Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-04-17
l1uutb's Department.
THE MAIDEN WHO WAS WISER
THAN THE EMPEROR.

THAN THE EMPEROR.
From Forrester's Magazine
There was once poor man who dwelt in
hut, and gained livelihood by begging aims.
lie had an only daughter whom heaven had
gifted with extraordinary wisdom, and who,
little by little, taught her father to speak so
wisely, that one day, when he had gone TO
ask aims of the Emperor, the latter was as
tonished at the wisdom with which he spoke
and demanded from whom he acquired it,
From my daughter, o, noble Emperor."
answered the poor man and the Emperor.
being very wise himself, and proud of his
wisdom, resolved to put that of the poor
mans daughter to trial so he gave the poor
man thirty eggs, and said -
Take these to thy daughter. and bid her
get them Matched into thirty pullets If she
refuses to obey, evil will befal her"
The poor man burst into tears for he saw
that the eggs had all been boiled. But when
ne had reached home, and had told his daugh-
ter all that had passed, she babe him be cheer
fnl and retire TO rest, telling him that he need
not fear any danger. She then took pot of
water, put handful of beans into it. and
placed 1t over the fire; and on the morrow
when her father had risen, she gave him the
boiled beans. and told him to dig trench in
certain field, by which the Emperor would
pass as he went out hunting, adding, "And
as the Emperor passes by, take the beans
and SOW them in the trench, and cry aloud
God be gracious, and grant that my boiled
beans may sprng up quicklyr and If the En-
peror asks how it is possible for boiled beans
to grow, reply that it is as easy as it is for a
pullet TO be Matched from boiled egg"
The poor man did as his daughter had in
~ L. 81
trench in field by the side of the highway.
and when he saw the Eemperor coming he
began to SOW his beans in the trench, and cry
aloud -
God be gracious, and grant that my boil
cd beans may spring up quickly !"
When the Emperor heard these words. he
stopped, and asked how it was possible for
boiled beans to grow. Whereupon the poor
man answered -
Gracious Emperor it is as easy as for a
pullet to be Matched from boiled eggr'
The Emperor OWNED whom il was that
had arranged this stratagem, and in order
still more to try the madens wisdom. he gave
the poor man small pack Of hemp. and said
Take this to thy daughter, and bid her
make me from it as many sails and ropes as
are necessary for ship. If she refuses to
obey, her head shall pay the forfeit"
The poor man was sorely troubled at these
words, and, having received the pack of
hemp, returned to his daughter, weeping all
the way. But when he had told her all that
had passed, she again coInfortod him. and
babe him be cheerful and retire to rest. and
fear no danger and on the morrow, when he
had risen' she gave him a little piece of wood,
and said -
Take this to tho Emperor, and say that if
he will stop with II the mouths and the
springs Of all the rivers in the world. then
will do that which he has commanded"
Again the man did according to his dauch-
tors cornsel and when he had delivered her
message, the Emperor acknowledged that she