Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

THE HISTOKY OP THELENEF.135

The mother of Fedor reproached herself without ceasing, for not having detained Xenie in the cottage of the old man ; " at least she would not then have been forced to witness the punishment of her father," said the good Elizabeth.

" You would have preserved her reason, only to have increased her sufferings," replied Fedor; and again there was a dead silence.

The poor old woman had for a time been very resigned. Neither the massacres nor the fire had extorted from her a single complaint; but when it was necessary to submit with the other Vologdians to the pain of exile — to quit the cabin where her son was born, where the father of her son had died, when she was obliged to abandon her brother in helpless dotage, courage forsook her, her fortitude suddenly failed, she clung to the planks of her cottage, and at length had to be torn away, and placed by force in the téléga, where Ave have seen her weeping for the new-born infant of her beloved son.

It will perhaps scarcely be believed that the tender cares, the vivifying breath, or perhaps the prayers of Xenie, restored at length the life of the child whom Fedor had believed to be dead. This miracle of tenderness, or of piety, causes her to be venerated as a saint by the strangers sent from the North to re-people the deserted ruins of Vologda.

Those men who believe her mad would not dare to take from her the child of her brother: no one thinks of disputing with her this precious prey, rescued thus wonderfully from the jaws of death. Such a miracle of love will console even the exiled father, whose heart will again feel a thrill of pleasure, when he