The Journal of Countess Françoise Krasinska, Great Grandmother of Victor Emmanuel — John Shaqi
The Journal of Countess Françoise Krasinska, Great Grandmother of Victor EmmanuelTańska-Hoffmanowa, Klementyna
History
The Journal of Countess Françoise Krasinska, Great Grandmother of Victor Emmanuel
Tańska-Hoffmanowa, Klementyna
Diary fiction; Franciszka Krasińska, Countess, consort of Charles, Duke of Courland, 1743-1796 -- Fiction
When we were finishing a hasty breakfast, we heard loud
crackings of the whip, and a chamberlain entered announcing that
everything was ready for the journey. The Staroste looked at his
wife, and whispered that it was time to set out. She fell then,
sobbing, at the feet of my honored Parents, thanking them for
all their favors that she had received during the eighteen years
of her life, asking their pardon for all the offences she might
have committed, and telling them that she wished nothing more
than to be henceforth as happy as she had been. For the first
time in my life I saw the Count crying; oh! how they blessed
her! it did one's heart good to hear it, and there was not a
person in the room whose eyes were dry.
We went to the bridge, but the captain ordered it to be lifted, and
refused to let the bride go away until the Staroste gave him a ring
as a token that he would bring her back again. The carriages of the
Staroste were splendid,--a closed carriage painted yellow, lined with
red damask, with seats for two persons, a landau with four seats, a
coach, and several curricles. The horses were beautiful, especially
six white ones drawing the yellow carriage in which the young couple
were seated by themselves; behind them came the carriages with the
women, and we came last. Madame Staroste sobbed so loud that we
could hear her. Many courtiers and peasants followed the carriage,
crying and blessing her. She gave them all the money she had with
her, and the Staroste threw silver pieces bountifully.
At each halting-place where we stopped everything was prepared
for our arrival: the floors were covered with rugs, the tables
laid, and the waiters dressed in livery. On the following
evening we reached Sulgostow. The Woivode and Father Albert
started on ahead of us, in order to receive the bride in her new
home. At the frontier of the property the peasants stopped the
carriage of the young pair and offered bread and salt; one of
the oldest men made a speech, followed by loud shouts of "Long
live!" and when we entered the gate a company of hussars, whom
the Staroste keeps in his court, fired salutes. Before the
entrance door, the Woivode stood, with the whole court, and all
of them gave the heartiest welcome to their new mistress. When
we entered, the Staroste brought his wife a big bundle of keys,
placing thus the whole house under her direction. From the
following morning Madame Starostine took the management, and it
was really wonderful how everything seemed easy to her and went
smoothly; but, as the eldest of us, she was accustomed for many
years to assist my honored Mother in her household duties.
Sulgostow looks quite different from Maleszow. It is a palace,
not a castle, but still it is very grand and gay; the retinue is
numerous, the house well provided, and, what is best, all the
people seem so very happy to have my sister there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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