and in graceful oval lines down the cheeks, till, | his figure unstunted by misery, and his face undewith their brown woollen upper garments, some-based by intemperance. He had the fresh ruddy thing like a short pelisse, covering all the gay complexion, the brown curling hair, the open brow, striped petticoats underneath, they might have the clear blue eye, and then such a beautiful set of passed for some humble religious order. Though teeth as might alone have undertaken to redeem the many had come a considerable distance, yet the ugliest countenance, and which the lightest heart keen clear air had braced their steps and colored and the sunniest temper were always showing. their cheeks, and the groups wore that certain Altogether Mart was one of those happily constituSunday-look of freshness and peace so grateful ted beings whom it is refreshing to meet with in to the mind both in reality and association. any rank, not because they are so much better than their fellows, but because their excellence seems to be more spontaneous, starting, as it were, straight from the heart-roots of their own nature, without any intervening foundation of error, struggle, suffering, or discipline. Such as he was day by day and year by year, he seemed to have been created goodness his nature, labor his pleasure, and life his enjoyment. Mart was truly simple.

When the sledges had discharged their loads at the church gate, the next business was to stow them in some way near it, and soon they stood, packed together, as closely as the carriages may be seen at the height of the season before some fashionably attended morning concert; the vehicles differing not more than the object they were assembled for. Many of the owners left their sledges to the discretion of their horses, and the little animals drew close together, and some of them rubbed noses most affectionately, while others sneered and tried to bite, in a manner very much the reverse.

Meanwhile, most of the women and children had entered the church, the men remaining in groups, talking in their babbling monotonous tones. Soon it was apparent that some new and very piquant anecdote was going the round of the assemblage, and knowing looks were given, and white teeth shown from ear to ear, and witty things said-and all particularly pointed at a young peasant, conspicuous for his fine figure and face, who seemed not to take them particularly amiss. But now the pastor, in his rusty black Geneva robe, was seen emerging from his house, passed through them with many a kind look and word, and the congregation thronged into church.

the morning.

It would indeed have been a pity had anything come between Mart and Anno: She was not his equal in mind or sense, indeed she was still too young to know what she was; but she was truehearted, affectionate, and industrious, and the mistake that had discovered her preference evidently gave too much pleasure to Mart for any one to doubt of his. Before he left the churchyard he received many a sly intimation that the same old mother could easily be induced to carry another message to the same house, only taking due care that there should be no further mistake, and also many a grave warning not to have anything to do with a girl who might be pretty, but whose father was poor and idle, and who could only give her the clothes on her back, and not the usual stock of those. But Mart went his own way, he wanted no old hag to invent for him what was not true, or to mystify what was; he did not care a straw Anno was already at her place, her betrothal whether Anno had the usual outfit of clothes, or garments covered up with the customary brown whether she had any at all, but he strode away at robe, and looking now very much like all the other the utmost speed of his active limbs, overtook the girls around her, only that she was far prettier, and old man and his daughter before they had gone a even prettier to-day than usual. Full in front of werst on their road, and, ere they separated, had her stood that same young peasant, erect and broad-in every way rectified and repaired the mistake of shouldered; and though Anno was so attentive to the service that no one in the church ever saw her Mart had no one to oppose his choice-he stood lift her head from her hymn-book, yet somehow she almost alone in the world-he had never had managed to ascertain that her vis-à-vis was in full brothers nor sisters-both his parents were recently possession of the events of the morning, and no little dead, and only an old grandmother remained, who satisfied with the share he had taken in them. How lived with him, and whom he supported with great it had all got out we do not pretend to say, but the respect and tenderness. His father had been, like pastor's kitchen was the very centre of gossip, and old Tonno, Anno's father, poor and idle, but also, the good old gentleman himself not over-discreet. like Tonno and many others in this part of the We need hardly say that this was the Disponent's world, idle chiefly because he was poor-because successful rival, and nobody who had once seen he had seen himself gradually go down in the him could wonder or regret that he was so. world under a set of hard laws and a perpetual Mart Addafer, though surnames are superfluous change of masters, in spite of his best efforts to rein Lettish peasant life, was truly a fine creature. cover himself, and because after a while he had lost He had as handsome a person and as generous a both heart and strength to renew them. soul as ever caught the eye and won the heart of though he had left the fields which he held on the woman. He was so different from his poor, low-estate in a miserably exhausted state, and the minded, dull fellow-peasants, that it seemed unfair buildings he and his cattle occupied in the most dito both to place him among them. But the differ- lapidated condition, yet they were no longer the ence was not of a kind to unfit him either for his same now. Mart had thrown the whole weight of country or his countrymen. He had only all the his cheerful spirit and his vigorous arm upon them, happier qualities of the Livonian nature in a high- and was already known as one of the most steady er degree-none that were foreign to it. He was payers of his rent, and the most punctual performneither sharp, nor quick, nor ambitious: but he had ers of his allotted days of service (the old frohn the sound moral feeling, the plain strong sense, the Dienst) upon the estate. He was not rich, nor noble patient courage, and the sweet gentle tem- hardly to be called easy, as peasant life goes, in his per, which, even under the cruellest want and op- circumstances, but he was a rising man; and this pression, are never quite obliterated from a Livon-description of suitors we recommend to young la ian breast. The same might be said of his person. dies far more than those who have ready ma He was just the type of the national good looks; fortunes to offer.

