out; and though there was a fire in the room, it did not give light enough to see her distinctly.

On entering the room, this unknown and mysterious visitant went directly to the chimney, and taking hold of the poker, stirred up the fire, by the flaming light of which the young gentleman was enabled distinctly to discern the appearance of a beautiful young female; but whether she was flesh and blood, or an airy phantom, he knew not.

VOL. II. August, 1830.

I