The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-08-20


A cALMrC TALE, TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN.
a rich old man, who resided at the extrem-
lty OF the camp, quite apart from the rest had
three daughters, the youngest of whom, NAM
cd hook]u, was as much distinguished for her
beauty as for extraordinary wisdom.
One morning as he was about driving his
cattle for sale to the Chan's market-place he
begged his daughters to tell him what pres
cnt> they wished him TO bring to them on his
return. The two eldest asked him for trink
els; but the handsome and wise Kookiu said
tina; she wanted no present. hut that she hail
request TO make which it would be difficult
ana even dangerous for him to execute. Up
on which the father. who loved her more
than the two others. sworc that he would ]o
h"r wl>h' though it were at the price of his
IIfe, ''lt IT he So" replied Kookiu. Il bcc
vou do as follows: sell all vour cattle eyccnt
the >hort-talIed OK, and ask no other price
tor 1t except TIE Fhan'< Lti cyc." The old
man was startled: however remembering his
OATH and conf!ing in his daughters wisdom.
he resolved to do As she bade him.
A't"r having sold all his cattle, and heinz
asked for the price of the short-tailc,l OK. he
sald that he would sell it for nothing else but
the Ihan> left eye. The report of this sin
"nIar and daring request soon reached the
ears OF the CHAINS courticrs A: first they
admonlSh"d hlm not to use such an offensive
speech against the Sovereign bnt when thev
found that he pcrSevcrcd in his STRANGE de-
mand, they bound him and carried him as a
mailman before the Chan. The old man
threw himself at the Princes feet. and con-
tcS>c'l that his demand had been made at the
request of his daughter. of whose motives he
was perfectly ignorant; and the Chan. su<-
pcctlnT that some secret must be hidden nm
der this extraordinary request, dismissed the
Old man. under the condition that he woul}
bring him that daughter who had made it.
kookiu appeared, and the Chan asked:
"Nhv dld>t thou instruct thy father to de-
mapd my left eve"
"E"ran>" expected, my Prince. that af
ter 50 strange request, curiosity would urgc
thee to end for me-
And wherefore dost thou desire to see
me-"
Il wis to tell thee a truth important to
thySeIfanl thy people,
Name it -
"Princr," replied kookiu. when two per
sons appear before thee in a cause. the veal
thy and noble generally stand on thv ri,ht
hand. whilst the poor and humble stand on
thy left. have heard in my solitude that
thou most Frequently tavorc>t the noble and
rich. This Is the reason why persuaded my
father to ask iur thy L,ti EFo: it beng of
no Use 10 thee. since thou never SecSt the poor
and unprotected"
The Chan. nccn>cd and surprised at the
daring OF thi> maiden. commanded his court
to Try her The court was opened. and the
PRESIDENT who WIS the eldest Lama, proposed
that they should try. whether her strange
proceeding was the effect of maIi,.c or of wi>-
dom.
Their first step was TO send to kookiu :
loo of wood, cut even on all sides. orl.rin.
her to find ont which was the root and whicl
the top: HOOK ia threw it into the water
and soon knew the answer, on sccnr Tie roo
sinking. whilst the top rose to the surface.
After this they sent her two snakes. in or
der to determine which was the male AM
which the female. The wise maiden lai,
them on cotton, and on seeing that one coil
ed herself up in a ring. whilst the other crcp
away, she Judged that the latter was nal,
and the former female.
From these trials the court was convinced
that HOOK ju had not offended the Chan from
motives of malice, but the inspiration of wis
dom GRANTED t!om above. But not so til,
Chan his vanity was hurt; and he resolve,
TO puzzle her with questions, in order t
prove that she was not wise. He therefor
ordered her before him, and asked:
"On sending a number of maidens into til,
wood to gather apples, which Of them vii
; bring home most"
"She," replied kookiu, 'whc, instead of
climbing up the trees, remains below ant
picks up those which have fallen oil from ma
turity or the shaking OF the branches.
The Chan then led her to fen and askc,
her which would be the readieSt way TO &c
over it; and kookju SAID, ITO cross it woul,
be the tarthest going round nearest" Ih'
Chan felt vexed at the readiness and proprl
ETY. OF her replies; and, after having reflected
for some time he asaln inquired:
(which is the safest means of bccomin:
known to many
by assisting many that are unknown"
(which is the surest means OF always lead
ing vrtuOuS life
10 begin every morning with prayer, anG
conclude every evening with a good action" ,"
"Who is truly WISE -
"IIe who does not believe himself So
What are the requisites of a good wife Z"
"She should be beautiful as a pea-hen.gen
tie as lamb, prudent as faithful mirror
nure as tL,. scales of a Fl IA she muSt rnonrn
for her deceased husband like a she-calnel
and live in her widowheod like bird which