But

guest, but two long stripes of linen bleaching close by, and a numerous brood of hens and chickens chuckling over them, showed that Anno's care had commenced before the present occasion.

Under these circumstances there did not seem much the door looked, it is true, as if they expected a occasion for a very long courtship. Anno's dowry would not increase with the delay of the marriageday, nor Mart's industry diminish with the speedy celebration of it; on the contrary, he assured her that he felt much more tempted to waste time while there were eleven wersts between them, than he should do when she was under his own roof. But whether this was most true or most ingenious, we must leave.

As the little cart drove up to the house, not a creature was visible. But soon old Tonro's rough grizzled head appeared from beneath the low doorstall; he looked very knowing and shrewd, but affected great surprise at their coming, and asked them what they wanted.

"A very fine day," answered Tonno: "how does your rye come on?"

Capitally well," said Mart; "but I want a pretty bird to help me to peck it, and I hear she has flown in here.”

"A pretty bird! what is she like?"

"Let me see and I'll tell you," said Mart.

"Bring out the whole cageful," said his companion; and Tonno disappeared. Audible sounds of laughter now resounded from beneath the roof, and in a few minutes the old man returned, dragging by one arm a robust peasant girl, all crimson with laughter and shamefacedness.

One afternoon, therefore, Mart dressed himself out in his Sunday best, and, accompanied by "I'll tell you what I want presently," said Mart, another peasant, a pale, unhappy looking man, the with a significant air, as if he wanted to coquet with very antipodes to himself, mounted his cart, for the approaching merriment, at the same time tugspring had just burst out, and took the road for old ging away at the shafts to unloose his little horse. Tonno's dwelling; first, however, having stowed"I'll tell you presently. A fine day, Tonno." into the vehicle some bundles carefully wrapped up in linen. The road led through several wersts of wood, in which Mart's house stood, and then past the baron's residence, and all the retinue of farming buildings, stables, and outhouses, all built in the same style, with which, as is the fashion in Livonia, the house was surrounded. These were all very heavy, and ugly, and in wretched bad taste, but to Mart's eyes they were beautiful; and as he looked upon them, and reflected that the owner of all this pomp and splendor-the being who had a right to live in that great rambling house, with all his farming buildings directly under his nose-was voluntarily spending his time and money in a foreign land, Mart felt that this was one of those mysteries of the human heart which his own could not comprehend. The next object that caught his eye was a smaller house, about two wersts off the Hof, or baron's residence, and built somewhat in the same style, but this was much more really pretty; it stood picturesquely with trees behind and above it, and a clear stream before, which gave a still prettier picture of the same thing, only reversed. Then the house was built of stone and painted yellow, with a copper roof painted green, and it had four sash-windows, and a wooden porch, and altogether Mart felt that this was a residence more enviable still.

It was the Disponent's! Mart had not passed that way since the day that Anno had declined becoming its inmate and mistress. We will not say that this was so great a mystery to Mart's mind as the last he had tried to solve; he felt his heart was worth any Disponent's house any day, though a modester one never beat; but still the thought that Anno had given up a yellow stone house, with a green copper roof, and sash-windows, and a porch, and numberless treasures beside, all for him, brought with it an overwhelming feeling as if he could never adore her enough; and he urged on the little willing horse, and saw and thought of no more houses until he reached that in which his Einokenne (only one) dwelt.

