A RUSSIAN PEASANT'S SAVINGS BANK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIL, Issue 266, 9 November 1877, Page 4

A RUSSIAN PEASANT'S SAVINGS BANK.

In one of the small provincial towns of Southern Russian a savin ga bank has recently been established, the second clerk of which, while lounging at his desk on " a flat day " in summer, was startled by the entrance of a heavy looking peasant — slouching, grimy, unkempt — the last man one would exp .ct to see in a bank, except for the purpose of robbing it. The apparition came timidly up to the counter, and the following dialogue ensued: — •• Well, my good fellow, what may you want pray? " " If you please, father, I want you to take charge- of some money for me. Our folks say that I may be robbed of it, and that it will be safer witb you." " Money, eh? Why, how much money have you got then? Four roubles? Five? Ten?" "No, it muat be more than that, I fancy. My wife and I couldn't manage to count it all, though we've been at it all the morning.'' So saying, the gentleman in sheepskin produced a tattered, filthy leather bag, and poured out before the clerk's aatoniebe d eyes a perfect pyramid of bank bills of all values from ona rouble to fifty. Tho amazed clerk hastily summoned his two colleagues, and the three, after a long spell of counting, satisfied themselves that, the total amonnt was not less than 20,000 roubles (15,O00dols). The peasant, who ha J stood watching the operation with a look of chiidißh curiosity, pocketed his receipt and walked off as coolly aB if nothing had happened; but the next morning he reappeared and again addressed himself to the same clerk, "God be with you, father. Do you take care of gold, too, as well as baok bills? " " What, gold? You had better start a bank yourself. How much gold have you go. in Heaven's nam. ?" "Two boxes full." At this point tha banker himself, who had bees listening to the conversation j witb the deepest amazement, came forward and announced his intention oi accompanying his strange customer home, and taking charge of the gold himself. The ul.wagh.3d capitalist joyfully accepted the offer, i and the pair drove cv hamlet j

about two miles from the town. Here the peasant led his companion to a small mean-looking hut, and opening a shed on one side of it, displayed two battered wooden boxes, through the breaches in which gold piece, were escaping io all directions, while beside them lay the dirty brig which had heid the bank bills of the day before. The banker asked in amazement, "How long have you had tbis money?" "My father and grandfather saved it up," answered the peasant, "and buried it here; and I dug it up just the other day, because I'm going to shift my quarters." " But, with all this money, why don't you and your wife live in better style?" asked the banker, looking around at tha miserable hovel. " Why should we 1 , father? We do very well as we are."