Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-02-09
The Boy and the Acorn.

about nineteen, presented himself before
our ambassador at ST.. Petersburgh. He
was pure specimen of the genus Yankee,
with sleeves too short for his bony arms,
| trowsers half way up to his knees, and
nails in bis pockets. He Introduced him.
self BY saying:
1--WE just come out here to trade with
/ a few Yankee notions, and want to get
sight of the Emperor Z
Why do you wish to see him." i
1--WE brought him present all the way
! from Ameriky. respect him considerable,
and I want TO get at him to give 1t to him
with my own hands,
Mr.. Dallas smiled, as he answered:
1T is such common thing my lad, 10
make crowned heads present, expecting
| something handsome in return, that m
afraid the Emperor will consider this only
Yankee trick. What have you brought
IAN acorn"
IAN acorn! What under the sun in
dueed you to bring the Emperor of Russia
an acorn ?''
Why, jest before l sailed, mother and
went on to Washington to see about q
/ pension; and when we was there we
thought we'd just step over to Mount Yer
non. I picked up this acorn there.
Thinks, says I, he must have heard a con-
siderable deal about our General Washing
| ton, and expect he must admire our in
stitutions. So now you see I've brought
it, and want to get at him.
| My lad, it's not an easy matter for a
stranger to approach the Emperor, and I
am afraid he will take no notice of your
present. You had better keep it.n
[ tell you / want to have talk with
| him. expect [ can tell him q thing or
two about Ameriky. guess he'd like to
hear about our + iilroads, and our free
schools, and what big swell our steam
ers cut. And when he hears how well
our people are getting on, maybe it will
put him up to doing something. The
till l get talk with the Emperor and
should like to see his wife and children.
want to see how such folks bring up
family"
"Well, sir since you are SO determined
upon it, viii do what I can for you, but
you must expect to be disappointed.
Though 1t will be rather an unusual pro-
ceeding, ! would advise you to cali on the
Vice-Chaneellor, and state your wishes
he maypossibly assist YOU"
"Well that's all want of you. l will
call again and let you know how I get
on"
In two or three days he again appeared,
and said:
"Well, I've seen the Emperor, and had
talk with him. He's real gentleman,
I can tell YOU When I gave him the
acorn he said he should set great store
by it; that there was no character in
ancient or modern history he admired so
much as he did our Washington. He
said he'd plant it ia his palace garden
with his own hand; and he did do it, for
/ see him with my own eyes. He wanted
to ask me so much about our schools and
railroads, and one thing or another, that
he invited me to come again and see his
daughters for he said his wife could
speak better English than he could. So
went again, yesterday: and she's fine,
knowing woman, i can tell you and his
daughters are nice gala" =.
What did the Empress say to you ~
"Oh she asked me sight of questions.
Don't you think she thought We had no
servants in Anerikyl told her poor
folks did their own work, but rich folks
don't call 'em servants, said she, you
call 'em help J guess, ma'am, you've
been reading Mrs. Trollope ~ says / (; we
had that 'ere book aboard our ship The
emperor clapped his hands, and laughed
az If he'd xiii himself. You're right, sir
said he, you're right We sent for an
English copy, AMI she's been reading it
this very morningin Then told him all
I knew about our country, and he was
long expected to stay in these parts. I
told him | had sold all the notions I
brought over, and / guessed I should go
back in the same ship. bid 'em goodby
all round and went about my business.
Amt I had glorious time? 1 expect you
didn't calculate to see me run such rig ?o
No, indeed, did not, my lad: you may
well consider yourself lucky, for it's a very
uncommon thing for crowned heads to treat
n cnr
A few days after he called again, and
said:
guess 1 shall stay here spell longer,
I'm treated so we'll. T'other day grand
officer came to my room, and told me the
Emperor had sent him to show me att the
curiosities; dressed myself, and he took
me with him in mighty fine carriage,
with four horses; and have been to the
Theatre and the museum, and expect I've
| seen about all there is to be seen in st. Pc
tersburgh. What do you think of that,
Mr.. Dallas ?n
| 1t seemed so incredible that poor. un-
calmly Yankee lad should be thus loaded
with attentions, that the ambassador
scarcely knew what to think or say. In
short time this strange visitor reappeared.
"Well," said he, II made up NV mind
to go home; so I went to thank the en-
peror and bid him good-by. / thought I
couldn't do less, he'd been so civil. Saws
he, Is there anything else you'd like to see
before you go back to Ameriky I? / told
him should like to get a peep at Mowcow,
for I'd heard considerable about their set
ting fire to the Kremlin, and I'd read a
deal about General Bonaparte, but it would
cost sight o. money to go there, and I
wanted to carry my earnings to my mother
So bid him good-by and came off, Now
what do guess he did next morning? I
vow he sent the same man dressed in regi-
mentals, to carry me to Moscow in one of
his own carriages, and bring me back
again when I've seen all want to see!
And we're going tomorrow morning, Mr.,
Dallas. What do you think now 2"
And sure enough, the next morning the
Yankee boy passed the ambassadors house
in splendid coach and four, waving his
handkerchief, and shouting, "Good-by!
goodbye Mr.. Dallas afterward learned