This was not a very tempting domicile. It was built on the borders of a large morass, on which the waters of the winter's snow still stood, and which spread also over the few stony, bare-looking fields which composed Tonno's allotted tenure. The house was of wood, old and dark, with a high bristly back of dilapidated thatch hanging down low over two little pig's-eyes of windows, which seemed adapted for anything but the admission of light. The low log walls were stained and rotten, some of the timbers were warped and sunk, and it looked altogether a structure which a spark might sot on fire, or a puff blow down. But all around was clean and tidy: the recent sweeping marks at

"Here's your bird," said Tonno.

Mart pretended to scrutinize the lady, and áttempted to take her hand, when he was repelled with that degree of violence which is the approved standard of Lettish modesty. A very pretty bird," he said, "but she is too shy for me-you may let her fly."

Again Tonno retired, and again the same laughter was heard, in which Mart thought he caught some tones which set his heart beating. This time Tonno brought forward a weather-beaten hardworked-looking peasant woman, with the matron's cap on her head, who looked up boldly and goodhumoredly at the young man, and seemed to enjoy the joke.

"This is your bird," said Tonno again.

"A very nice bird indeed." answered Mart; "but I suspect she has already got a mate for herself. I shall have my eyes pecked out if I put my head into her cage. No! try again."

Then was brought out a little girl of ten years old, and Mart said she was not fully fledged; and then an old woman, bent with age, and Mart patted her shoulder tenderly, and said he should like her very much, because she would not fly away; but still she was not the right one-with various other witticisms.

"Have you any more birds in your cage?" he inquired.

"No," said Tonno; "the cage is empty now." "Then I must look for myself;" and leaving the party in a roar of mirth outside, Mart stooped his tall head under the door-stall and entered the house.

What took place then, and where he found the bird, and how he contrived to catch her, we of course do not know. At all events, he was a long time about it, and it was not till old Tonno had summoned them at the top of his voice, and the women had come round and peeped in at the windows, that the parties appeared-both looking very red, happy, and silly.

Then Mart went in a great hurry, as if to cover some confusion, and brought out the bundles

wrapped in linen. Their contents proved to consist of bright handkerchiefs, pretty aprons, and gay ribbons, which each in turn elicited fresh bursts of admiration, and which he hung side by side upon Anno's pretty round arms, till there was not a space left. Then he took a large silver brooch with red glass studs, and put it into one hand, and two silver ruble-pieces, and put them into the other and having thus laden her with as much as she could hold, he boldly took her head between his great hands, gave her a hearty kiss before all the spectators, and said, "Here is my pretty bird."

As this was felt by all the party to be pretty conclusive, though not necessarily belonging to the ceremony, Tonno now invited them all to enter the house, when, bringing out a bottle of spirits which had been brewed in better days, they all drank to the health of the bridal pair.

We have mentioned the peasant who accompanied Mart in this expedition. His office, according to the ancient rules in these matters, which are strictly kept up among the peasantry, was that of Brauwerber, or bride-wooer, though it must be owned Mart had left him but little scope for it. This trust is always committed to a steady married man, usually some near relation of the bridegroom, who serves as spokesman for one who is supposed to be too bashful to speak for himself. It is well, therefore, that on this occasion the bridegroom was not of this description, or he would have found but little help in the Brautwerber he had selected; for Juhann, as we have said, was pale and timid looking, and as melancholy and silent as his looks bespoke. Nobody wondered at Mart's choice of him on this occasion, for all knew that they were sworn friends, but how they came to be so it was difficult to account for, except by the contrast in their characters. So it was, however. Mart loved the poor, anxious, depressed-looking creature, and he in return would do anything for Mart, and certainly would have undertaken this office for no one else, nor now without much persuasion; also with the conviction, perhaps, that it would prove what we have shown it to have been-a complete sinecure.

of the gospel he preached. For the Lettish peasant, however abject misery may make him, is still always a believing creature, easily directed to good, bitterly penitent in evil.

Under these circumstances the pastor looked at the young and handsome couple before him with a feeling of almost romantic interest. Disinterested love was a virtue, and happy love a luxury, which he seldom had the pleasure of witnessing among his poor peasantry. He was kindly interested in all who came before him, but there was that in the history, appearance, and tenderness of Mart and Anno in which he could positively sympathize. He felt that he had not given this woman, as he gave too many others, merely to be a slave's slave, but to become the cherished wife of an honest, upright

man.

