fine fellows!"

"They were but obeying the orders of their czar-- doing what they
believed to be their duty."

"But they were horribly cruel, papa."

"It would both be ungenerous and unjust to charge upon a whole nation
the crimes of a few individuals. It is singular that one of the most
striking examples of mercy to a foe of which I have ever heard, was
shown by a Russian. The story is given as a fact, and I have pleasure in
relating it, not only from its own touching interest, but from the hope
that it may teach my son what our conduct should be towards those who,
though our foes, are our fellow-creatures still.

"In the time of the first Napoleon, the French invaded Russia, from
whence they were obliged to retreat, suffering the most fearful
hardships, not only from the usual privations of war, but those caused
by famine and the fearful cold of that northern clime. Thousands and
thousands of brave troops perished in this fatal retreat. The splendid
army which had marched into Russia so numerous and strong, melted away
like a snow-ball! The fierce Cossacks hovered around the lessening
bands, cutting off the weary stragglers who, unable to keep up with the
rest, sank down upon the snow to die!

"At this fearful time two poor French officers, separated from their
comrades, helpless and exhausted, sought refuge at the house of a lady,
beseeching her to preserve them from the terrible death with which they
were threatened, either from cold and hunger, or the swords of their
enemies. The lady was a Russian,-- the officers were her foes,-- she had
probably suffered from the devastating march of the French army,-- but
she had the heart of a woman. She dared not conceal the officers in her
own house for fear of her servants and the rage of her countrymen, who
would probably have not only slain the fugitives, but have wreaked their
vengeance also upon her for seeking to protect their enemies. The
Russian lady hid them in a wood, at some little distance from her
dwelling, and thither every night, braving both the danger of discovery
and the peril of being attacked by wolves, did this noble-hearted woman
go alone, to bear food and necessaries to the suffering Frenchmen."

"Oh! papa, just fancy hurrying along the snow, with the sharp winter's
wind cutting like a knife,-- and then perhaps to hear a distant howl,
showing that a wolf was on one's track! Oh! I should not have fancied
those night expeditions!"

"It would hav