THE EMPEROR AND THE LITTLE SWISS BOY. A PHILATELIC FABLE.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 269, 2 April 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE EMPEROR AND THE LITTLE SWISS BOY.

A PHILATELIC FABLE.

Little Curl Kirchofor was a stamp collector, tjtat, alas !he was poor. His longiug heart yearned to possess inuny (-tamps but his weekly " taschengeld " could only procure ono or two additions to tho album. He particularly desired a set of Russians, beautiful in their double colours but the price was beyond his means. Ono day a splendid idea came into his head, and taking pen and paper he wrote a letter to the Czar of Russia. He told in his sweet and simple schoolboy language all his desires. "lam a little Swiss boy of nino years. I want some Russian stamps for my collection. May it please your Royal Highness to send me some ?" He spent that week's pocket money on the postage and waited in feverish anxiety for a reply. One day a largo envelope, sealed with a great red seal, came addressed to Car!. It contained a beautiful set of Russian stamps, complete and all unused. Somehow the incidont got into the papers. His Imperial Majesty, the Autocrat of all tho Russias, glanced into his eecretrrv's office one morning a few months after the publication of the above episode. "How many applications for stamps this morning, Mr Pennaninkspy P" he asked. " Fourteen thousand seven hundred and sixty-three, your Majesty ; and this is only a small mail compared with yesterday's." " Tear off the stamps and sell them to Filatelski the dealer, burn the letters, and send me round the cash, I want a few roubles this afternoon." Then winking at the secretary, ho remarked, " That was a great idea of mine sending the stamps to that Swiss kid, it has kept me in cash for two months past." And whistling Come, arouse thee, arouse thee, My merry Swiss boy ! his imperial nibs strolled down to the club.