We shall be thought to have laid far too much stress upon the form of betrothal, considering that of marriage has still to come. But, in truth, among this primitive people, both the ceremony that precedes it and the festivities that succeed to it are felt to be of far more importance than the wedding ceremony itself. This latter the Lettish peasant appears to go through with simply because the law requires it. The solemnity of the occasion to him is over-the rejoicings still to come. Generally speaking, therefore, he appears at the church without any holiday signs upon him, and in his everyday working garment, and unattended, save by the necessary witness. As for taking his wife home to his own dwelling after the ceremony is over, this is an indecorum no Lettish peasant would dream of. No! the wedded couple separate at the church door, and go their way, not to meet again until the day appointed for their own national modes of merry-making. As for Mart and Anno, however, they are suspected of having been guilty of very great breaches of etiquette, for he was known to have walked the greater part of the way home to Uxnorm with her from church, and a cart and horse very much like his were decidedly seen there next evening.

CHAPTER III..

It is needless to describe Anno's second visit to the pastorat, nor how the ceremony of betrothal ON the appointed day there was an early meeting went off without the slightest interruption or mis- of friends and relatives at Mart's house. His invitake. The good pastor looked at the young couple tations had been most liberal-he was a universal before him with the deepest interest, read off favorite-the day was fine, and one little cart-full Mart's honest, open countenance with the most en- of gay wedding guests rattled up to the door after tire satisfaction to himself, and threw into his ad- another. Preparations for plentiful feasting had dress a tender tone of exhortation and comfort. been going on for some days previous, under the Altogether this little episode spoke to a set of feel- superintendence of the old grandmother, a venerings in his breast which, in the exercise of his able, mild-looking old dame. who went tottering avocation, generally lay dormant. He had long about in a new apron of the brightest red, yellow, come to that conviction to which all actively benev- and green that could be found-Mart's particular olent persons do, or should arrive, that the disap-gift for the occasion. The house was swept clean, pointment of the finer and more delicate sentiments of the heart is the necessary price you pay for the exercise of charity, especially towards such objects as need it most; and that, in truth, you are never purely and disinterestedly charitable till you do forego all expectation of their indulgence. He knew too much of the straitening and numbing influence of excessive material want to wonder that the more poetical parts of the human character should perish beneath it. These, he felt, would always start up into life the moment the weight which impeded them was removed; and meanwhile, that the roots from which alone they spring should still preserve their vitality, only furnished him, like a true Christian philosopher as he was, (albeit a German,) with a further argument for the truth and power

and strewn with fresh sprigs of spruce-fir; the wooden barrels and drinking vessels were all as fresh and as white as the running waters of the stream could make them; Mart's old dog, a fine creature, in size and color like a lioness, kept wagging his tail without ceasing; the cocks and hens retreated up to the rafters of the roof, and there stood and crowed perpetually, and every living thing seemed in good humor.

Conspicuous among the arrivals were two smart young peasants, who looked particularly full of bustle, importance, and facetiousness, and seemed in some respects to take the direction of matters even over the bridegroom himself. These were the marshals-a species of best men—whose office is also very ancient and important, and who now

reminded Mart of what he was all ready to remind make the most of such a rare opportunity for retalithem, namely, that it was time to fetch the bride.ation. Pulling and chucking, therefore, at their A little procession of carts, therefore, set out, little horses, who, from the force of habit, had headed by the marshals and including most of the already begun to turn their heads patiently aside, male guests, and Mart, of course, among them; while one cart in particular, Mart's own, decked up with boughs and driven by the Brautwerber, was evidently destined to bring back the prize. The hour was still early, the roads were good, and they met with no incident on the way.

