What, will your highness permit?"

"My highness does not permit, my highness orders you to hit me ten times if you can. Come, are you going to draw back?"

"I certainly will do my utmost to obey your highness' commands." Very well, take these foils and this mask, and let me see a little of your work."

"It is in obedience to your highness."

'Yes, yes, an hundred, thousand, million times I say yes; but remember I must have my ten blows, do you hear," cried the czarowich, commencing the attack, "not one less. I will not excuse you a single one, ha, ha!"

Notwithstanding this gracious invitation I contented myself with parrying, without even indulging in a thrust.

"Well!" cried he, warming up, "I suspect you are sparing me. Come Ha! ha!"

on man, come on.

And I saw the blood rush to his face beneath his mask, and his eyes sparkled like fire.

“Now then, the ten blows, where are they?"

"Your highness, my respect

"Go to the devil with your respect! hit me! hit me!" he shouted. Taking instant advantage of his permission, I hit him three times in

succession.

"That's well. Well," cried he, now for my turn. Ha! a hit! a hit!" This was true.

"I perceive that your highness is not inclined to spare me, and that I must do my best."

"Do your best then, do it. Ha! ha!"

Again I hit him four times, and in return received one from him.

"A hit, a hit!" cried he, stamping with joy. "Remember Rodny, I have hit him twice to his seven."

"Twice to my ten, your highness," cried I, pressing on him in my turn. "Eight, nine, ten. We are quit."

"Well, well," cried the czarowich, "very well! but of what use would all this be to my soldiers? It is the sabre they want-are you expert in

the use of the sabre ?"

"I think so, your highness."

"Could you, with a sabre, defend yourself on foot against a man on horseback, armed with a lance?"

"I believe I could, your highness."

"You believe, but you are not sure.

Oh ho! you are not sure?"

"Yes, indeed, your highness, I am sure."

Ah! you are sure that you could defend yourself?”

46

Yes, your highness."

"You could parry a lance?"

"I could parry it."

Against a man on horseback?"

46

'Against a man on horseback."

"Lubenski! Lubenski!" cried the czarowich, again, "get me a horse, get me a lance; a lance, a horse, do you hear; quick! quick!"

"But my Lord

"Ah! you seek to draw back, ha, ha!"

"I do not seek to draw back, my lord, and with any other person for an opponent, this trial would be highly agreeable to me."

"Very well! and against me why is it not so?"

"Opposed to your highness, I equally fear failure or success; for if successful, I fear you may forget that I acted by your orders

66

I never forget; besides here is Rodny before whom I have given you the order, and before whom I once more command you to treat me as you would him."

"I must observe to your highness that you have not yet put me quite at my ease, for I should treat his excellency very respectfully also."

"Flatterer! you think to make a friend, but no one influences me; I judge for myself. You have succeeded once, I shall see if you are as

successful a second time."

At this moment an officer appeared before the windows, leading a horse and holding a lance.

"Come," continued Constantine, rushing out, and making me a sign to follow him, "and you, Lubenski, give him a sabre, a good sabre, a sabre that suits his hand, a sabre of the horse-guards. Ah! ha! we shall see. Now take care of yourself."

At these words he sprung upon his horse, a wild courser of the steppes, whose mane and tail swept the ground, and performed several difficult evolutions with remarkable skill, all the while playing with his lance.In the mean time, three or four sabres were brought for me to choose from; my choice was soon made; I extended my hand, and took the first that offered.

"There! there! are you ready?" cried the czarowich.

"Yes, your highness."

He immediately put his horse on the gallop to reach the other end of the alley.

"But surely this is a joke," said I, to General Rodny. "I assure you that nothing is more serious," he replied: "defend yourself as you would in a real combat, for your life is in danger; that is all I can tell you."

The matter was becoming more important than I had anticipated. If it had been only to defend myself, and return blow for blow, I would willingly have taken my chance. But this was another affair; with my heavy sabre, and his long slender lance, the joke might become very serious; but I was in for it, and there was no retreat; therefore, calling up all my coolness and address, I faced the czarowich.

He had already reached the end of the alley, and turned his horse.Notwithstanding what Rodny had told me, I still hoped to find it a joke, when shouting for the last time, "Are you ready?" I saw him put his lance in vest, and the horse to his utmost speed. I was not fully convinced till that moment, that I had my life to defend.

The horse plunged madly on, and the czarowich laid himself on his neck in such a manner that he was hidden by the waving mane which floated in the wind; I saw nothing of him but the top of his head between the animal's ears. On reaching me, he endeavored to strike a blow with his lance full in my breast, but I avoided it by bounding aside, and the horse and rider pressed onward by their own impetus, passed without

harming me. When he saw that he had missed his mark, the czarowich stopped his horse short, with marvellous address.

"Very well, very well!" said he, "we will try it again."

And without giving me time to make any observation, he wheeled his horse round on his hind legs, regained his starting place, and after inquiring if I was ready, burst on me with more fury than before; but as formerly, I had my eyes fixed on his, and anticipated all his movements; therefore, seizing the favorable moment I parried his thrust and sprung to the right, so that the horse and rider passed me again as ineffectually as before.

The czarowich uttered a kind of low roar; this tourney had excited him like a real combat, and he was determined that it should end to his honor; therefore, at the moment when I supposed all was over, I saw him preparing for a third course. But thinking we had had enough of it, I resolved that this should be the last.

