Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-30
KIND Act rewarded.

Every act of kindness carries its owl
reward in the peace and joy of hear
which it gives. But it sometimes comes
back in very unexpected returns. Here
is a striking instance: ig4a ftAa yE
Some fifteen years ago tall, over
grown lad stood gazing hungrily into q
pastry cooks shop in the principal street
of st. Petersburg. So intense and eager
was his gaze, that it attracted the atten-
ton of passer-by, Mr.. Bernstein, g
| Hamburg merchant, whom business haC
called to St Petersburg for few weeks
Mr.. Bernstein, after he had watched the
boy for few minutes, asked him if he
would like some tarts, and invited him
to enter, and eat as many as he wished
| The youth required no second bidding
but instantly set to, and in a short space
of time devoured more cakes, tarts and
buns than any one could imagine any
boy capable of containing.
When he finally came to a stand-still,
Mr.. Bernstein told him he might put a
few in his pocket Our hero straightway
filled every pocket and corner, and
finally to Mr.. Bernstein intense amuse-
ment, buttoned his coat by two buttons,
and then filled the breasts on each side
Then, turning to his benefactor, and
speaking for the first time, he said, with
a beaming face: NPAt''
What is your name2 2"sru
Bernstein" said his friend.
"Thank you, Mr.. Bernstein, said the
boy, and walked away without another
word, leaving the gentleman so much
amused at the incident that he never
thought Of asking the youth any ques-
tions until it was too late, 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
being rich and prosperous man, he be-
came poorer and poorer each year. AT
length, firm with which he had busl-
ness transactions, more from compass
sion than anything else, gave him a
commission TO St. Petersburg
One day, on passing o confectioner
the little episode of the cakes occurred
to his memory, and he wondered what
had become of the hero of the tarts,
when he suddenly found himself con
fronted by well-dressed and handsome
young man, who exclaimed:
Mr.. Bernstein, don't you know me2
All, have never forgotten you. Come
home with me. Ihave been looking for
you for years. II ft p = y
Bernstein is my name, certain, but |
do not remember you"
"Well, / know you. SO come home
with me, and I'll tell you who / am. ~
The stranger was Russian Count, the
owner of an estate of two hundred and
fifty square miles, taking his title from
the province in which it was situated,
and the identical youth to whom Mr..
Bernstein had been so generous years
before. The Count then told Mr.. Bern
stein 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
probationary lest he should indulge in |
such things.
."You had your fill once, at all events,
did you not2 " interrupted Mr.. Bern
stein, laughing.
Yes, indeed | did, and a weeks sup |
ply into the bargain; but / had to hide
it. Then your unlimited generosity-
how prize the memory Of i'll 1t was
the brightest day Of my hitherto dull
life. have never forgotten IT, and |
determined TO repay you should an op- /
portunity ever occur.
The Count further told Mr.. Burnstein
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