. In the morning they got up at day break, and having thanked their landlord, who would have nothing for their lodging, they pursued their journey. Having got about half a mile, they heard the sound of the bag pipe. Ivan wanted to go nearer; but Rsudok hinted that the bagpipe would lead them out of their way. Curiosity got the better of Ivan, and he went up to the bagpipe; but when he saw the mad pranks of disfigured drunkards staggering about the piper, he was terrified, and threw himself into the arms of Rafsudok, who carried him back to the road.

Having pafsed through a grove they saw a steep hill. Rafsudok told Ivan that the rose without prickles that stings not grew there. Ivan, opprefsed with the heat of the sun, grew tired; he began to fret, said there was no end to that road,how far it is and afked if they could not find a nearer Rafsudok answered, that he was carrying way. him the nearest way, and that difficulties are only to be overcome by patience. The Czarowitz in ill humour cried out; perhaps I shall find the way myself,--waved his hand, doubled his pace, and separated himself from his guide.

Rafsudok remained behind and followed slowly in silence. The child entered a market town where there were few who took notice of him, for it was a market day, and every body was engaged in businefs in the market place. The Czarowitz wandering among carts and noisy traders, began to cry. One person, who did not know him, pafsed by, and seeing him crying said to him: "Have done crying

127 you little whelp, withou. you we have noise enough here." At that very moment Rafsadok had overta ken him. The Czarowitz complained that they had called him whelp; Rafudok said not a but conducted him out of the crowd. When Ivan asked him why he did not talk with him as for merly, Rafsudok answered, "You did not ask mý "advice but went to an improper place, and so dont "be offended if you did not find the people to your "mind." Rafsudok wished to prolong his speech when they met a man, not over young, but of an agreeable appearance, surrounded with a great many boys. As Ivan was curious to know every thing, he called one of the boys, and asked who the man was. "This man is our master, said the boy, we "have got our lefson aud are going to take a walk *. "but pray where are you going?" The Czarowitz told him that they were seeking the rose without prickles, that stings not. "I have heard, said the "boy, from our master, an explanation of the rose "without prickles, that stings not. signifies nothing more than virtue. "think to find it by going bye ways; but nobody "can get it unless he follows the streight road; and "happy is he that by an honest firmnefs can overcome "all the difficulties of that road. You see before

This flower

Some people

* The Czarina may be supposed here also to allude to one of her own favourite institutions, that of free schools over all her dominions, on a plan equally simple and comprehensive, which my informant says has been attended with the happiest effects. I am promised an account of that useful institution which fhall be laid before the readers of this work. Edit.

is you the hill on which grows the rose without pric"kles that stings not; but the road is steep and full Having said this he took his leave and

"of rocks."

went after his master.

Ivan and his guide went streight to the hill, and found a narrow and rocky track on which they walked with difficulty. They there met an old man and woman in white, both of a respectable appearance, who stretched out their staffs to them and said,

"stumble."

σε support yourselves on our staffs and you will not The people thereabouts told them that the name of the first was Honesty, and of the other Truth.

Having got to the foot of the hill, leaning on the staffs, they were obliged to scramble from the track by the branches, and so from branch to branch they got at length to the top of the hill, where they found the rose without prickles that stings not. They had no sooner pulled the flower, than music was heard in a neighbouring temple; and it was every where spread abroad that the Czarowitz Ivan at so tender an age had found the rose without prickles that stings not. He made haste to the Han with the flower, and the Han dismissed him to the Czar. The Czar was so well pleased with the arrival of the Czarowitz and his succefs, that he forgot all his anxiety and grief. The Czar, the Czarina and all the people became daily more fond of the Czarowitz, because he daily advanced in virHere the tale ends, and who knows better, let him tell another.

tue.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Bee.

Ir will give me pleasure if this short paper shall ap pear to you worthy of a place in your useful mis 'cellany. A STRANGER.

A VISION.

DURING the troublesome times of the last century, a gentleman of the royal party was obliged from some private businefs, to travel into a distant part of the country. Being overtaken by a violent storm, he took shelter under the hospitable roof of a friend, with whom he had been familiarly acquainted in the early period of life. After a comfortable refreshment, and a short account of what had befallen him since the time of their separation, he turned the conversation to politics, and exprefsed with much force and animation, his apprehensions of the total destruction of Great Britain. Benevolus, (for such was the name of his kind entertainer,) heard him with pleasure, and joined in execrating those scenes to which they had been constrained to bear witnefs. But, added this good man, I am persuaded, that all will yet be well, that from the anarchy and confusion which now desolate our borders, there will arise a constitution more perfect than has ever fallen to the lot of any people. Upon seeing astonishment spread itself on the countenance of his guest, he proceeded to check the doubt which had begun to rise in his mind.

.

Although I am not the dupe of superstition, nor apt to be deceived by the creatures of imagina VOL. XVii,

tion, yet the circumstance which I am now to relate, made a deep an indelible imprefsion on my mind. One evening. One evening a few weeks ago, I was meditating on the distracted and melancholy state of the nation. My thoughts were insensibly carried farther. I considered the condition of man under the various forms of government which have existed. I viewed him groaning under the yoke of despotism. I saw the inhabitants of a large country, the slaves of one insignificant fellow creature, compelled to receive his will as a law, forced to obey the most tyrannical mandates. I beheld the innocent man dragged from his family, denied an opportunity of vindicating himself from the accusations of his enemies, perishing under the stroke of the executioner. I beheld the good citizen, who by honest industry, had gained a competent fortune, deprived of the fruit of his labours, and thrown without a friend upon a hard hearted world.

Tired with this fhocking picture, I turned to one of an opposite kind. I saw a people uncontrolled by authority a prey to unbounded licentiousness. My blood froze with horror. Thousands fell butchered at the pleasure of a demagogue. Virtue hid its head. Every thing sacred was trampled under foot.

"I thought on Sparta. Its harsh restraint ill suited to the nature of man, far lefs to the manners of the present time, filled me with disgust. I looked on Athens the seat of the arts. There continual factions raged; merit and patriotism were the infallible conductors to ignominy and ruin. Rome, the mistress of the world, struggled with internal dif