Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-01-18
A SERIOUS MISTAKE
How Near a Wealthy Banker Came to
Being Stuffed with Straw.


Being Stuffed with Straw.
A rich foreigner, named Sutherland,
naturalized in Russia, was banker to
the court, and in high favor with the
empress. He was reused one morning
by the information that his house was
surrounded by guards, and that Re-
lew, the minister of police, desired to
speak with him. This parsonage. en-
tering without further ceremony, at
once announced his Grand
Mr.. Sutherland, said he, II am
charged by my gracious sovereign
with the execution of a sentence, the
severity of which both astonishes and
grieves me; and / am ignorant as to
how you can SO far have excited the
resentment of her majesty"
Il am as much in the dark as your
self, )" replied the banker; "but what
are your ordersl"
Il have not courage to tell you"
Have l lost the confidence of the
empressa"
IF that were all, you would not see
me troubled. Confidence may return
position may be restored"
Am to be sent back to my own
countryl or, good heavensl" cried the
banker trembling does the empress
think of banishing me to Siberial"
Alas! you might some day re-
turn"
Am to be knouted2"
This punishment is fearful, but it
does not kill"
rs my life, then, in peril2 l can
not believe that the empress, usually
so mild, so gentle-who spoke to me
SO kindly but two days since-'tis i'm
possible for heavens sake let me
know the worst; anything is better
than this intolerable suspense"
well, then" said Reliew in mel
ancholy tone, my gracious mistress
has ordered me to have you stuffed"
"Stuffedl" cried the poor banker,
Mortified.
Yes, stuffed with straw"
Sutherland looked fxedly at the
minister of police an instant, and ex-
claimed;
Sir, either you have lost your rea-
son or the empress is not in her right
sense; surely you did not receive such
command without endeavoring, at
least, to point out its unreasonable
ness, its barbarlty."
Alas my unfortunate friend, l did
that which, under ordinary circum-
stances, | should not have dared TO at
tempt; manifested my grief, my con-
sternation, | even hazarded humble
remonstrance; but her imperial males
ty in an irritated tone, babe me leave
her presence and see her commands
obeyed at once, adding these words,
which still ring in my ears Go, and
forget not that it is your duty to &C.
quit yourself without a murmur any
commission with which l may deign
to trust you.
1t would be impossible to describe
the horror, the despair, of the unhap
Ply banker; after waiting till the first
burst of grief was over, Reliew in
formed him tina the would allow him
quarter of an hour to settle hi:
worldly affairs. Sutherland wept anC
prayed, and entreated the minister te
take a petition from him to the EN-
press Overcome by his supplications
the magistrate consented to be hi.
messenger and took charge of the
missive, but, afraid to return to the
palace, he hastily presented himself a
the residence of the English ambas
=. sador and explained the affair to him
The ambassador, very naturally, sup
posed the minister had become insane
but, bidding him follow, he hurried
to the palace. Introduced into til,
imperial presence, he told his story
with as little delay as possible. Oh
hearing this strange recital the EN-
press exclaimed:
''Merciful heaven what a dreadful
mistake! Reliew must have lost hi
wits Run quickly, my lord, l beg
f and desire that mailman to relieve m,
poor banker of his groundless fears
and to set him at liberty Immediately.
The English ambassador left tn
room to do as her majesty required
; and on his return found the empires
, laughing immoderately. Il see now,
: said she, the cause Of this inconceiv
!, ably absurd blunder. l had for som
years little dog, to which was mucl
attached. | called him Sutherland
< because that was the name of the Eng
e lish gentleman who presented him t
me; this dog has just died and | CAV
Reliew orders to have him stu ed; a
he hesitated, became angry. suppo,
y ing that from a foolish excess of prid
: he thought this commission beneat
S his dignity. That is the solution c
v this ridiculous enigma. Paris Figaro
Vanderbilt and Lord Paln,erston.