THE EXPERIENCES OF THE A.  C.
FRIEND ELI'S DAUGHTER
MISS BARTRAM'S TROUBLE
MRS.  STRONGITHARM'S REPORT 

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
A STORY OF OLD RUSSIA. 

I. 

We are about to relate a story of mingled fact and fancy.  The
facts are borrowed from the Russian author, Petjerski; the fancy is
our own.  Our task will chiefly be to soften the outlines of
incidents almost too sharp and rugged for literary use, to supply
them with the necessary coloring and sentiment, and to give a
coherent and proportioned shape to the irregular fragments of an
old chronicle.  We know something, from other sources, of the
customs described, something of the character of the people from
personal observation, and may therefore the more freely take such
liberties as we choose with the rude, vigorous sketches of the