Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1852-12-27

The porter in his lodge made his FIRE blaze
brightly, and solaced himself with Christ
mas cheer every now and then grumhling
at his Office, that kept him from the gaieties
of the retainer's hall. The wind blew cold.
the sleet fell quick, as the bell of the kings
gate sounded heavy and dull. "Who comes
| now? grumbled the porter; tapretty night
to turn out from fire and food. Why, the
| very bell itself finds it too cold to clank
loud. Well, well-daty is duty, some say
it's a pleasure-humph? Hilloa friend,
who are you? what do you want, man?'
The traveller whom the porter thus ad-
dressed was tall, weather beaten man,
| with long white hair that futtered from be-
| meath his cap Of furs, and whose figure
naturally tall and robust, seemed taller and
larger from the vast cloak of bearskins with
which he was enyeloped.
''I am merchant from far country"
said the man; ''many wonderful things do
bring to your emperor, if he will purchase
of my valuables."
''Hell, come in, come in, man." said the
porter: 1.-the king keeps his Christmas
feast, and en- this night all men may seek
his presence. Wilt take some refreshment,
go cd sir ?"
~ am never hungry, nor thirsty, nor
cold"
"Fm all there-straight before you,
good sir-the hall porter will usher you
in-straight BEFORE" muttered the old por~
ter as he returned to his fire and his supper
"Neyer hungry. thirsty, nor cold-what
rOod pOor man bo mould 10 u,,,,,b :
he loses many pleasure, though" continued
the porter, as he closed the door of the
lodge.
The strange merchant presented himself
in the presence Of the emperor
"Who have we here" said Domitian, as
the strange visitor made his obeisance
What seekest thou of me %
81 bring many things from far countries.
Wilt thou buy of my curiosities ?"
Let us see them" rejoined Domitian.
81 have three maxims of especial wisdom
and excellence, my lord"
"L.t us hear them"
"Nay, my lord, if thou nearest them,
and likest not, then | have lost both my
maxims and my money!
land if I pay witha,t hearing them,
and they are useless, lose my time and
my money. What is the price %
"a thousand tlorins, my lord''
GA thousand forms for that of the which
know not what it is" replied the King.
"My lord" rejoined the merchant. =" if
the maxims dc not stand you in good stead.
will return the money"
"Be it so then; let us hear your max
inns"
"The first my lord, is on this wise:
Never begin anything until you have cal
culated what the end will be-"
81 like your maxim much" said the
king; "let it be recorded in the chronicles
of the kingdom, inscribed on the walls and
over the doors of my palaces and halls Of
justice, and interviewer on the borders of
the linen Of my table and chamber"
"The second. my lord, is, Never leave
highway for by-way."
s. see not the value of this maxim; but
| to the third
"Never sleep in the house where the mas
ter is an old man, and the wife young wo-
man. These three maxims, if attended to,
my lord, will stand you in good stead"
"We shall see,' said the king; year
and day for the trial of each; at the end
| VI suAS eAhiO We Will SCtllC uCCOuuGS.
Good MASTER" said the kings Jester,
wilt sell thy chance of the forms for my
FOOLS cap?"
Wait, and see what the end will be.'
rejolned the merchant; "a year and o day
hence | will return to see how nv first
maxim has Jared. Farewell, my lord -
The year and day were nearly elapsed,
| and yet the first maxim had not been clear
| ly proved. Domitian remained severely
just and the ill intentioned of his mobiles
plotted his destruction in the hope of indulg
| ing their vices more freely under the rule
OF his successor. Many were the plots
they concocted to put him to death, but all
were foiled by his foresight and prudence.
every failure" said the conspirators
at a midnight meeting, "brings danger
nearer to ourselves.'
Even so, brothers. but this time we will
not fail, - said one of the number, ssdo We
not mind that am the kings barber; every
day he bares his throat to my razor: it is
but one slash, and we are free; promise me
in e., ~; I