The Ladies' Garland

THE WIDOW IN TEARS.

FROM THE MEMOIRS OF PETER H. BRUCE, ESQ.

General Matuskin, after the taking of Baku, was promoted to the rank of lieut. general, and was at the same time, major of the first regiment of guards, and in great esteem with his majesty. He was an old bachelor, when he married a buxom young widow, whose first husband, major-general Glebof of the dragoons, had been concerned in the troubles with the Czarowitz, in 1792, for which he was condemned; but died in prison; and his estate being confiscated, the widow was reduced to very low circumstances.-- Gen Matuskin, who was appointed judge on that trial, was solicited by the mournful widow, who implored him on her knees, bathed in tears, to commiserate her unmerited sufferings, being then reduced to the extremity of misery and want. In this supplicating attitude, she so captivated the old bachelor, that he directly made her an offer of himself, and all he had, for her relief; which the widow joyfully accepted. On which the general applied to the empress to procure his majesty's consent.

When the affair was mentioned to the emperor, he was much displeased at the general's seeking to match himself with the widow of a rebel, offering him, at the same time, any other lady he should pitch upon; but the general told him, "that it was impossible for him to love any other woman, and humbly besought his majesty to grant his request, otherwise he would lose one of his most favorite servants." Being seconded by the empress in his application, his majesty became at last curious to see this widow, who had made such an impression on the heart of the old spark: and when she was introduced to the emperor, he declared, "he was not at all surprised at the conquest she had made;" and not only gave his consent, but honored their marriage with his presence, attended by the whole court. The lady ever afterwards, went by the name of the "Widow in Tears."