Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-12-25
YANKEE ENTERPRISE.

teTsbufgn- lie was q pure specimen oil the gen
Jus Yankee; with sleeves too shor, for his bon,
arms, trowsers half way up to his knees, un'
hands playi ing Nth copppers ard ten-penny nail
in hrs pocket. lie introduced himself by saying
I've Jest come out here 10 trade with a few Yam
kee notions, and | want to get a sight of the EN-
peror.'
why do you wish TO see him.
I've brought him a present. all the way from
AmerIky. respect him considerable, and wan
to ge, at hun, 10 give /, to him with my owl
hands
Mr.. Dallas smiled, as he answered, 1T is snci
d onmon hing. my lad, to make crowned head
a present, expecting something handsome IN re
turn, that I'm AFRAID the emperor will conside
this a Yankee trick. What have you broJght?'
An acorn
An acorn! what under the sun induced you it
bring the emperor Of Russia an acorn?
why, jest before | sailed, mother and | wen
on TO Washington 10 sec about a pension; anC
when we was there, we thought we'd jest steT
over to Mount Vernon. | picked up this acorf
there; and | thought to myself I'd bring II 10 his
emperor. Thinks says !, he must nave heard i
considerable deal abou, our General Washing
ton, and ! expect ne must admire our institutions
SO now yon see I've brought It, and | want IL
get ut him
MY lad II is not nm easy matter for u stranger
10 approach the emperor; and | am afraid he vii
take no notice Of your present. You had better
keep il
Il tell you | want 10 have Il talk with him.
expect | can tell him a thing or two about hmeri
ky. | guess he'd like mighty well to hear ebour
our railroads, and our free schools, and what n
big swell cur steamers cut. And when he hears
how well our people are getting on, may be il
will put him up to doing something. Tine long
and short ont is, | siian't be easy TIL | get a Ia TX
with the emperor; and | shonld like TO see how
such folks bring up a family
well, sir, since YOU are determined upon It,
will do what | can for you; but you mus, expect
to be disappointed. Though it will be rather ar
unusual proceeding, | would advise you 10 call or
the vice chancellor, and state your wishes; he
may possibly assist you.'
'WelI, that's all | want with you. | will cal
again and lie, you know how get on
In two or three days, no again appeared, anc
SAID, We'll, I've seen the emperor, and had n talk
with him. He's a real g~entleman, | can tell you
When | gave him the acorn, he said he should
set a great store by it; that there was no charac'
ter IN ancient or modern history he admired Sc
much, as he did our Washington. He said he'd
plant it in his palace garden with his own hand
and he did do it-for ! see him with my own eyes
He wanted to ask me so much about our shcools
and railroads, and ono thing or another, that he
invited me TO come agaiu, and SEQ his daughters
for he said his wife could speak better English
than he could. So | went again yesterday; and
she's a fine, knowing woman, | tell you; and his
daughters are nice gals
what did the empress say to youE
oh, she asked me u sight o questions. Don't
you think, sho thought, we had no servants in a.
meriky! | told her, poor folks did their own
work, but rich folks had plenty o servants. But
then you don't call 'em servants said she; you
call 'em help | guess ma'am. YOU have been
reading Mrs. TrolIop, saws /. We had that are
book aboard our ship. The emperor clapped his
hands, and laughed as if he'd kill himself
You're right, SIR said he. 'yon'ro right. We
sent for an English copy, and she's been reading
it this very morning! Then | told all knew Il
bout our country, and he was mighty plsased.-
He wanted 10 know how long | expected stay in
these parts. | told him III sold all the notions |
brought over, and | guessed | should GO back in
the same ship. | bad EN- good bye. all round,
and went about my business. Amt had a glori-
Gus time? expect you dlin', calculate to see
100 run such n rig
NO, indeed, | did not my lad. You may well
consider yourself lucky; for its a very unconl-
mon thing for crowned heads to treat 4 stranger
with so much Distinction
A few days ago no called again, and saiJ, Il
guess | shall stay here a spell longer, I'm treated
so well. T'other day a grand officer came to my
room, and told me the emperor had sent hin to
show me al! the curiosities, and dressed myself,
and he took me with him, in q mighty fine car
rage, with four horses; and I've been to the thea
tire and the museum; aud | expect I've seen a.
bou. all there Is to be seen in ST. Petersburg
What do YOU think OF that, Mr.. DallasY
II seemed so incredible that a poor, ungainlv
Yankee lad should be loaded with attentions, that
tho ambassador scarcely knew what TO think or
say,
lna shor, time, his stranger yisiler re appear
ed.
WELL said he, | hare made up my MAD TO 20
home; So ! went TO thank the emperor, and bid
him good bye. | thought | could do 10 less. he'd
been Sc civil. Says he, rs there any thing else
you'i Il;a N 500 hpForn yp,, ro bact ., t,,o,,I, q,
| told him | should Ike 10 getn peep at Moscow;
for IL heard considerable about their setting fire
to the kremlin, and Id read a deal abou, Gener-
al Bonapafie; but it would Costa sight of money
to GO there, and wanted to carry nv earnings
TO my mother. Now, what do you guess he did
next morning? vow he sent the same man IN
regimentAls, 10 carry me TO Moscow. in one of
his carriages, and bring me back again, when
I've seen all | wan; 10 seet and we're going to-
morrow morning, Nh. Dallas. What GO you think