STINGINESS REBUKED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 648, 4 March 1914, Page 3

STINGINESS REBUKED.

There was one thing that Emperor Nicholas I. of Russia, who was fanatically loved by his subjects, held in particular aversion—viz., wealth, coupled With avarice. He was once travelling with a great dignitary whom he had often bantered because of his stinginess. At one of the stages the carriage had to undergo sundry repairs, and the gentlemen went forward on foot. They came to a spot where the road was flooded to a considerable depth. The Emperor called a road laborer and asked him if he would undertake to carry him through the .vater. 'Why not?" said tM laborer, who took the monarch in his arms and conveyed him safely across. The Emperor gave him a couple of gold pieces, and whispered : "Now go and fetch the other gentleman, »>ut when you have got halfway through the water, stand still and ask him how much he intends to give you." The man did as he was told, stood still with his living load, and inquired in the middle of the water how much he was to get for his labour. "You rascal," cried the miser, "the other gentleman paid for us both ; I saw him, you impudent swindler ! You shall not have another farthing!" "What is he going to stand ?" called out the Emperor. "Noth'ing." "Then throw him into the water!" The laborer was about to do so, but his intended victim held on tightly and exclaimed : "I will give you three roubles !" "Ask three hundred," interposed the Emperor, laughing. And now began a most comical ycene. The terrified rider clung still more closely to his bearer, whom the Emperor, by his gestures, encouraged to remain firm. The rage and terror depicted in the features of the miser were indescribably ludicrous : the Emperor meanwhile urging him to come on without delay. "Well, now," exclaimed the grand dignitary at last, "carry me across. T v.ill pay you when we get there." "Don't you trust him !" called the Emperor,, nearly dying with laughter; ":nake him pay at once !" .'-nd it was. Our anxious travel'er had, while hanging there over the water, to bring out his pocketbook and hand to the laborer the three hundred roubles.