Litchfield enquirer., 1831-07-14
THE LEFT EYE.

1T V whom, named KOokju, was as much distin. gnished for her beauty, as for her extraor. dinary wisdom.
 One morning he was about driving hi: cattle for sale to the Chan's market-place he begged his daughters to tell him what presents they wished him to bring them on hls return. The two eldest asked hin, for trInketS; but the handsome and wise NookjH said that she wanted no present. but that she had a request to make which it would be difficult and even dangerous for him to execute. Upon which the father, who loved her more than the two others, swore that he would do her wish, though it were at the price of his life. If it be so, , replied kookju, do as follows: sell all your cattle except the short-tailed OK ; and ask no other price for him except the Chan's left eye.' The old man was start ed however, remembering his oath, and confiding in his daughters wisdom, he re- solved to do as she bade him.
 Alter having sold all his cattle, and being asked for the price of the short-tailed OK, he said that he would sell it for nothing else but the Chan's left eye. The report of this singular and daring request soon reached the ears of the Chan's courtiers, At first they admonished him not to use such an offensive speech against the Sove- reign; but when they found that he perse- vered in his strange demand, they bound him and carried him as madman before the Chan. The old man threw himself at the Princes feet, and confessed that his demand had been made at the request of his daughter, of whose motives he was per- fectly ignorant; and the Chan, suspecting that some secret must be hidden under this extraordinary request, dismissed the old man, under the condition that he would bring him that daughter who had made it.
 kookju appeared, and the Chan asked
 Why didst thou instruct your father to demand my left eyel' ....
 Because I expected, my Prince, that after so strange request, curiosity ould urge thee to send for me-
 And wherefore dost thou desire to see me?'
 T wish to tell thee truth important to myself and the people,
 sName it,
 'Prince,' replied Kookju, 'when two persons appear before thee in cause, the wealthy and noble generally stand on the right hand, while the poor and humble stand on the left. have heard in my sol- itude that thou most frequently favorest the noble and rich. This is the reason why Pe'Snaded my father to ask for thy Left Eye; it being or no use to thee, since thou never seest the poor and unprotected.'
 The Chan, incensed and surprised at the -c al~ AnI hs court to try her. The court was opened, and the president, who was the eldest La ma, proposed that they should try, wheth- CT her strange proceeding was the effect of malice or of wisdOm.
 The first step was to send to kookj ju log of wood, cut even on all sides, ordering her toafnd out which was the root and which the top. Kookju threw it into the water, and soon knew the answer, on see- ing the root sinking, while the top rose to the surface.
 After which they sent her two snakes, in order to determine which was male and which female. The wise maiden laid them on cotton, and on seeing that one coiled herself in a ring, while the other crept away, she judged that the latter was male, and the former female. From these trials the Court was convin- ced that Kookju had not offended the Chan from motives of malice, but as the inspira. ton of wisdom, granted her from above.- But not so the Chan, his vanity was hurt and he resolved to puzzle her with ques' tions in order to prove that she was not wise. He therefore ordered her before him, and asked.
 'On sending number of maidens into the wood to gather apples, which of then brings home the most2'
 .She,' replied Kookju, who, instead o climbing up the trees, remains below ant picks up those which have fallen off iron maturity or the shaking of the branches.
 The Chan then led her to Ia fen, ant asked her which would be the readiest wa. to get over it; and Kookju said, to eros it would be farthest, going round, nearest. The Chan felt vexed at the readiness ant propriety of her replies and, after havin reflected for some time, he again inquired
 (Which is the safest means of becOmiD known to many?'
 By assisting many that are unknown (Which is the surest means of aiway leading virtuous life r
 ITO begin every morning with goo resolution, and conclude every evenin
 with good action.' sWho is truly wise r
 He who does not believe himself so.