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CATHARINE'S PERIL;
OR,
The Little Russian Girl Lost in a Forest.
A TALE FOUNDED ON FACT.
By MRS. M. E. BEWSHER,
AND OTHER STORIES.
Seventh Thousand.
OLIPHANT, ANDERSON, & FERRIER
(LATE WILLIAM OLIPHANT & CO.).
1881.
PRINTERS TO HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.
CONTENTS.
CATHARINE'S PERIL;
THE LITTLE RUSSIAN GIRL LOST IN A FOREST.
CHAPTER I.
In the year 1812, Napoleon Buonaparte, after conquering nearly the wholeof Europe, invaded Russia, and led his victorious army to Moscow, theancient capital of that country. Soon this city, with its windingstreets, its hills, its splendid churches, its fine houses and cottagesso mixed together, its corn-fields, woods, and gardens, as well as theKremlin, consisting of several churches, palaces, and halls collected onthe top of a hill and surrounded by walls, fell into the power of the[6]French.
Rostopchin, the Governor, impelled by bigoted patriotism, resolved toset fire to the city confided to him by his imperial master Alexander,the Czar of all the Russias.
It was truly a heart-rending sight to witness the misfortunes of theinhabitants, forced to quit their homes to escape a horrible death.
The provisions stored in the granaries and other places were consumed inthe flames.
The conflagration lasted about ten days, until almost the whole of