The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-03-01
From the German

JOo'hCy. i tue year lOZf. ~ Oue VI the
remoter provinces of his dominions, his
carriage broke down on the way, and he
was obliged to stop on the high road:
Having extricated himself, the Emperor
left his attendants employed in endeav-
curing to repair the damage, and pro-
ceeded slowly on foot. He was soon
overtaken by General D****, who was
also in attendance on him, and who i'm
mediate y sprang out of his own carriage
TO offer the use of it to the Emperor
Alexander, however, desired him 10 get
in again, TO hasten forward to the next
post, to expedite the preparations for his
continuing his journey, and to wait his
arrival.
The General obeyed, and had not
gone far, when an elderly, Russian wo-
man, of the peasant order, came up TO
the Emperor, and in free, though not a
rude manner, thus addressed him..
Old Woman-Do you come from Pc
tersburg Emperor-Yes.
Old Woman-You belong, perhaps,
TO the Emperor's suite Emperor do.
Old Woman-Have you brought a
letter, with some money, from my son (?
Emperor-No who is your son
Old Woman-Hey don't you know
my son? and you say you belong to the
Emperor's sui? Why, he is warmer
of the stoves in the winter palace
The Emperor was amused with her
vivacity and freedom, and desired her
to give him some more information re-
speeding her son.
She told him he had always been in
the habit of sending her 10 roubles out
of his salary as she, from her age, was
incapable of earning much for herself.
This year, however, as he knew the
Emperor had intended to travel through
her village, he had written to her to tell
her that be would send the money by
one of the Emperor's attendants on the
journey.
Emperor-You are right, mother |
recollect now ;your son did not give me
the money, but TO a,other of the Empe-
ror's servants. You are mistaken also
as TO the sum, which is not TO- but 500
roubles.
Old Woman-Are you in earnest I?
Emperor In good earnest. If you
go on to the next post, you will there
find the officer. Alexander then gave
the old W m an exact d scriptiOn of
General D****, so that she might be
sure TO know him. and add d-Be sure
you make him give you the 500 roubIes |
The old lady shook the Emperor
heartily by the hand for his intelligence,
and set off as quickly as she could go to |
the next post. She soon found General
D., and began thus" l want the
500 rouoles which you have brought to
me from ST. Petersburg, from my son o.
The General started, and thought she
was mad.
my good woman" said he, mildly. |
through compassion for her supposed
state of mind, "you certainly are mis-
taken in the person. know neither
you nor your son, still less have | re-
ceived any money for any one here"
" All, buta gentleman that must know
has told me that you have. He descrb-
ed you TO me TO hair, and expressly
said that was TO be sure to make You |
give me the money"
"Some one has been imposing on Won.
1t is scandalous for any one to play such
a trick"
-" o no, no, no he did not look at
all as if he were capable of decelving
any one. So give me the money with
out more ado"
$50 away" said the General, begin
ming to be fired by this attack--'I have
received no money from any one, there
fore you cannot have any from me'
d" So, you deny it then oh, fe !
should moi have expected it from per-
son of such high rank as you''
Just then the Emperor entered the
room. She Immediately exclaimed, as
she saw him, pointing triumphantly at
him. and cried out
Now let us see whether you will
deny it any longer. This is the gentle
man who told me you had the money"
The General was about to relate this
strange rencontre to the Emperor, but
the latter made sign to him and said -
Recollect again did you not re-
ceive 500 roubles from The heater Off
stoves, to give over to his mother %
Understanding the sign, the General,
after short pause, passing his hand o.
yer his forehead, as iftrying TO gecollect,
said
" Yes, do remember now, wonder
what had become of my recollection )"
and turning to the old woman, he said,
81 was confused by my journey but
! will give you your money directly, and
you shall count it before go.n