The other story:
The Alter Rebbe called the Tzemach Tzedek to his room and asked him, “Where is the money you received as a dowry?”
“I gave it to a wealthy man in Vitebsk to invest, ” he replied.
“Would you take it back and put it in this?” he asked, pointing to the chest holding contributions for the Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess Fund [to be distributed to the needy in the Holy Land].
The Tzemach Tzedek remained silent.
Shortly afterwards the wealthy man became bankrupt and the Tzemach Tzedek’s money was lost. When the Tzemach Tzedek’s wife (a granddaughter of the Alter Rebbe) came in tears to her grandfather, the Alter Rebbe said, “Should my own children not listen to me?”
And the Alter Rebbe continued:
“The Rebbe — the Maggid of Mezeritch — once sent us on a mission. We stopped by a Jewish home in a village on the way and asked the owner, ‘How far away is the next town?’
“‘Fifty verst [33 miles ], ’ he answered.
“‘How is it possible that a Jew never hears Borchu or Kedushah?!’ we asked, and before we finished davenen we saw loaded wagons in front of his house ready to move to town. This happened after hearing that we were the Rebbe’s students — and my own children don’t listen to me!”