Smyrna times., 1870-05-25
A Lucky IveStment.
A TRUE STORY.

Some fifteen years ago a tall, overgr0wn lad
stood gazing hungrily into pastry cook shop,
IN the principal street of St. Petersburg. So
intense and eager was his gaze that it attracted
the attention of a passer-by, MIR. Berstein,
Hamburg merchant, whom business had called
to st. Petersburg for a few weeks. Mr.. Ber-
stein, watching the boy for few minutes, ask
ed him if he would like some tarts, and invited
him to enter and eat as many as he liked. The
youth required no second bidding, but instantly
set to- and in short space of time devOured
more cakes, tartS and buns than one could have
imagined any one boy capable Of containing.
hen he finally came 20 a stand-still, Mr.. Bcr-
stein told him he might put few in his pock-
et Our hero Straightway filled every pocket
and corner, and finally, to Mr.. Berstein's in
tense amusement, buttoned his coat by two
buttons, and then filled the breasts on each
side. Then, turning to Mr.. Bcrstein, and
speaking for the first time, he said, with a
beamlng face, What's your name?' " Bcr-
stein, said his friend. Thank you, Mr.
Berstein," said the boy, and walked away
without another word, leaving Mr.. Ber,tein So
amused at the incident that he never thought
ct asking the youth any question until it was
too late, and the boy had disappeared. Many
years rolled on, and everything seemed to 90
wrong with Bcrstein from being a prosperous
man he had become poorer and poorer each
year, when house, with which he had former
ly done business, gave him, more from com
passion than anything else a commission to
st. Petersburg. One day, on passing CON
tectlOner 5, the little episode of the cakes re-
CURED to his memory, and he was wondering
what had tecome Of the hero of the tarts. when
he suddenly found himself confronted by fine
handsome young man who exclaimed " Mr.
Bersteln. don t you know me? Nh. | have
never forgotten you. Come home with me.
| have been looking for you for years" The
stranger was Count C,kotf X koff, the owner
of an estate of two hundred and fifty square
miles, and taking his title from the province
IN which II was situated, and the same youth
to whom Mr.. Ber>tein had been so generous.
The Count then told Mr Berstciu that, at the
time OF their first meeting there were two
lives between himself and the estate; that he
was brought up by two old maiden aunts who
considered all sweets and pastry as so much
poison, and that he was never allowed any
pocket money lest he should indulge in such
things that Nr. Bcrstcin'S generosity on that
day had made it the brightest Of his hitherto
dull life, and that he had never forgotten it.,
and he had determined to repay Nr. Bcrstein
should an opportunity ever occur; that since
his accession to wealth he had vainlv sought
him, and was indeed happy in finding him :
| that he should ever look on him as his father.
and put himself entirely under his guidance.
&c, &c. and the affair ended by the Count
establishing Mr.. Bcrsten as uncontrolled man.
ager of his vast estates, at salary of six thou
sand pounds year The Count and Mr. Bcr-
stein are both living, and neither has ever had
reason to regret the meetings which proved the
generosity OF the one and the gratitude of the
other