Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-01-24
A Banker In Trouble.

A rich foreigner, named Sutherland
naturalized in Russia, was banker to the
court, and in high favor with the empress.
He was reused one morning by the in
formation that his house was surrounded
by guards, and that Reliew, the minister
Of police, desired to speak with him. This
person entering without further ceremony,
at once announced his errand.
"Mr. Sutherland said he, 81 avn
charged by my gracious sovereign with
the execution Of a sentence, the severity
Of which both astonishes aud grieves me
and am ignorant as to how you can have
so far excited the resentment Of her ma.
iiesty.' zaitsa'F#ss IT. saa saa
81 am as much in the dark as YOURSELF"
replied the banker; 4" but what are your
orders Z" iH'r- Tof.a -5'#f -.-
81 have not the courage to tell you,"
said Reliew. za ari
slave lost the confidence Of the en-
i press ?'' inquired the banker. 3- Ia
If that were all. you would not SEQ me
troubled" said Reliew confidence may
return position may be restored"
~ Am to he sent hack to my own coun-
try Tor, good heavens I" cried the bank
er, trembling, "does the empress think Of
ban:shing me TO Siberia ?'' ~ = s7a'F't
"Alas! you might some day RETURN"
said Reliew. is. ~ ai'4s. = 9a' ri
."Am,I to be knouted p inquired the
agitated banker. - 10 Rtla>@Ea@9 aa' prs
"This punishment is fearful" said Re-
l l,.A "a 2. -
"Is my life, then, in peril I" exclaimed
the banker. "Bus cannot believe that );
for the empress, usually so mild, SO gentle,
spoke TO me so kindly only two days since,
-'tis impossible For heavens sake let
me know the worst. Anything is better
than this suspense" 81 ~ ! .7H Iadl
Er.- Well, them" said Reliew, in melan-
choly tone, I. my gracious mistress has or.
dered me to have you stuffed"
Stufed," cried the banker, horri6ed.
Yes stuffed with straw" continued
Reliew., 7to g3si3s4e1qg aes 80 n Isl -
E Sutherland looked 6xedly at the minister
of police an instant, and then exclaimed,
"Sir, either you have lost your reason, or
the empress is not in her right senses |!
Surely you did not receive such = COM
mandl without endeavoring 1t least to
point out its unreasonableness-its bar
barity.''il zr.fed &a.'Iysmog '.a yg4as4m
u g Alas! my unfortunate friend, / did
that which, under ordinary circumstances,
/ should not daro attempt said Reliew ;
!" / manifsssedmy grief, my CONSERVATION,
FL even hazardeds Z remonstrance; but
her imperial majesty, in an irrisated tone,
bade ma leave her presence and see her
commands obeyed at once, adding these
words, which are still ringing in my ears,
go, and forget not that il is your duty to
aequit yourself without q murmur, Of any
commission with which / may deign to
trust you.''a".:i 8ii i stdia'rTo3ni b2a'a9h
4 1t would he impossible to depic the hor-
ror, tho despairoof' the unhappy banker.
Afier waiting till the first burst Of grief
was over, Reliew informed him that he
would be allowed q quarter Of an hour to
settle his worldly affairs Sutherland wePt
and prayed. and entreated the minister Of
police to take petition from him to the
empress.' Overcome by his supPiicafions
the magistrate; consented TO be bis mes
senger, and took charge Of the missive !;
but afraid to return to the palace. be- hast
|ily presented himself, at the residence Of
Earl Bruce, the, English Ambassador, and
explained the affair to him., The ambas-
sador very naturally supposed the minister
Of police had become insane, but bidding
him follow. he hurried to the palace. In
troduced into the imperial ipresence, he
told bis story. with as little delay as pos
slble. nj b,4tsata zsgY etl aeda senE.H s.4
- I" Mesciful heaven T. exclaimed Cathe-
rine, ON hearing this strange recital,
!. what q dreadful mistake lRrliew must
have lost his wits. Run quickly. my iord'
beg, and desire that madman to relieve
my poor banker, Of his groundless tears,
and set him at liberty immediately" sail
i The earl LEFT the, room to do Is her ma
|jes,ys requested, and donr his, return found
Caiharine laughing immoderalely. II see
now, said she, 6 the cause Of this incon-
|ceivably absurd Llunder. I had for some
years little dog 10 which Iwas much
attached. / called him Sutherland, be-
cause that was the name Of the gentlemau
Iwho presented him to me. n The dog had
Just died ,apd /, gave Reliew orders 70
have him stuffed; but - h for some time
hesitaied I became angry, suPposisg thai
4 Co., Eonl;eh avcass of nr;daI hA thoaaOht