CHAPTER VIII.
A GREAT AND UNEXPECTED CHANGE—OUR HERO IN MOSCOW.
When Gerald had been about six months at his new employment, to his great surprise he was one morning told by an inspector of the works, that an order had just come from the Emperor signifying that he was to be sent immediately to Moscow.
This intelligence created a little alarm in the breast of the youth, for he could only suppose that he was suspected of having committed some offence. Conscious, however, of having discharged his appointed duties with faithfulness, he asked the officer whether he were sure that he was the person mentioned in the royal letter.
‘The person signified is called by the name of Gerald Kopt. His person is described, and the description answers exactly to you.’
‘I am called by the name of Gerald Kopt,’ the youth replied, ‘and if the Czar commands me to go of course I must obey. Indeed I have no objection to going. But should my mother come here and miss me, who will let her know whither I am gone?’
‘I will engage that your mother shall be told all that we know concerning you,’ replied the officer.
‘Many thanks for that kindness,’ cried Gerald, looking gratefully in the man’s face, ‘I am now ready to attend the Czar’s orders.’
Could Gerald have divested himself of the idea that he might be going as a culprit to be tried for an unknown offence, he would have been delighted with the journey, for he had long had a strong desire to see more of the world.
The distance from St. Petersburg to Moscow, which is upwards of four hundred miles, was a formidable journey in a country where the roads were bad, and there were very few inns. At a subsequent period the Emperor Peter had good roads made between the large towns, and inns and posting-houses were built upon them. Canals were also dug to connect the great rivers, and there were many improvements of a similar kind; but these things were the work of considerable time. Some of them were only just commenced at the period of which we are speaking.
On their way to Moscow the party passed through the town of Novogorod, the seat of the earliest government, and afterwards so noted as a republic. Gerald was greatly pleased that he had an opportunity of visiting this place, for Michael and his father-in-law had told him something of its ancient history. How about the middle of the ninth century, Rusic, a Norman pirate chief, when cruising about the Baltic with his followers had sailed down rivers and through lakes till they came to this city, which was then a mere cluster of wooden huts inhabited by barbarians, and how the Norman had made himself master of the place, assumed the title of Grand Duke, and laid the foundation of the present powerful and extensive empire of Russia.[1] Many legendary tales were told of the adventures of these wild Normans, and most of these adventures were associated with the city.
On reaching Moscow our hero was so interested in the place as to forget the painful circumstances under which he was visiting it. The city was at that period enclosed with three walls; one built of brick, surrounded that portion called the Kremlin, where the Czar’s palace and the residences of the chief of the nobility stood; another built of stone, took in a larger extent of the city; and a third formed of wood, enclosed the suburbs. On the banks of the river Moskwa, which runs through the city, were a number of wooden huts, the public baths. These baths were constantly frequented by the inhabitants, as bathing was at that time a religious ceremony amongst the Russian people. The poorest classes never failed to attend the baths at least once in the week.
It was Palm Sunday when Gerald and his companions arrived, the place was consequently in a state of universal excitement. The bells too were ringing merrily. Moscow was famous for the size and number of its bells. To present a large bell to a church was considered by some a very pious act, therefore almost every new sovereign had a bell cast larger than that which had been given to the city by his predecessor.[2] Palm Sunday was a day on which a very grand festival was always held. The religion generally professed in Russia is according to the Greek Church, which is very similar to the Roman Catholic religion. At that time the church was governed by persons called Patriarchs, who were something like the Popes. The Patriarch lived in Moscow, in a palace adjoining that of the Emperor where he kept a court, and lived in as much state as the Czar himself.
On the festival of Palm Sunday the emperor always walked to church, gorgeously arrayed in a dress made of cloth of gold, two princes holding up his train. He was followed by a grand foot procession consisting of the whole court splendidly attired. Behind the nobles were a number of the chief citizens and lawyers, each having a branch of willow, to represent palm, in his hand, and beyond these were the guards of the palace. In this procession the Patriarch always rode beside the Emperor, who held the bridle of his horse, and he was the only person mounted, excepting the guards.
Our hero and his companions met the procession as it was just leaving the palace, and they stood for a while to watch it pass. Gerald’s associates were delighted at having arrived in time to witness it, and Gerald was himself pleased with the sight, for he had never seen anything of the kind before. But looking on it as a religious festival he could not help feeling pained. These men he knew were about to fall before images and offer up prayers to saints and angels, and they would afterwards spend the sacred hours of the Sabbath in feasting and drinking; for no religious festivals were at that time held in Russia without feasting and drinking to excess. Happily for our young hero he had been taught a purer faith. The Bible, Michael’s best inheritance from his father, had not been made such poor use of, as to allow Gerald to imbibe the superstitions, and practice the foolish ceremonies of the Russians.