NEW SHOES.

The following “Chip” is from the chisel of a blacksmith—a certain Peter Muller of Istra, son of the person to whom it refers. It was gathered from his forge by M. Stæhlin, who inserted it in his original anecdotes of Peter the Great, collected from the conversation of several persons of distinction at St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Among all the workmen at Muller’s forge, near Istra, about ninety versts from Moscow, 257there was one who had examined everything connected with the work with the most minute attention, and who worked harder than the rest. He was at his post every day, and appeared quite indifferent to the severity of the labour. The last day on which he was employed, he forged eighteen poods of iron—the pood is equal to forty pounds—but though he was so good a workman, he had other matters to mind besides the forging of iron; for he had the affairs of the State to attend to, and all who have heard of Peter the Great, know that those were not neglected.

It happened that he spent a month in the neighbourhood of Istra, for the benefit of the chalybeate waters; and wherever he was, he always made himself thoroughly acquainted with whatever works were carried on. He determined not only to inspect Muller’s forge accurately, but to become a good blacksmith. He made the noblemen who were in attendance on him accompany him every morning, and take part in the labour. Some he appointed to blow the bellows, and others to carry coals, and perform all the offices of journeymen blacksmiths. A few days after his return to Moscow, he called on Muller, and told him that he had been to see his establishment, with which he had been much gratified.

“Tell me,” said he, “how much you allow per pood for iron in bar, furnished by a master blacksmith.”

“Three copecks or an altin,” answered Muller.

“Well, then,” said the Czar, “I have earned eighteen altins, and am come to be paid.”

Muller went to his bureau, and took from it eighteen ducats, which he reckoned before the Emperor. “I would not think of offering less to a royal workman, please your Majesty.”

“Put up your ducats again,” interrupted the Czar, “I will not take more than I have earned, and that you would pay to any other blacksmith. Give me my due. It will be sufficient to pay for a pair of shoes, of which you may see,” added he, as he raised his foot, and displayed a shoe somewhat the worse for the wear, “I am very much in need.”

Muller reckoned out the eighteen altins, with which the Czar hurried off to a shop, and purchased a pair of shoes. He put them on with the greatest delight; he thought he never had worn such a pair of shoes; he showed them with a triumphant air to those about him, and said, “See them; look how well they fit; I have earned them well—by the sweat of my brow, with hammer and anvil.”

One of these bars of iron, forged by Peter the Great, and bearing his mark, was kept as a precious relic in the forge at Istra, and exhibited with no little pride to all who entered. Another bar which was forged by his hand is shown in the Cabinet of the Academy of Sciences at Petersburg.

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