Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-12-09
MISUMLLANYo
YANKEE ENTERPRIzE.
by LYDIA MARIA CHILD.

| presented himself before our ambassador at St
Petersburg. He was pure specimen of the
genus Yankee; with sleeves too short for his
bony arms, trowsers half way up to his knees,
and hands playing with coppcrs and ten-pen-
ny nails in his pocket. He introduced him
sell by saying, Eve jest come out here to
trade with a few Yankee notions, and l want
to get sight of the emperor
why do you wish to see HIM >
sPye brought him present, all the way
from Ameriky. / respect him considerable,
and want to get at him, 10 give it to him
with my own hands,
MIR. Dallas smiled, as he answered, DIT is
! such common thing, my lad, to make
crowned heads a present. expecting something
handsome in return, that Pm afraid the empe-
ror will consider this only Yankee trick
| What have you brought?''
San ACORN
'An acorn! what under the sun induced you
| to bring the emperor of Russia an acorn?
why, jest before / sailed, mother and
went on to Washington to see about pen
sion; and when we were there, we thought
we'd just step overto Mount Vernon. | pick
| ed up this acorn there; and thought to my
sell, I'd bring it to the emperor. Thinks, saws
], he must have heard considerable deal a.
bout our General Washington, and expect he
must admire our institutions. So now YOU
see Pve brought it, and | want to get at
him.
MY lad, IT'S not an easy matter for stran-
ger to approach the emperor; and am afraid
he Will take no notice your present You
had better keep it,
Il tell you want to have talk with him.
lexpect can tell him thing or two about
Amerlky. guess he'd like mighty well to
hna,. ,hn,, u ~
and what a mighty swell our steamers cut
And when he hears how well our people are
getting on, may be it will put him up to doing
something. The long and short ONT is, /
| shan't be easy till get u talk with the empe-
ror; and | should like to see his wife and
children. | want 10 sec how such folks bring
up a family
Wen, sir, since you are determined upon it,
Twill do what can for you, but you must
expect to be disappointed. Though it would
be rather an unusual proceeding, would adj
wise you to call on the vice-chanceilor, and
state your wishes; he may possibly assist
| you.'
well that's all | want of you. will call
again, and let you know how get on
In two or three days he again appeared and
said,
We'll, Pve seen the emperor, and had talk
with him. He's real gentleman, can tell
you When give him the acorn, he said he
should set great store by it; that there was
no character IN ancient or modern history he
admired so much as he did our Washington.
He said he'd plant it in his palace garden with
his own hands; and he did do it-for see
HIM with my own eyes. lie wanted to ask
me SO much about our schools and railroads.
and one thing or another, that he invited me
a and
said his wife could speak better English than
he could So went again, Yesterday: and
she's fine knowing woman, tell you, and
his daughters are nice gals
What did the empress say to you?'
'Oh, she asked me sight o. questions
Don't you think, she thought we had no SER
wants In Amerlky! told her poor folks did
their own work, but rich folks had plenty o
servants But then you don't cell 'em SER
wants. said she, 'yoh call 'em help guess,
ma'am, you've been reading Mrs. Trollop,
says |. We had that ere book aboard our
ship. The emperor clapped his hands, and
laughed as if he'd kill himself YOU'RE right,
SIR said he, you're right We sent for an
English copy, and she's been reading it this
very morningp Then / told him all ] knew
about our country, and he was nightly pleas
ed. lie wanted to know how long expect
ed to stay in these parts. told him I'd sold
all the notions brought over, and guessed
should go back in the same ship. | bid 'em
good bye, all round, and went about my bust
ness. Amt had glorious time? expect
you didn't calculate TO see me run such
rig"
No, indeed, did not my lad You NAV
well consider yourself lucky; for its "a very
uncommon thing for crowned heads to treat a
stranger with SO much Gistinction.'
few days after he called again, and said.
Il guess shall stay here spell Longer, I'c1
treated so well. T'other day grand officer
came to my room, and told me the emperor
had sent him to show me all the curiosites
and dressed myself, and he took me with
HIM, III mighty fine carriage, with four horses:
and Eve been i'll the theatre and the museum
and expect Pve seen about all there is to be
seen at st. Petersburg. What do YOU think
of that Mr.. Dallas p
1t seemed so incredible that poor, unrain-
iy Yankee lad should be thus loaded with at
tentons, that the ambassador scarcely knew
what To think or say
In short lime, his stranger visiter reap
peared- AYell,' said he, u made up my mind
to go home; so ! went to thank the Emperor
and bid him good bye. / thought couldn't
do no less, he'd been so civil. Saws he. us
there any thing else you'd like to see before
yougoback to Amerikyp told him Should
like to get a peep at Moscow; for I'd heard
considerable about their setting fire TO the