24793- the rose without prickles, a tale, 127 
you little whelp, without you we have noise enough 
here.”? At that very moment Rafsudok had overta- 
ken him. The Czarowitz complained that they 
had called him whelp; Rafsudok said not a word 
but conducted him out of the crowd. When Ivan 
asked him why he did not talk with him as for- 
merly, Rafsudok answered, ‘* You did not,ask my 
*¢ advice but went to an improper place, and so dont 
“* be offended if you did not find the people to your’ 
** mind.”? Rafsudok withed to prolong his speech 
when they met a man, sot over young, but of an 
agreeable appearance, surrounded with a great many 
boys. As Ivan was curious to know every thing, 
he called one of the boys, and asked who the man 
was. ‘* This man is our master, said the boy, we 
‘* have got our lefson aud are going to take a walk *, 
‘‘but pray where are you going?”? The Czarowitz 
told him that they ‘were seeking the rose without 
prickles, that stings not. ‘I have heard, said the 
** boy, from our master, an explanation of the rose 
*‘ without prickles, that stings not. This flower 
** signifies nothing more than virtue. Some people 
“‘ think to find it by going bye ways; but nobody 
“can get it unlefs he follows the streight road ; and 
“ happy ishe that by an honest firmnefs can overcome 
“all the difficulties of that road. You see before 
* The Czarina may be supposed here also to allude to one of her 
own favourite institutions, that of free schools over all her dominions, 
on a plan equally simple and comprehensive, which my informant says 
has been attended with the happiest effects. i arm promised an account 
of that useful institution which fhall be laid before the readers of this 
mork. Edit. 
