"The Siberian Couple"

Retired ensign Grigory Lupolov, originally from the Little Russian nobles, served earlier in the hussars, participated in campaigns against the Turks, showed courage during the sieges of Izmail and Ochakov. And in 1789, being a regimental treasurer in Elizavetgrad, for evil libel or misunderstanding, he was accused of buying thieves' horses and by sentence exiled with deprivation of ranks and nobility to distant Siberia. His little daughter Praskovia followed him. Observing the hopeless despair of his father, Parasha comes with the idea of walking to St. Petersburg to the Tsar himself. It was a sign from above, from the Lord. They say the new young king is merciful. How great is Russia: to St. Petersburg three thousand miles! Her parents did not let her go for a long time, but her daughter’s tenacity prevailed. With a silver ruble and the image of the Mother of God, she embarks on a long and dangerous journey. In the passport received from Tobolsk, she was recorded by the captain's daughter. The journey to St. Petersburg lasted almost a year. Many times she was on the verge of death. Once, caught by a strong storm, she stood all night in the woods. Exhausted, in dirty clothes, she was chased like a tramp. In one of the villages she was attacked by dogs. They tried to rob her, but without finding anything, on the contrary, they fed her. And she believed that the spark of mercy lurked even in the most callous hearts. She believed, "God leads me."