they drew them close together, and supported immediately behind by Mart himself, who, in his turn, encouraged the procession to keep their places, they presented a firm phalanx. On came the four horses sweeping along, the coachman started into life, shook the whip which hung upon his wrist, and Arrived at Uxnorm, where they found also a discharged a mouthful of Russian oaths at the body. cluster of guests awaiting them, the marshals A concussion now seemed inevitable, when a broad, alighted first, and entered in the name of the bride-good-humored face leant forward from the barouche, groom to demand the bride. They were not long saw the state of the case in a moment, and disabout this proceeding, or Mart would soon have charged a very similar volley at the coachman in been after them, but reappeared in a few minutes, return. The carriage instantly swerved to one side. followed by, rather than leading, the young girl. This was quite enough. Every cap flew off, every Anno was apparently in her usual dress, her tight- face expanded, and there was not one of the party fitting woollen garment covering all decorations who would not have been willing to drive their beneath; but her pretty head was quite bare, her carts into a ditch for that same good-humored face maiden circlet had been left behind, and the ma- another time. tron's cap had not yet taken its place. The door On they went more merrily than ever, undisputed of the house was low and wide-the slim figure, lords of the road, ready to defy the autocrat himand modest, tender head, stood in full relief against self, if one of his meteoric courses had led him in the dark interior, and as she lingered, unconsciously that direction. Their way now turned off from the perhaps, on the threshold, and looked back one mo- high road towards the mansion and farming buildment, Mart's manly heart swelled with that exceed-ings we have spoken of before. The great maning gratefulness which seems at once to change a sion with its front of five-and-twenty windows lay selfish passion into a holy duty. The father showed in the distance, and close on one hand was the himself not-he stayed behind. This is the eti- Disponent's with its four, two to the south, and two quette at a Lettish wedding. The man fetches his to the east, with the sun full upon the yellow walls wife unaided by his parents-the woman leaves her and green roof brighter than ever. home uncompelled by hers; each is free. "A pretty house," said Mart. "Vegga illos," very pretty-whispered his companion.

"Shall I drive you there, Anno?" he said, with a sly expression.

But at that moment etiquette was far enough from Mart's thoughts. The instant her foot quitted her father's threshold he was at her side, lifted rather than helped her into the cart, and, in defiance of all rule and custom, scized the reins himself, and sprung "Yes, when you are Disponent,' "answered in after. In vain did the brautwerber meekly expos- Anno. This was said so livelily, and with such a tulate, and the marshals imperiously dictate-Mart look up into his face as she had never ventured on was in full possession, and in such a state of up-before, that it was no wonder that Mart took occaroarious happiness that there seemed to be no access sion to whisper something particularly confidential; to his understanding by the usual channels. The on which down went Anno's head low into her lap, little horse knew his master, and set off at full speed, and all the anxiety of the marshals was now directed to prevent his taking the lead in the procession, which would have been the climax of impropriety. This they managed to avert after a short race, when Mart, having effected his aim, dropped contentedly behind them, and the little horse was left very much to please himself.

and Mart's almost as low after it. Nothing, indeed, but the singularity of such a position could have prevented the young couple from seeing a one-horse vehicle, of a kind of droschky shape, which was advancing rapidly. As it was, they were first roused from the conviction of there being no other individuals in the world but their two selves, by the harsh voice of the Disponent himself summoning the marshals to turn off the road.

The day was now up; the procession, swelled by Anno's bridesmaids and relatives, cut a most Now there is something in the very place and imposing figure, and the marshals were anxious to person of a Disponent paticularly odious to a halfexercise their privileges, namely, that of making civilized peasantry, like these we are describing, every other vehicle on the road turn off for them. who have still too much of the serf in them to dream The first they met were humble peasants like them- of questioning the authority of their masters, but selves, who were as willing to observe the custom too much also of the freeman to bear the tyranny as they were to exact it, and who drew off imme-of a class possessing all the mischief of their masdiately to the side, and waved their caps as the ter's power, without the prestige of their position. party passed. A werst or two farther on, how- It is invariably to the Disponent of an estate to ever, a private barouche was seen approaching— whom all the misery and misrule upon it are to be four spirited horses full in the middle of the road, traced. Their interest is equally served by the as if they would run down all that opposed them-negligence of the proprietor and the ignorance of a long-bearded coachman on the box as firm and im- the peasant, and the one is usually misled and the movable as the engine on a steam-carriage. Now other misrepresented as best suits their mercenary was the time for asserting their rights. The Braut-purposes.

werber, timid man! was all for relinquishing them, Setting aside the personal hatred in which Ian but the marshals had warmer blood in their veins. was held, it was sufficient that he was a Disponent They knew well enough what it was to turn off for their haughty masters, to stick in the road-side mud, or struggle in the road-side drift, while the Baron's carriage rolled by without yielding an inch, not to

for them to rejoice in this opportunity for exercising their short prerogative. Even the Brautwerber shook his matted locks and brandished his whip in signal of resistance, and it was evident not an inch