Consequently, when he once more approached me, instead of contenting myself with simply warding off his attack, I struck a violent blow on the shaft of his lance which cut it in two, and left him disarmed; then seizing his horse by the bridle, I stopped him so violently as to force him back on his haunches, at the same instant pointing my sabre at the breast of the czarowich. General Rodny uttered an exclamation of terror. He thought I was going to kill his highness, and Constantine had undoubtedly the same idea, for I saw him turn pale. But instantly stepping back, and bowing to the grand-duke,

"Your highness sees," said I, "what I can teach your soldiers, if you think me worthy of being their instructor."

"Yes, the devil take you! yes, you are worthy, and you shall have a regiment or I will lose my name. Lubenski, Lubenski!" continued he, leaping from his horse, "see that Pulk is returned to his stable, and you come and let me recommend your petition.

I followed the grand duke to a saloon, where he took a pen and wrote at the bottom of my application.

"I humbly recommend the above-signed to your imperial majesty, believing him entirely worthy of the favor he solicits."

"And now," said he, "take this paper, and put it into the Emperor's hand yourself. You will run the risk of imprisonment if you are caught speaking to him about it, but faith! those who risk nothing, have nothing. Adieu! if ever you visit Warsaw, come and see me."

I bowed joyfully at this happy termination of my adventure, and regaining my droschki took the road to St. Petersburg, carrying with me the all powerful recommendation.

In the evening I went to thank Count Alexis for his advice, though it had so nearly cost me dear; and the next day at about ten o'clock in the morning, I departed for the palace of Tzarko-Selo, where the Emperor then resided, resolved to stroll in the gardens till I met him, and then risk the punishment to which any one is liable who presents a petition to him in person.

TO A SLEEPING CHILD.

BY MISS E. C. HURLEY, OF NEW YORK.

BLISSFUL are thy slumbers
Thou child of promise rare,

Though nature's beauties round thee spring
Naught is of earth so fair.

Thy breathings, Oh! how gentle,

Thy ruby lips apart,

More lovely than the bud of rose,

Or richest work of art.

What are thy dreams sweet infant,

Dost seem to soar on high,

To meet the song of angels

Who chant thy lullaby.

A smile illumes thy features,

A pure seraphic smile,

Such smile as thine must Eve's have been,

Ere she had dream'd of guile.

Oh! innocence, soft emblem,

Of peace to man once known,

E're sin's seductive blandishments,
Made the weak heart its own.

ADDRESS.*

WORTHY AND RESPECTED BROTHERS:-I feel myself greatly indebted to you all, for your kindness and confidence in me; in entrusting to my limited ability the honour of filling the different chairs as presiding officer of this Lodge. Aware of my inexperience in the business of the Lodge, nothing but a confidence that the same courtesy and liberality which induced you to confer on me this honour, would be extended to the performance of its duties, could have even justified my acceptance of that honour. I shall always appreciate this instance of your confidence, with a friendly and lively recollection, not only as an honour of the highest nature, but as a testimonial of the respect and esteem of men whom it will always be a pleasure to me to claim as brothers. Although it belongs to more proficent brothers than myself to develope the origin and history of Odd-Fel

*Delivered by Past Grand Vincent Copes, before the William Tell Lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F., Baltimore, Md., on delivering up his chair to his successor in office, 2d July, 1841.

lowship, and to pronounce its encomium, yet it will not, I hope, be deemed out of order on this occasion, concisely to review the lofty and noble character that has hitherto distinguished Odd- Fellowship, and to indulge in a prospective view of our future destinies, and the benefits that may result from our future operations. The reflection that this institution is the most ancient of all moral, social, political, literary and benevolent societies, is just cause of pride and satisfaction to every enlightened and candid member. Whatever may be the diversity of opinion as to the precise period of its commencement, yet it seems to me that if an assembled universe was acquainted with it, it would be conceded by all that it is coeval with the first inhabitants of the earth, and it appears that every thing but Odd-Fellowship has changed, and have constantly been changing from the remotest period of history.

It is equally a source of pleasing reflection in the review of our past op eration, that our institution is being known and embraced through the whole habitable world; and that its votaries find brothers and friends of the same family, wherever chance or destiny may convey them. It is our boast too, that for ages past the most illustrious sovereigns, statesmen, divines and philosophers of every age and country have been proud to enrol themselves as brothers of the most benevolent and distinguished association that man ever formed, and notwithstanding the wide diffusions of its myseries to bretheren of all politics, climes and religions, they have been inviolably withheld from the rest of the world. These considerations, with others, which the heart and imagination of every brother of this Lodge will easily supply, ought to impress us deeply with the propriety and necessity of devoting ourselves to the preservation of its character and usefulness.

To preserve friendship, harmony and social intercourse in the bosom of the Lodge, it is desirable, if not indispensable, that mutual respect and esteem should be cherished among its members; and therefore the greatest circumspection should be exercised in relation to the moral and charitable character and disposition of candidates. But above all, we should scrupulously examine and guard ourselves against the indulgence of sectarian or political feeling within these sacred walls. These have been the bane of all moral, charitable and literary societies that ever were formed; and it is in vain for us to hope, that the pillars of our fabric, though of long du ration and firmly established now, will be exempt from the downfall which the same cause have invariably accomplished in other institutions. Here we are brethren of the same family, endeared by ties that ought never to be broken. Here the lion and the lamb truly lie down together. The objects we have in view are the same, and concerning them there can be no diversity of opinion or sentiment. Let us then cordially unite our hearts in the accomplishment of the grand work and duty before us, with a single eye to their honour and full performance; and thereby we shall preserve and perpetuate the character and blessings of this venerable and exalted

association.

But permit us for a moment to turn our attention from this subject, and doing so an emotion of pure delight is enkindled in our hearts, as we contemplate the remaining pillars of "beauty," studded like bright and sparkling gems with those Odd-Fellowship virtues, which shed a softening lustre over the magnificence of the temple, and which like the gloomy