AN OLD NORSE CHIEF.
"I have been studying it," Frank replied, "and find that previous to the ninth century the country was occupied by the Slavs, who founded the towns of Novgorod and Kief. Each of these places was the capital of an independent Slavic principality. Very little is known of the history of the Slavs in those times. The Varangians, a northern people, made war upon them. The Slavs resisted, but finally invited Rurik, the Prince of the Varangians, to come and rule over them. The Northmen, or Varangians, were called 'Russ' by the Slavs, and from them the new monarchy was called Russia. Rurik came with his two brothers, Sineus and Truvor, and at Novgorod laid the foundation of this empire that now covers one-eighth of the land surface of the globe.
"The story is admirably told in verse by Bayard Taylor. I have copied the lines from his poetical volume, and will read them to you."
In a full, clear voice the youth then read as follows, having previously explained that Mr. Taylor was present at the millennial celebration already mentioned:
A THOUSAND YEARS.
Novgorod, Russia, Sept. 20, 1862.
"'A thousand years! Through storm and fire,
With varying fate, the work has grown,
Till Alexander crowns the spire,
Where Rurik laid the corner-stone.
"'The chieftain's sword, that could not rust,
But bright in constant battle grew,
Raised to the world a throne august—
A nation grander than he knew.
"'Nor he, alone; but those who have,
Through faith or deed, an equal part:
The subtle brain of Yaroslav,
Vladimir's arm and Nikon's heart;
"'The later hands, that built so well
The work sublime which these began,
And up from base to pinnacle
Wrought out the Empire's mighty plan.
"'All these, to-day, are crowned anew,
And rule in splendor where they trod,
While Russia's children throng to view
Her holy cradle, Novgorod.
"'From Volga's banks; from Dwina's side;
From pine-clad Ural, dark and long;
Or where the foaming Terek's tide
Leaps down from Kasbek, bright with song;
"'From Altai's chain of mountain-cones;
Mongolian deserts, far and free;
And lands that bind, through changing zones,
The Eastern and the Western sea!
"'To every race she gives a home,
And creeds and laws enjoy her shade,
Till, far beyond the dreams of Rome,
Her Cæsar's mandate is obeyed.
"'She blends the virtues they impart,
And holds, within her life combined,
The patient faith of Asia's heart—
The force of Europe's restless mind.
"'She bids the nomad's wanderings cease;
She binds the wild marauder fast;
Her ploughshares turn to homes of peace
The battle-fields of ages past.
"'And, nobler yet, she dares to know
Her future's task, nor knows in vain,
But strikes at once the generous blow
That makes her millions men again!
"'So, firmer based, her power expands,
Nor yet has seen its crowning hour—
Still teaching to the struggling lands
That Peace the offspring is of Power.
"'Build, then, the storied bronze, to tell
The steps whereby this height she trod—
The thousand years that chronicle
The toil of Man, the help of God!
"'And may the thousand years to come—
The future ages, wise and free—
Still see her flag and hear her drum
Across the world, from sea to sea!—
"'Still find, a symbol stern and grand,
Her ancient eagle's wings unshorn;
One head to watch the Western land,
And one to guard the land of morn.'
"Bear in mind," said Frank, after pausing at the end of the lines, "that the millennial celebration took place not long after the edict of emancipation was issued by Alexander II. This is what Mr. Taylor refers to in the third line of his poem.
"To go on with the story, let me say that Rurik and his descendants ruled the country for more than two centuries. They made war upon their neighbors, and were generally victorious, and in their time the boundaries of Russia were very much enlarged. Rurik and his sons were pagans. In the tenth century Christianity was introduced, and Olga, the widow of Igor, son of Rurik, was baptized at Constantinople. Her son remained a pagan. He was slain in battle, and left the monarchy to his three sons, who soon began to quarrel. One was killed in battle, and another was put to death by the third brother, Vladimir, who assumed entire control, and was surnamed 'The Great' on account of the benefits he conferred upon Russia."