Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-09-12
ANEoDoTAL LITERATURE.
Gathered and Compiled by W. @.


THE YANKEE BOY AND THE ACORN.
The following is the substance of
story, as told by Mr.. Dallas at a
public dinner given him in PhiIadel-
phis, ON his return from Russia in
1888. One day lad, apparently
about 10, presented himself before
our ambassador at st. Petersburg.
He was pure specimen of the gen.
us Yankee with sleeves too short
for his bony arms, trousers half way
up to his knees, and hands playing
coppers and tenpenny nails in his
pockets. He introduced himself by
saying, "I've just come out here to
trade with few Yankee notions,and
Iwant to get sight ofthe emperor
"Why do you wish to see him2'
"I've brought him present ell the
way from Ameriky. i respect him
considerably, and ! want to get at
him to give it to him with my own
hands, Mr.. Dallas smiled as he
answered ait is such a common
thing my lad to make crowned
heads present, expecting some
thing handsome in return, that / am
afraid the emperor will consider this
only a Yankee trick. What have
you brought ~ San acorn.' Gan
acorn what under the sun induced
you TO bring the Emperor of Russia
an acorn? ~ "Why, jest before
sailed, mother and / went to Wash
ington TO see about a pension and
while we was there, we thought we'd
just step over to Mt. Vernon. l
picked up this acorn there, and tho't
to myself I'd bring it to the emper-
or; knowing that he had heard con-
siderable about our Gen. Washing
ton, and must admire our institu-
tons. So you see I've brought it,
and want to get at him." "My lad,
it's not an easy matter for stranger
to approach the emperor and l am
afraid he will take no notice of your
present. You had better keep it,"
81 tell you l want to have talk
with him. l expect l can tell him
thing or two about Ameriky. l
guess he'd like mighty well to hear
about our railroads and our free
schools, and what swell our steam.
ers cut. And when he hears how
wei our people are getting on, may
be fl will put him up to doing some
thing. The long and short ont is,
/ shan't be easy till I get talk with
the emperor and | should like to
see his wife and children. want
to see how such folks bring up
family" Well, sir, since you are
so determined upon it, l will do
what can for you, but you must
expect to be disappointed. Though
it will be rather an unusual proceed
ing, would advise you to call on
the vice.ehancellor, and state your
wishes he may possibly assist you"
swell, that's all 1 want of you. l
will call again and let you know how
l get on"
In two or three days he again APP
peared and said, swell, I've seen the
emperor, and had talk with him.
He's a real gentleman, can tell you.
When I give him the acorn, he said
he should set great store by it;
that there was no character in an
Gent or modern times he admired
more than our Washington. He
said he'd plant it in his palace gar
den with his own hand and he did
do it, for l seen him with my own
eyes. He wanted to ask me so much
about our schools and railroads, and
one thing another, that he invited
me to come again and see his fami-
", for he said his wife could speak
better English than he; SO I went
again yesterday, and she is fine
knowing woman, 1 tell you ; and his
daughters are nice girls
"Oh, she asked me sight of ques-
tions. Don't you know, she thought
we had no servants in Ameriky. /
told her that poor folks did their
own work, but rich folks had plenty
of servants. "But you don't call
them servants said she, "you call
them help" 81 guess, ma'am, you've
been readin' Mrs. Trollope p says l;
1--WE had that ERE book aboard our
ship. The emperor clapped his
hands, and laughed as if he would
kill himself. "You're right, sir,'
said he, "you're right. We sent for
an English copy, and she's been
rea6ing it this very morning" Then
I told him all 1 knew about our
country, and he was nightly pleas
ed. He wanted to know how long I
expected to stay in these pats. /
told him as l had sold all my no.
tions / would return soon. l bid
ZEN goodby all around and went