Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-02-17
Kind Act Rewarded.
BY ROBERT HANDY.

BY ROBERT HANDY.
| Every act of kindness carries its own r.
ward in the peace and JOY of heart which
gives. But it sometimes comes back !
very unexpected returns. Here is strlA
ing instance
Some fifteen years ago, a tall, overgrow
lad stood gazing hungrily into a pastry
cooks shop in the principal street Of )!
Petersburg. So intense and eager was HI
gaze, that it attracted the attention of a pas
ser-by, Mr. Bernstein, Hamburg mer
chant, whom business had called to St. Re
tersburg for few weeks. Mr.. Berstein
after he had watched the boy for few
minutes, asked him if he would like some
tarts, and invited him to enter, and eat al
many as he wished The youth required
no second bidding, but instantly set to, ano
and in short space of time devoured more
cakes, tarts and buns than one could lmag
inc any boy capable Of containing.
When he finally came to stand-still, MIR.
Bernstein told him he might put few in bis
pocket. Our hero straightway filled every
pocket and corner, and finally, to MIR. Ber-
STEMS intense amusement, buttoned his
coat by two buttons, and then filled the
breasts on each side Then, tuning to bis
benefactor, and speaking for the first time,
he said, with a beaming face,-
''Wnat is your name p
"Berstein," said his friend
''Thank you: Mr.. Berstein," said the
boy, and walked away without another
word, leaving the gentleman so much
amused atthe incident that he never thought
of asking the youth any questions until it
was too date, and the boy had disappeared;
He paid for what the little fellow had, and
departed. ,..=...
Many years rolled on, and everything
went wrong with Mr.. Bernstein From be-
ing rich and prosperous man, he became
poorer and poorer each year. At length, a
firm with which he had formerly had tusi-
ness transaction, more from compassion than
anything else, gave i'm commission to st.
Petersburg
One day, on passing confectioner's the
little episode of the cakes REQUIRED to his
memory, and he wondering what had be-
come Of the hero Of the tarts, when he sud-
denly found himself confronted by a we'll
dressed and handsome young man, who ex-
claimed -
''Mr Bernstein, don't you know me p
All, L have never forgotten you. Come
home with me have been looking for
you for year,"
''Berstein is my name, certain, but do
not remember you"
"Well, I know you. So come home
with me, and I'll tell you who I am
The stranger was Russian court, the
owner OF an estate Of two hundred and fifty
square miles. taking his title from the pro-
vince in which it was situated, and the
identical youth to whom Mr.. Bernstein had
been so generous years before. The count
then told Mr.. Bernstein that at the time of
their first meeting there we're two lives be
tween 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
probationary lest he should indulge in such
things
"Ycu had your fill once, at all events
did you not % interrupted Mr.. Berstein,
laughing.
eyes, indeed I did, and weeks supply
into the bargain but had to hide it
Then your unlimited generosity-how I
prize the memory Of it l. was the bright
est day Of my hitherto dull life. I have
never forgotten it, and l determined to re-
pay you should an opportunity ever occur"
The count further told Mr.. Berstein how
since his accession to wealth, he had vainly
sought him far and near, and how happy
he was in finding him that he should ever
look upon him as father, and put himself
entirely under his guidance and the affair
ended by the count establishing Mr.. Ber-
stein as uncontrolled manager Of his vast
estate, at a salary of thirty thousand dollars
year. The count and Mr.. Berstein are
both living. and neither has ever yet had
reason to regret the meetings which proved
tie generosity Of the one and the gratitude
of the other