Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-01

letter and picked II up.
Not being able to read Polish, and
thinking it might contain some clew to
Polish conspiracy, he carried the sus-
pected document TO his sovereign, who
quietly placed it in his pocket and pur-
sued his sport. On reaching home he
gave the letter 10 one Of his secretaries
to translate. With smile upon his
countenancc the secretary soon returned
the original with the Russian version
Peter the Great read the translation
with marked attention, having been
struck with the peculiar idea of those
poor peasants in writing to God, and
Immediately commanded one of his
ministers to have n wagon filled with
every article mentioned in the letter, to-
gether with two hundred rubles, and to
send some person TO him who should
drive the wagon whittier he might di-
rect. The next morning all was pre-
pared, and the WAGNER presented himself
to the emperor.
Take this wagon on the road to
Schlussclberg, and when you come near
to n small house and farm, at the cross
Of two roads. dismount, let your horses
go on with the wagon, and do you
return. Take horse with you for your
journey back. Keep this a secret, and
when you have done your errand report
yourself. Co.
All was done as the emperor com.
mandcd, and the horses were left near
the house in the road. Accustomed to
stop by the waysidc, they approached
the door Of Stanislaus. Hearing the
neighing of horses at his door, the poor
peasant Immediately ran out to welcome
the traveller. He saw tho wagon and
horses, but no driver. He called, but
no answer came.
He feared the driver might have
fallen and been injured, so he took his
dog and was about to depart in search
Of the lost WAGNER, when Bugomila
suggested the possibility Of his being
asleep in the wagon. They went out to
look, but h. was not there.
Attracted by the sight Of the very
articles she herself desired, she contin-
ued her examination, and being very
soon convinced that the wagon con
tanned nothing but the things she had
enumerated in her letter, she called her
husband 10 return. MECH bcdzie
pochwalony " God be praiscdl. "Moj
kochany, God has received our letter
and has granted our prayer. Gnwda'
lit is truc)--" see here I" and she cx.
hibitcd to her astonished Stanislaus one
article after the other, until, over
whelmed with surprise he crossed him.
self and exclaimed
"God is mcrciiul and kind r.
Now came the Joy Of taking out all
the little comforts and ncccssaricg. They
were carried into tho house, aud while
Stauislaus looked 20 the horses Bugo.
mila unpackcd the presents. Every
thing was there that they hal prayed
for.
one 81 the servants OF Count [ warow.
on passing the house next morning, ob.
served the wagon, and saw, also, groa;
changes going on in the cottage. lie
mentioned this to his master, adding a
suggestion that the Pole must have
murdered some traveller. That very
evening tho count, returning home,
stopped to examine for himself. He
saw lights burning and plentiful meal
spread on the table, and everything de-
noting an improvement in his tcnsnt's
circumstances.
At once convinced that the suspi.
cions If the servant were we'll founded,
he sent to the commissary Of police in
st. Petersburg, charging S,anislaus
with murder, and the next day the Off
GERS were at the counts castle to receive
further orders. The wish of Count
Uwarow was law to these minions of
the police, and they proceeded to the
humble peasants cottage to arrest the
Pole.
Struck with dismay at sight of the
police, Stanislaus could scarcely utter
sound. His affrighted wife demanded
the cause Of his arrest, but receiycd only
brutal treatment in reply. She deter
mined to follow her husband. Closing
her house, she took her little children,
and some money in her pocket. har-
messed the horses and proceeded to the
city. Stauislaus was brought before
the oommissary of police, where, with
innocent simplicity, he related the story
of his distress, the writing Of the letter,
a a.