Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1852-12-28

The porter in his lodge made his fire blaze
brightly, and solaced himself with Christ
mas cheer; every now and then grumbling
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. 'sWho comes
now grumbled the porter; "a pretty night
to turn out from fire and food. Why, the
very bell itself finds it too cold to clank
loud. Well, well-duty is duty, some say
it's pleasure-humph? Hilloa friend,
who are you ? what do you want, MANI
The traveller whom the porter thus ad-
dressed was a 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 enveloped.
81 am merchant from far country"
said the man; ''many wonderful things do
bring to your emperor, if he will purchase
of my yaluables."
''Well, come in, come in, man," said the
porter: ''the king keeps his Christmas
feast, and en- this night all men may seek
his presence. Wilt take some refreshment,
go od sir ?"
/" am never hungry, nor thirsty, nor
cold"
"Pm 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.
Never hungry, thirsty, nor cold-what
good poor man he would make! Humph!
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 %
g 1 bring many things from far countries.
Wilt thou buy of my curiosities ?"
" Let us see Them" rejoined Domitian
T" l have three maxims of especial wisdom
and excellence, my lord"
'tLet us hear them"
Nay, my lord, if thou nearest them,
and likest not, then I have lost both my
maxims and my money"
'And if [ pay without hearing them,
and they are useless, 1 lose my time and
my money. What is the price ?''
ga thousand forms, my lord"
CA thousand forms for that of the which
know not what it isl replied the King.
My lord, rejoined the merchant, elf
the maxims do not stand you in good stead
[ will return the money"
6 Be it SO then; let us hear your max
ms
g 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 a
highway for by-way"
g 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
Of this time We will settle accounts
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-"
rejoined the merchant; ga year and a day
hence l will return to see how my first
maxim has Jared. Farewell, my lord"
The year and day were nearly elapsed,
and ye: the first maxim had not been clear
ly proved. Domitian remained severely
just and the i'll 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 midnight meeting, "brings danger
nearer to ourselves"
Even SO, brothers, but this time we will
not fail, /" said one of the number, "do We
not mind that l am the kings barber; every
day he bares his throat to my razor it is
but one slash, and we are free; promise me