The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-09-23

How a eorf Became Pre-.
Most Of INV young readers are f.
miliar with the lact that Il y only
within the last twenty years that the
serfs Of Russia, numbering more
than q, O0O, 900 seuls-e third Of the
population Of the empire have been
set 1t liberty BY IN 0dict OF the Car:
Serfdcm In Russia was productive Of
an amount Of injustice and misery
that will never he told. But there
were occasionally bright episodes
amid the darkDess, and this story
will relate one Of them.
A certain count possessed mum.
Der Of serfs on each Of his many e.
tates. Some Of these serfs had be-
come successful In business and were
wealthy men, but still they and their
children were slavee.
One man In particular, whom we
will call Nik0lai, 0ikahil0vitch,
(Nicholas the son Of Michael,) had
attained by industry and rare ability
the position Of the wealthiest man
In tie town Of Riga, but still he was
slave and likely to remain one, for
It was an old custom in the family
never to sell or part with cert.
Time and again on his visits to st.
Petersburg, had the banker sued for
his freedom, offering vast Sums for
the scrap Of paper which would pro
claim him and his children free men;
but - often had his plea been reject
ed, though he was always treated
with great courtesy BY the count, his
master, and everything was done to
make him forget his chains.
At length, Nicholas determined to
make one last effort to gam his free
dom, even to the sacrifice Of his en-
tire fortune. His eldest son had re-
Gently become attached to the daugh-
ter VI . neighboring family. but In
the present state OF affairs their UNI
ion was impossible, seeing that the
Russian law coMpels the wife to ~
sumo the rank Of her husband.
50, with . heart that had little hope
Of success, Nicholas set out for the
metropolis in the depth Of winter.
knowing that the count was passion
ately fond Of oysters, he took with
him . keg of the finest he could pro-
cure, as . present for his obdurate
master.
Arrived at st. Petersburg, he found
that all communication with other
countries, by water, was stopped,
owing to the freezing of the Gulf Of
Finland; but he paid no attention to
the matter, little dreaming what an
important bearing 1t was to have
upon his erranl.
The banker, when in st. Peters
burg, usually stopped at a hotel close
to the counts residence; and. after
making his toilet, proceeded to pay
his respects to his master.
He found . party Of gentlemen
present who were assembled, by In
vitation Of the count, to dioner.
"Ah, my gOO<l Nicholas" said the
count, "yOu are just in time!" and he
graciously presented him to the
guests.
This over, the count turned to him
and said:
I'VE were Just lamenting, when
you entered, that an important addi-
ton to our feast Is lacking No O. g.
tcrs can be obtained in st. Petersburg
for love or money"
II am truly yrievet:.to hear 1t. yOnr
excellency," said Nicholas, his heart
heating quickly. "Rut are you sure:!''
"Quite. My servants have secured
the entire city, and I'll wager there
IL not an oyster to be found. II,
now" he continued, laughing and
turning to his friends, ''our good
friend had brought some with him, l
might have been persuaded to grant
that request which am sure he has
come to make"
us your excellency in earnest:"
cried Nicholas, now trembling with
excitement.
ENTIRELY 81" said the count. ''lsut
my poor friend, you are going on
hopeless chase. Have I not said that
my people have searched the city
from enc end to the ether: Not an
oyster has arrived for week. -
"DOes your exceilency promise to
grant my freedom II find the eys-
ters::" said the banker with his hand
upon the door.
"Oh, yes, l promise, Nicholas"
said his master, carelesslv-''PrOvi-
ded you do not order them from
Riga. and have them here in an
hour"
"Gentlemen" said the banker.
turning to the guests, ''you are wit
nesses to our compact"
ITO be sure" cried they oil, much
amused at what they felt sure would
prove a wild gs0se chase.
With their laughter in his ears,
Nicholas left the house.
1t was the work Of q very few min.
utes to reach his hotel, seize the key,
jump into carriage, and ride lack
to the counts residence.
Allowing no one to touch the pre-
eious key. the banker carried 1t up
stairs with his own hands. and long
before the stipulated hour had elapsed
he appeared before the ast0nissed
company.
Astonishment. chagrin and amu.e-
n,ent struggled for mastery in the
counts face, as lie eheld the bank
er nnfasten the key and present to
his view an array Of the finest III
valves imaginable. The count made
movement forward, but the banker
waved him back.
Os~sOn AsSSs yOuA S~NSssVONyS SsS
said; yOn may repent Of your bargain
or may die suddenly, or thousand
other things may happen. Hand me
my freedom, and l will give you the
oysters"
"Qui!e fair, quite fair" said the
assembled gentlemen. "Send for
pen and paper
ooh, I will save you that trouble
said the banker: and without more
ado he took up a stave Of the barrel
aud wrote upon it with q piece Of
chalk as follows:
II, the undersigned. in considers
ton Of stated recOmrense. hereby
declare my s>-f, Nik"lai Mikahilo-
Witch, and his family, residents of
Riga, free hencc:Orth and forever.
Signed in the presence Of the follow
ing witnesses"
Then handing it to the Count he
said:
Now. your excel!ency, If \ GU and
these gentlemen will sign that dncu-
ment I will proceed to discharge til:
Office Of serf for the last time by
opening the oysters"
The Count made the best of q
doubtful bargain and signed with
good grace, the other gentlemen fol.
lowing him. Then thew all shook