Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-10

elite of the Russian nobility.
A few months later. early in the spring
he returned, sad and despairing, to St
Petersburgh. His eldest son, having beer
sent to England on business conaected
with the house, had become acquainted
with the daughter of leading manulac
turer. The young people were deeply il
love, but, under existing circumstances
they could not marry. The banker had
resolved, if necessary, to sacrifice hi,
whole fortune to purchase the freedom o.
his eldest son. Upon his arrival he found
the Gulf af Finland blockaded with ice
thus shutting off all communication with
the interior.
Knowing the counts extreme liking for
oysters, the banker purchased keg on the
route and brought them along with him.
The count had some friends TO breakfast,
but the delicacy he most cared for was
lacking, and loud walls arose from him
and his guests in consequence. In the
midst of the general lamentation our
banker entered, and the count invited him
10 stay to breakfast.
You have come again with that ever.
lasting refrain" said the count laughing
Il can remember hearing you sing it in
my fathers lifetime, when l was but O
child. You don't know what fine
chance for gaining your freedom has just
been open TO you, but yon have missed il
as have missed my oysters
"What chanceP" asked the banker, with
a deep sigh, and yet with CLEAN of hope
in his eyes. Perhaps your honor is in
some monetary embarrassment. What
sum do you requireP' ,
"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 if were to bring
you some?" asked the banker, his hear
ihrobbing violently.
"What would dop' returned the count
sure that there were no oysters in St. Pc
tersburgh. and feeling perfectly safe in
making any promise in this regard, nc
matter how preposterous. What would
I dop would give you your liberty
Then l 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 freedom
and fortune with itP" cried the banker ca
gerly. "Are you really in earnest?"
Il was never more so in my life.''
laughed the count. For this once will
transgress our old family law, but only on
one condition
Name it," said the banker earnestly.
"You are to bring me the oysters thi:
very day. and not order them from Riga
"Do you pledge your word of honorp
Yes, my solemn word of honor" re-
piled the count. still laughing at the bank
er's absurd idea of finding oysters in St
Petersburgh where his servants had, fol
the last twenty-four hours, been seeking
them in vain.
Il take you for my witnesses, gentle
men," said the banker, fastening to leave
before the count had time to repent of his
promise.
"Oh, yes, we are your witnesses; bu'
hurry and bring US your OYSTERS" cried
the merry guests, laughing as they fore
saw the bankers discontinue.
They shall soon be forthcoming. gen
tlemen," he answered, as he hastened
away.
Upon the bankers visits to st. Peters.
burgh, he always lodged at the counts
own hotel with his chief attendant He
had not far to 60, and in few moments,
when the guests were making themselves
merry over his illusion, the door opened
and he entered, rolling a keg of oysters.
The count looked blank, but the guests be-
gan to clamor for the oysters.
"Holdm cried the banker; 81 do not
doubt your honors word, but l am man
of business, and l prefer to have the
agreement made in writing. l may die
of Joy. your honor may die of chagrin
before the promise is carried out. Give
me the writing. and will deliver you the
oysters
So saying, he opened the keg, displaying
the largest and finest Holstein bivalves
imaginable.
The banker is right, count" exclaim-
ed the guests; "bnt end this business
quickly, for we are suffering the horrors
of Tantalus. Order pen, ink and paper u
"Oh, will save you that trouble!''
said the banker, and taking a piece oi
white chalk from his pocket, he wrote the
following agreement upon a stave of the
oyster keg:
q, the undersigned, in consideration Of
stated recompense, hereby declare my
serf, M. N, and his family, residents ol
Riga, free, henceforth and forever. Signed
in the presence of the following wit
nesses:"
Now" he added, presenting the chalk
and the stave to the count, "your honor
and these gentlemen will do me the favor
to sign this document, while |. for the last
time, discharging my office Of serf, pro-
ceed to open the oysters"
The count put q good face on n bad
matter. He signed, and the guests fol-
lowed him. Then all the gentlemen shook
hands with the banker and congratulated
him on his good fortune. But the count
would not allow his former serf to play
the role Of servant; he compelled him to
take II seat at the table. The decanters
were filled with champagne, and after they
had all drank the health of the now free
citizen, the gentlemen turned with great
zest to the oysters, which were soon fin
ished.
The writer of this sketch has himself
seen the original decree of emancipation
written with chalk upon the oaken stave
enclosed in gold frame it occupies the
place of honor among the many fine pic.
lures in the bankers drawing rom
There it will always hang, reminding thai
wealthy and honorable family of those old
days of serfdom, which, God be praised
are now over.-BoSton transcript.
A NOVEL INsTITUTIoN.-There exists in
Denmark singular institution. establish.
ed mainly for the benefit of the daughters
of the nobility. When man of wealth is
blessed by the birth of daughter he
causes her to be enrolled at this institution,
paying a very small sum, with q fixed
annual payment of a moderate amount
When the young girl reaches the age Of
twenty.one she not only finds herself in