Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-12-03
The Left Eve.

u HI 4lOkG AlOs
A rich old man, who resided at the ex
tremity of the camp, quite apart from tn
rest had three daughters, the youngest o.
whom named Kookju, was as much distin
guished for her beauty, as for extraordina
ry wisdom.
One morning, as he was about driving
his cattle for sale to the Chan's market
place, he begged his daughters to tell hin
what presents they wished him to bring
them on his return. The two eldest asked
him for trinkets, but the handsome and
wise Kookju said that she wanted no pres
ent, but that she had request to make,
which it would be difficult, and even dan
gerous for him 10 execute. Upon which
the father, who loved her more than the
two Others, swore that he would do hel
wish, though it was at the price Of his life.
"If it be so," replied Kookju, 81 beg you
to do as follows: sell your cattle, except
the short-tailed OK, and ask no other price
for it except the Chan's left eye" The
old man was startled; however, remember
ing his oath, and confding in his daugh-
tiers wisdom, he resolved 10 do as she bade
him. .H1.
After having sold all his cattle, and be,
ing asked the price of the short tailed OK,
he said that he would sell it for nothing
else than the Chan's left eye. The report
of this singular and daring request soon
reached the ear of the Chan's courtiers.-
At first they admonished him not to use
such an offensive speech against the sover-
eign; but when they found that he perse-
vered in his strange demand, they bound
him and carried him, rs mad man, before
the Chan. The old man threw himself at
the princes feet, and confessed that his de-
mand had been made at the request of his
daughter, whose motives he was entirely
ignorant of; and the Chan, suspecting that
some secret must be hidden under this ex-
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 dost thou instruct thy father to
demand my left eyer
Because l expected, my prince, that af
ter so strange request, curiosity would
urge thee TO send for me-"
"And wherefore dost thou desire to see
me?"
Il wish TO tell thee truth important to
thyself and thy people,
"Name it."
"Prince," replied Kookju, "when two
persons appear before thee in cause, the
the wealthy and the noble generally stand
on thy right hand, while the poor and
humble stand on thy left. 1 have heard
in my solitude that thou most frequently
favorist the noble and rich. This is the
reason why persuaded my father to ask
for thy left eye; it being of no use to thee,
since thou never seest the poor and unpro-
tected."
The Chan, incensed and surprised at the
daring of this maiden, commanded his
court to try her. The court was opened,
and the president, who was the eldest La
ma, proposed that they should try whether
her strange proceeding was the effect of
malice or wisdom.
Their first step was to send to Kookju a
log of wood, cut even on all sides, ordering
her to find 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 this, they sent her two snakes, in
order to determine which was male, and
which was female. The wise maiden
laid them on cotton, and seeing that one
,oiled herself up in ring. while the other
:rept away, she judged the latter was a
male and the former female.
From these trials, the court was convin-
,ed that Kookju had not offended the Chan
rom motives of malice, but the inspiration
If wisdom granted her from above. But
not so the Chan; his vanity was hurt and
he resolved to puzzle her with questions, 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 them
will bring home most?"
"She," answered Kookju, "who, instead
IF climbing up the trees, remains below
md picks up those which have fallen off
rom maturity or the shaking Of the branch
IS" -5..
The Chan then led her to fence, and
lsked her which would be the readiest way
% get over; and Kookju said, "To cross it
would be the farthest, going round nearest.
The Chan felt vexed at the readiness
md propriety of her replies; and having
effected for some time, he again inquired:
(Which is the safest means of becoming
Known to many!"
"By assisting many that are unknown!"
(which is the surest means of leading
. virtuous life?"
"To begin every morning with prayer,
md conclude every evening with some good
,ction."
"Who is truly wise?'
ale who does not believe himself so."
(which are the requisites for a good
wife,"
"She should be beautiful as pea-hen,
gentle as lamb, prudent as a uIouse, just
is faithful mirror, pure as the scale of a
ish; she must mourn for the deceased hus-
oand like she camel, and lie in her wild
,whood like a bird which has lost its
Wings"
The Chan was astonished at the wisdom
If the fair Kookju; yet, enraged at her
having reproached him with injustice, he
IT'LL wished to destroy her.
After few days, be thought he had
ound means for attaining his object. He