The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-12-04

spring, he returned sad and despairlng
to st. Petersburg. His eldest son hav-
ing been sent to England on business
connected with the house, had become
acquainted with the daughter of lead
ing manufacturer. The young people
were deeply in love, but, under existing
circumstances, they could not marry
The banker resolved, if necessary, to
sacrifice his whole fortune to purchase
the freedom of his eldest son. Upon
his arrival he found the Gulf of Fin
land blockaded with ice, thus shutting
of all communication with the interior.
Knowing the Counts extreme liking
for oysters, the banker purchased keg
on the route and took them along with
him. The Count had some friends to
cared for was lacking, and loud walls
arose from him and his guests in con-
sequence. In the midst of the general
lamentation our banker entered, and the
Count invited him to stay to breakfast.
"You have come again with that
everlasting frain," said the Count,
laughing. 81 remember hearing you
sing it IN my fathers lifetime, when 1
was but child. You don't know what
q chance for gaining your freedom has
| just been opened to you, but you have
| missed it, as have my oysters"
| "What chance?' asked the banker,
with deep sigh, and yet with a CLEAN
of hope in his eyes. Perhaps your
honor is in q monetary embarrassment.
What sum do you require?"
"Go to the deuce with your money!
answered the Count; 81 despise it. But
if you had only brought some oysters"
"What would you do were to bring
you some?" asked the banker, his heart
throbbing violently.
| .What would l do?" returned the
Count, sure that there were no oysters
in St. Petersburg, and feeling perfectly
safe in making any promise in this re-
gard no matter how preposterous.
"What would / do? would give you
your liberty. Then should not only
have my oysters, but my ears would
be forever free from this eternal hue
and cry of yours"
would you truly give me my free
dom and fortune with it?" cried the
banker, eagerly. "Are you really in
earnest?"
81 Twas never more so in my life" !"
laughed the Count. For this once l
will transgress our old family law, but
only on one condition"
.'Name i'll" cried the banker, eagerly.
You are to bring me the oysters
this very day, and not order them from
Riga"
a SDo you pledge me your word Of
"Yes, my solemn word of honor"
replied the Count, still laughing at the
absurd idea of finding oysters in st.
Petersburg, when his servants had for
the last twenty-four hours been seeking
them in vain.
81 take you for my witnesses gentle
men," said the banker, fastening to
pent of his promise.
| 90, yes, we are your witnesses; but
hurry and bring us your oysters" cried
the merry guests, laughing as they
foresaw the bankers discontinue.
| They shall soon be forthcoming.
gentlemen" he answered, as he hast
ened away.
Upon the bankers visit at st. Peters.
burg he always lodged at the Counts
hotel with his chief intendent. He had
not far to 60, and in a few moments,
when the guests were making them
selves merry over his illusion, the door
opened, and he entered rolling keg
Of oysters. The Count looked blank,
and the guests began to clamor for the
oysters Immediately.
| Hold?" cried the banker, &" dc
not doubt your honor's word, but l am
a man of business, and prefer 10 have
the agreement made in writing. Imay
die of Joy, and your honor may die OF
chsgrin, before the promise is carried
out. Give me the writing and l will
deliver YOU the OYSTERS"
So saying, he opened the keg, dis
playing the largest and finest Holstein
bivalves Imaginable.
The banker is right, Count" ex'
claimed the guests; "but end this bust
ness quickly, for we are suffering the
horrors of Tantalus. Order pen, inI
and paper"
go, l will save you the trouble, u
said the banker, and, taking piece ol
white chalk from his pocket, he wrote
the following agreement upon the stave
of the oyster keg:
81, the undersigned, in considers
tion of a stated recompense, hereby de
clare my serf, NJ. N, and family, resi-
dents of Riga, free henceforth and for.
ever. Signed in the presence of the
Witnesses
"Now," he added, presenting the
chalk and stave to the Count, "youl
honor and those gentlemen will do me
the favor to sign this document. while
I, for the last time, discharge my office
of serf, and proceed to open the oys
ters."
The Count put good face on bad
matter; he signed, and the guests fol
lowed him. Then the gentlemen shook
hands with the banker, and congratu
lated him on his good fortune. But the
Count would not allow his former SER
to play the role of servant, he com
PEELED him to take a seat at the table
The decanters were filed with cham
pagne, after they had all drank to the
health of the now free citizen, the gen.
tlemen turned with great zest to the
oysters, which were soon finished.
The writer of this sketch has himself
seen the original decree of emancipa
ton written with chalk upon the oaker
stave; enclosed in gold frame it occu
pies the place of honor among the
many fine pictures in the banker.
, drawing-room. There il will always
hang, reminding the wealthy and hon
orable family of those old days of serf
dom, which, God be praised, are now
over.-From a Volume of Russia,
| La.