Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-01-10
THE DIV iRl'S WEDDING.

4 pdDle Ol SuCil SIedI Soiiulty 40 "
j. retain in cold countries any desi
r rable shape for long time; ant
houses have been constructed OF
it which have resisted the elements
/ not only through the winter, bu
far into the succeeding summer
: and in some instances even during
several years. In illustration of
: this fact, the Courier des Etati
t Unis tells the following story:
,, Peter the Great of Russia had in
> his service bufoon, named Nix
olieff, dwarf in size, and particu.
larly ugly iii appearance, but pos
sessed of a mind full of intelli.
gence, and over flowing with wi
and sarcasm, in the exercise of
which even the sacred majesty Of
the Gar was not always respect.
ed, He one day approached his
master and requested permission
to marry.
"And who do you suppose would
marry you2" demanded the Car.
"Catharine Italivaski," replied
the dwarf.
"Catharine Italivaski! that ma.
jestic, beautiful creature, attached
as fille-de-chambre to one of the
empress's ladies-in-waiting! I'm
possible, my poor Nikoliefi! She
is young and beautiful, and you
are old and ugly"
"She loves me" said Nikolieff,
swelling with offended PRIDE
Everybody does not look upon
me with the unfavorable eyes of
your majesty"
"You must be very rich, then.
or she would not love you," said
the Gear.
"Allowing that to be, I should
not be the first one who has been
loved for his WEALTH." replied the
buffoon, with a cynical smile. 81
know one far richer and more
powerful than / am, who has
thought himself loved for himself
alone, instead of for his piles of
yellow gold, and was SO plainly de-
ceived that he alone was unsuspi-
cious of the true object
The emperor turned pale with
anger, and bit his lips until the
blood flowed; for the buffoon allu-
ded to love adventure of the
monarch well known at court, but
of which none had dared to speak
above a whisper. every well"
said he, controlling his rage by
violent effort, "since you desire to
marry Catharine Italivaski. you
shall do SO. ! charge myself with
the whole expense of the nuptials,
and you will receive from me the
palace, which you will occupy with
your charming bride. Meantime
you are forbidden to leave your
chamber, under penalty of being
made acquainted with the knout,
in comparison with which the
blows OF my wife, which have of
ten made your shoulders ache, are
mere love caresses.
Fifteen days after, on the 14th
day OF January, 1920, the buffoon
was awakened at daybreak by the
sounds of music at the door of the
chamber which served him as a
prison. A number of the servants
of the Car entered, clothed him
in a magnificent suit of garments,
then placed him on q sledge, to
which were attached four of the
most sbeautiful horses in the i'm
perial stables, and surrounded by
IA cortsge composed of the greatest
lords and ladies of the imperial
court, conducted him to the ca
thedral observation-disclosures
where the nuptial ceremony was
celebrated with splendor and ex-
travagance which not only com.
pletely re-assured, but delighted
the proud Nikolieff.
The nuptial benediction pro-
nounced, the happy couple were
placed upon sledges, and conducted
to an isolated place short distance
from the city, on the banks OF the
Neva, where had been built a Pal.
ace, the likeof which never existed,
except in fairy tales. The palace,
which seemad tn he constructed of