Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-02-01
THE PRINCES LOOK.


Lefnau had quilted London for Copenhag gen
the same day he sent the note TO the count
He proceeded to ST. Petersburg through Stock
holm. At Petersbnrgh he had the good for
tune to be presented at Court. Catherine the
great, then Empress, honored him with her
notice; Leinau himself could not divine how
this distinction heiel him. s.Heaven bless
you!" said the friend who had presented him,
the empress is woman, and you are hand
some Young man. You wish to enter the Rus
sian service. Without doubt your wish will
be realized. Even in the most excellent
princes, human nature will take the lead, with
ont their being aware of it,. Many deserving
officers are passed by, but nature favors the
handsome young Baron Lenau."
"You think, then, that the empress will give
me the command of a company!''
''Certainiv, Baron, l wager you Will receive
more than you expect. | saw the look she cast
upon yon as you retired. Count Rasumows-
k saw that look. and the Princess Daschkow
and Potemkin himself. Every one spoke of
you with rapture. Petemkin begged m. TO in
trodnce him to you. and he said much IN your
praise. l know, besides, that the empress
mentioned your name to the Prince. So don't
be anxious. Your fortune is made
In q few days the Baron was summoned to
the Prince Potemkin, and was agreeably sur
prised with the commission OF lieutenant
coonccv in one of the newly raised regiments
of cavalry. The young officer in his new uni
form, obtained the honor of kissing the hand
Of his imperial patrOness. Potemkin then
hurried him of to his regiment with the great
est haste. He followed the standard of Ro-
RanZow against OcZakow. He was present at
the stormng of the place. and was disgusted
with the cruelty OF the Russians to such de-
gree, that he had almost mind to throw up
his commission. But nothing came of his dis
gust, for the empress rewarded him for his
hr,, n.z -, al.
"TruIy," wrote the new Colonel to his friend
in Petersburg, ssmy promotion must he the
result of n sunny princes look, for had little
opportunity of evincing much bravery at Oc-
zakow. | merely stood as an idle spectator,
before the fortress, with my regiment. was
TO lead my men on only in case it became ne
cessary. | thank heaven it was not"
Col Leinau received command of regiment
IN FirIand against the Swedes. Here he re-
manned Year, when peace was established.
He had had, all this time, abundant oppor-
tunities of gaining experience of every kind,
and sometimes to call to mind the so-called
Count S,reitenherg whom he had assisted in
London. The coHnt had made no use of the
address of Leinau's steward. That the note
which Leinau had sent to the count. on the
morning of his departure from London, had
reached its destinations, there was no doubt
The loss OF the three or four hundred louisd'-
ors did not grieve the baron so much as the
thought that it was lost through one whose
countenance had lied, one so devoid of sensi-
bilify, so worthless, that the most generous
confidence could not hold him TO his honor
Still. in his inmost heart, he could not wish
any evil to the count, be still thought of some
excuse for him; and at last the excuse became
almost reconime nddtion. The count might
have become Impoverished. or perhaps lie was
dead. The baron was rich enough without the
money. and would willingly have given as
much more, could he have learned the fate of
his debtor.
Immediately after his promotion, Leinau
had conceived the idea OF giving up his faith
erland altogether, and settling in Russia, as
soon as he could find purchaser for his estate.
He had no particular wish To return to Ger
many. w ho knows thought he, ssbut that
the old patriarch will send me away again to
make pensi'' With this thought he gave his
steward full power TO sell his paternal estates.
The steward obeyed, and sold everything but
small house, in which this faithful old servant
resided, and which was to be his during his
lifetime
By accident, the colonel made the acquain-
tance Of Polish officer, whu, in need of mon
ey, offered him fine large estates in Poland at
such reasonable rate. that, after obtaining u
inriough, Leinau went to see them, and, con-
rinced OF their value, concluded the transac-
lion by buying them. He now considered him.
seti one Of the richest mobiles in Poland. Ev-
cry one congratulated him. He determined
70 ENJOY HE OF philosophical <repose at his
Ioi'sh luscnianeum, resigned his place in the
Russian service, bought whole libraries of ag-
ricniturai manuals. together with all sorts of
implements for cuitivaiing the soil. gathered
ronnd him colony of German mechanics and
iaborers, gave himself wholly up to his Polish
castle and while he made preparations for bean
tiiying the place. began to think occasionally
OF a wife. ltwas high time, for he was ON the
edge of thirty.
Hitherto fortune had smiled. Suddenly un-
lucky days came upon him. The Poles waged
war against the imperial diet of his fatherland.
! ne baron sought to avoid all interference,
out, when asked Tor his opinion by warranta-
ols persons in his neighborhood, he deemed it
on'! honorable to give them this advice: "Con-