The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-29
n ssrisss Nistaka.

a ssrisss nistake.
A rich foreigner named Sutherland
naturalised in Russia, was banker Ia
the court and In high favor with the
empress. He was aroused one
morningby the information that hir
house was surrounded by guards and
that Reliew, the minister of the pc.
lice desired to speak with him. This
parsonage, says Figaro, entering
without cermony, ut once hie
errand.
"Mr. Sutherland" said he, 81 am
charged by my gracious sovereign
with the execution of a sentence, the
severity of which astonishes and
grieves me, and l am ignorant ms to
how youcan so fur have excited the
resentment of her majesty"
II am as much in the dark Us your
SELF" replied the banker, "but what
what are your orders?"
have not courage to tell you."
"Have l lost the confidence of the
empress?"
eff that were all you would not
see me troubled. Confidence may re.
turn position restored. !"
cam 1 to be sent back to my own
country, or, good heavcns!" said the
banker trembling, docs the empress
think of banishing me to Sil'eria?"
"Alns! you might some day return
again."
Am I to be knouted?"
"This punishment is fearful but it
docs not KILL"
"Is my life then in peril? Icannot
believe that the empress, usually so
mild. 80 gentle-wllo spoke to me so
kindly but two days since-'tis inn
possible! For heavens sake let me
know the worst. Anything is better
than this intolerable suspense"
"Well. then," said Reliew, in u
melancholy tone. my gracious maj
esty has ordered me to have YOU
stuffed"
"Stuffcdw cried the poor banker,
greatly Mortified.
"Yes, stuffed with straw"
Sutherland looked fixedly at tho
minister. aud exclaimed:
"Sir, either you have lost your rea-
son or the empress is notinh her right
sense. Surely you do not receive
such II command without endeavor-
ing ut least to point out it's unreal
sonableness, its barbarity."
"Alas. my unfortunate friend / did
that which, under ordinary circum-
scances should not have dared at
tempt. manifested my grief, my
consternation; l even hazarded q
humble remonstrance; but her i'm
perial majesty in an irritated tone,
bade me leave her presences and sec
her commands obeyed ut once, add
ing these words which still ring in
my ears: Go and forget not that it
is your duty to acquit yourself with
out II murmur any commission with
which may deign to trust YOU"
1t would be impossible to describe
the horror, the despair of the unhap.
py banker. After Whiting until the
first burst of grief was over, Reliew
informed him that he would allow
him u quarter of an hour to settle
his worldly affairs. Sutherland wept
and prayed, and entreated him to
take n petition from him to the en-
press. Overcome by his supplica-
tions the magistrate consented to be
his messenger, and took charge of
the missive; but afraid to return to
the palace he hastily presented
himself at the residence of the
English ambassador and ex.
planned the affair to him. The am
bassador very naturally supposed
that the minister had become in.
sane; but bidding him follow, he hur-
ried to the palace. introduced into
the imperial presence he told his sto :
ry with as little delay as possible.
On hearing this strange recital the
empress exclaimed:
"Merclful heavens, what q dread
full mistake. Keliew must have lost
his wits. Run quickly, my lord, 1
beg, and desire that mailman to re-
lieve my poor banker of his ground
less fears, and set him at liberty i'm
mediately."
The English ambassador left the
room to do as her majesty required,
and on his return found the empress
laughing immoderately. 81 see
now" said she, 1.-The cause of this in
conceivably absurd blunder. l had
for some years a little dog to which
/ was much attached. called him
Sutherland, because that was
the name of the English gentle
man who presented him to me; this
dog has just died, and gave Reliew
orders to have him stuffed; as he hes
itated, 1 became angry, supposing
that from q foolish excess Of pride
he thought this commission beneath
his dignity. That is the solution of
this ridiculous enigma.