The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-08-20
A Romance i'm Russian Life.

A CURIOUS incident in real life has re-
Gently transpired at Moscow. About
twenty one years ago, an infant, only few
months old, was intrusted to peasant wO-
man in a country village near Moscow,
with instructions to bring it up along with
her own children, sufficient sum of money
being deposited for its maintenance. These
instructions were faithfully carried out, and
the child grew up into fine, healthy boy,
remarkable for quiekness and intelligence.
The lad CLEANED only portion of his early
history from the gossip of the villagers,
but was still at fault respecting the name
and condition of his parents, his adopted
father and mother being as ignorant on these
points as himself When about fifteen
years old, the money for his support being
expended, the youth proceeded to Moscow
and took service with merchant. He
displayed unusual capacity, and was re-
warded by promotion and increased pay.
From his salary he saved a small capital,
and at the end of six years set up shop
and began business on his own account.
The youthful proprietor stationed behind
his counter nervously awaited the advent of
his customers. Two or three casual pur-
chasers drop in in quest of various tritles !;
and after them comes matronly but still
handsome lady, simply and tastefully at
tired. She looks attentively at the young
dealer for moment, and then calls him by
name. "That is my name, madame" an
swers our hero, somewhat surprised
at this ceremoniOus commence
ment. "When and where were you born?"
pursues the unknown in an impericus tone
of voice, as if conducting judicial exam
ination. "At IvanovO, 81 years ago." re-
spends the youth with some uneasiness, in
wardly wondering whether he can have got
himself into any political scrape, or whether
his fair interlOcutor Is merely amusing her
self at his expense. "Are your father and
your mother still alive?" continues the
questioner, with agitation. /" / cannot tell.
OF my father know nothing; and my
mother, they tell me, gave me out to nurse
when was only a few months old. never
saw her to remember her" But would
you not be glad to meet her again ?" in
quires the incognita, growing pale. "What
makes you ask that ?" says the young man
in altered voice, catching, it may be a
glimpse of the truth for the first time. "Ah,
Vaska !" breaks out the unknown lady,
catching him in her arms, Il know you,
though you don't know me. / am your
mother, and have been looking for you this
long time. Come home with me and never
speak of keeping shop again. have
$4,000 roubles (e7, 7,0OO) Of my own, and il
| is yours from this moment"
1t appears that when very young the
mother had been the servant of an English
resident in Central Russia, who fell in
love with and made her his wife, but fear
ing the displeasure of his family at so un-
equal match persuaded her to a private
marriage, and intrusted the child, which
resulted from it to other hands. Shortly
| after the removal of the boy his parents
went to England, where they remained fol
fifteen years, at the end of which time the
husband died, bequeathing his entire prop
erty to his wife. The latter, anxious to lie
cover her son, returned to Russia in search
of him, but the removal of his adopted
parents to another town batfled inquiries
and considerable time was spent in fruit
less researches. In the meantime the
mother became acquainted with and mar
ried wealthy Russian, who, when the sor
was discovered, took such fancy to hin
that he disclosed his intention to make the
lad heir to all his property. So this wal
in the great city is likely some day to be
come one of its wealthiest citizens.