The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-10-04
ANECDOTES.


an audience with Prince Bismarck The
Chancellor remembered indistinctly the
name sent in as one with which he was fa-
millar when, as Baron V. Bismarck, he was
Prussian ambassador in st. Petersburg.
Notwithstanding his overwhelming business
cares, and the ceaseless round of gaities
consequent upon the distinguished visit,
the Prince received the lady with most
amiable "How can serve you, Countess?"
Il would like your hiehness' Autograph
your name."
The Prince, smiling, stepped to the
great Oaken writing-desk, and on his finest
paper wrote, in a large, round hand, with a
quill pen, "V. Bismarck Schonhausen."
With sudden haste the lady reached for
the paper; and there passed over her sad,
pale face. an expression like sunlight-hap
piness and hope
And will your highness permit me to
write one single line over your name, and
use it fOr--for noble cause?"
The Prince threw quick, searching
glance into the face of his strange visitor
The sunshine had already disappeared, and
a pale shadow of anxiety fitted across it, as
he answered: "If dare, Countess, to
read these lines and know the cause-very
willingly"
The lady took the pen and wrote Sire!
an unhappy mother begs an audience-begs
clemency for her poor misled son."
And the address, Countess?"
Emperor Alexander"
Heart and eyes flowed over "No, your
highness, you can not, you will not with
draw your name. You also have two sons
that you love tenderly, and my poor Sergei
Petrowisch has languished five long months
in Siberia, and it is for lifetime. Do you
know, your highness, what that is-for life
time in Siberia? A long, lingering death
a mothers broken heart? And what has
Sergei done? The police commissioners
say he has conspired against his Emperor
and his governmeut-he with his seventeen
years, and his tender, good heart Sergei
was student at the Moscow University
and there, with his young, foolish compan-
ions thought, boy-like, to form secret So
ciety, and meet every night together with
one OF the members to drink tea, smoke ci-
gars and read forbidden books perchance
sometimes to dream of a new, free Russia
boy dreams, boy nonsense-for this my
poor boy pines in Siberia, and for lifetime,
if your highness refuses me your signature. !"
Did Prince Bismarck think OF his boys,
Herbert and Willie? He was visibly af-
fected, and his voice sounded tenderly as he
said:
Dear Countess, l will only be toe happy
to help you to get back your imprudent son,
if / can. Siberia is not the best boarding
school for dreamy young boys. But l can
not understand how my name alone will help
you"
"But your highness will not withdraw
your name? Then my son is free. All
ST. Petersburg knows how much the EN-
peror Alexander loves and honors Prince
Bismarck-your name will decide his par
don."
During the visit of Prince Bismarck to
st. Petersburg, he saw the happy Sergei
Petrowisch, who begged for an audience,
which the German Chancellor kindly grant
ed. The young man thanked him tearfully
for his goodness, and assured him he was
cured forever of his boyish political ideas.
Story OF AN ORIENTAL MIsER.-A miser
living in Kufa had heard that in Bassora
there dwelt miser more miserly than him
self, to whom he might 90 to school, and
from whom be might learn much. He
forthwith journeyed thither, and presented
himself to the great master as an humble
commencer in the art of avarce, anxious to
learn, and under him to become student.
Welcome" said the mser of Bassora ;
"we will straightway go to the market to
make some purchases"
They went to the baker
Is Hast thou good bread ?"
Good, indeed. my masters, and fresh
and soft as butter"
Mark this, friend" said the man of
Bassora to the one of Kufa butter is
compared with bread as being the better of
the two; as we can only consume small
quantity of that it will also be cheaper, and
We shall therefore act more wisely and saw
lngly, too. in being satisfied with butter"
1hey went to the butter merchant, and
asked if he had good butter
:" Good, indeed, and favory and fresh as
the finest olive oil" was the merchant 8
satisfactory answer.
Mark this also," said the host to his
guest; "oil is compared to the best butter,
and therefore by much ought to be prefer
red to the latter
They next went to the oil-vendor.
Have you good oil?"
The v1y best quality white. and trans
parent as water"
Mark that, too," said the miser of Bas-
sora to the one Of kufa !; " by this rule wa
| ter is the very best. Now at home l have
a pailful, and most Hospitality Herewith
will entertain thee"
And, indeed, on his return home nothing
but water did he place before his guest be-
cause they learned that water was better
than oil, oil better than butter, and butter
better than bread.
Heaven be praised p" said the miser Of
Kufa. Il have not journeyed this long
distance in vain.''
Sir Henry Smith, long NJ. P. for Col