The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-01-01
For the Girls and Boys,
From Blackwood's Magazine.
The Emperor's New Clothes
HANS Christian ANDERSON.


themselves first-ratc weavers, made their
appearance in the imperial town Of.
They pretended that they were able 10 weave
the richest stutfs, in which not only the col
ours aud tho pattern were extremely benuti-
ful, but that the clothes made of such stulls
possessed the wonderful property of rennin-
ing invisible 10 him who was unfit for the
Office he held, or was extremely silly.
"Whnt capital clothes they must beP thought
the Emperor. If had but such suit,
could directly find out what people in my
empile were not equal TO their Office; aud
besides then should be able to distinguish
the clever from tho stupid BY Jove must
have some ofthis stuff made directly for me-
And so he ordered large sums ofmoney to
be given to the two swindlers, that they
might set 10 work Immediately.
"The men erected two looms, and did as
ifthey worked very diligently: but in reality
they had got nothing on the loom. They
boldly demanded the finest silk, and gold
thread, put them all in their own pockets,
and working away at the empty loom till
quite late at night
"I should like to know how the two wea-
vers are getting on with my stuff said the
Emperor one day to himselGbu lie was rather
embarrassed when he remembered that
silly fellow, or one untitled for his office,
would not be able 20 see the stuff IT'S true,
he thought, as far as regarded himself, there
was no danger whatever but yet he preferred
sending some one else, TO bring him in
telligcnce of the TWO viewers, and how they
were getting on, before he went himself; for
everybody in the whole town had heard of
the wonderful property that this stuff was
said TO possess.
al will send my worthy old minister said
the Emperor at last, after much considern-
ton; 'he will be able to say how the stuff
looks better than anybody
$50 the worthy old minister went 10 the
room where the two swindlers were working
away with all their might and main. Lord
help met thought the old man, opening his
eyes ms wide MS possible-'Why can't see
the least thing whatever Oh the loom But he
took care not to say so.
"Tne swindlers, pointing TO the empty
frame, asked him most politely if the colours
were not of great beauty. And the poor old
minister looked and looked, and could see
nothing whatever. Bless mer thought he to
himself, 'Am |, then, really Il smpleton?-
Well, | never thought so. Nobody knows it.
] not fit for office! No, nothing on earth shall
make me say that have not seenthe stuffp
go Well SIR said one of the swinders, still
working bnsily at the empty loom, you
don't say if the stuTpIeases you or not
"'Oh, beautiful beautiful the work is |
admirablen said the old minister, looking
hnrd through his spectacies. This pattern,
and those colours. Well, well, shall not
fail to tell the Emperor that they IRE most
beautiful
"The swindlers then asked for more mon
ey, and silk, and gold thread; but they put, US
before, all that was given them into their own
pocket, aud still continued to work with ap-
intelligence at the empty loom.
''Some time after the Emperor sent anoth-
er officer to see how the work was getting
on. But he feared like the other he stared
mt the loom from every side; bat us there was
n othing there, of course he could see nothing. !
d" Does the nffnot please you as much as it did
the minister?'asked the men, making the same
gestures as before, and talking of splendid
colours and pattern which did not exist.
"'Snpid l certainly nm not y thought the
new commissioner then it must be am
not fitted for my lucrative of1icc-that were
good joke However, no one dare even s,rs-
meet such thing Aud so he began prais-
d e the stuff that he could not see, and told
the two swind'ers how pleased he was to be- |
hold such beautiful colors,and such charming
patterns.' Indeed, your majesty,' snid he to
the Emperor on his return, the stuff which
the weavers are making is extraordinary
tinc.'
lit was the talk of the whole town.
"The Emperor could no longer restrain
his curiosity to see this costly stuff; so,nccom-
panied 10y chosen train OF courtiers, among
admired the work, off he went 10 the two Gun |
ming cheats. AS soon as they heard of the
Emperor's approach they began working
with all diligence, although there was still |
not single thread on the loom.
go Is it not magnificent" said the two off
GERS ofthe crown, who had been there before.
'Will your majesty only look? What charm
ing pattern What beautiful colours!' said
they, pointing to the empty frames, for they
thought the others really could see the stuff: |
'"' What's the meaning of ,hs?' said the
Emperor to himself Il see nothing! Am la
simpleton? not fit TO be Emperor? OH he
cried aloud, charming! The stuff is really
charming! | approve Of it highly; and he
smiled gracously, and examined the empty
looms infinitely And the whole suite strained
their eyes and cried 'Beautiful' and coun-
selled his Majesty to have new robes made
out OF this magnificent stuff for the grand
procession that was about to take place.
And so it was ordered.
"The day on which the procession was to
rake place, the two men brought the Emper-
or's new suit to the palace, they held up
their arms as though they had something in
iher hands,and said, Here are your Majesty's
&nec- breeches; here is the coat, and here the
mantle The whole suit is as light as u cob
web; and when one would almost fancy one
had nothing on; but that is just the beauty of
this stuff"
"'Of course y said all the courtiers, al
though not single one of them could sec
anything ofthe clothes.
"'W Will your imperial Majesty most ora
ciousiylbe pleased to undress? We will then
try on tiie'new things before the glass;
"Ihe Emperor allowed himself to be I'M
dressed, and then the two cheats did exactly
as if each one helped him on with an article
OF dress, while his Majesty turned himself