Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-11-23
S9f(iisttllaueo11s,
A Wise Chinese Emperor.

The Emperor Khang- Hi was, in his youth,
remarkable for his sincere love of his subjects,
and his strong feeling Of justice; and he
never failed to protect the innocent and to
punish the prevarications of the mandarins.
Being one day engaged in hunting-the fa-
vorite diversion of the Tartars-he had left
his attendants, and, proceeding along a lonely
road, saw an old man sitting on the ground
and weeping bitterly. The young Emperor
alighted from his horse, went up to the man
without making himself known, and asked
the cause of his sorrows. The old man re-.
piled that it was of little use to tell him the
cause, since he could not remedy it.
"Re Of good courage, venerable old man.
said the monarch. Perhaps I would be of
some use to you. Tell me the subject of
your grief"
"Since your good heart disposes you to
inquire into the cause Of my misery, I will
tell you MASTER" was the reply. u had o
little property in the neighbo8hooa Of the i'm.
perial residence; the governor of the palace
found my estate to his liking, he seized upen
it and has reduced me to beg my bread. /
had son, too, who might have been the sup
port of my old age but the governor has
taken him to make him slave. These things
are the cause of my tears"
The young Emperor took the two hands OF
the unfortunate man in his, and said:
"Calm yourself, venerable old man. This
imperial palace-is it far from here 2"
"Five Ii, MASTER"
every well-let US come together and ask
the governor to restore to you your property
and your son."
"Ah, master!" cried the old man in a
tone of despair, shave not told you that
this wicked man is the governor of an imperial
palace2 1t would not be safe either for you
or me to go to him. We should get nothing
but insults aud ill.treatment.h
"Take courage" said the Emperor, VI
am determined to. take this step, and hope
it will lead to good"
The old man remarked the frank and noble
department OF the young unknown, and began
to feel more confidence, and he then said that
he was ready to accompany the prince to the
imperial palace; but, he added, Z" l shall de.
lay you long time, master, for | am old, and
l cannot follow the steps of your horse"
"That is true" said Khang.Hi, "you have
attained to venerable age, but am young
and strong; SC you shall mount my horse,
and ! will walk"
The old man, however, would not accept
this offer, and Khsng- Hi, therefore, had re-
course to the expedient Of taking him up be.
hind him, and they were proceeding in this
manner when some mandarins Of the imperial
suit came mp. The sovereign addressed to
them few Tjrds in the Tartar language, au''
they retired, though not without often retu
ing to observe the singular situation of their
young Emperor. When the pair arrived at
the imperial palace, Khang ri demanded to
see the governor, and when he appeared, the
sovereign stripped off his hunting dress, and
showed the imperial dragon that he wore EN-.
broidered on his breast. The governor fell on
his knees, and the old man tremblingly threw
himself at the feet of his protector, who was
raising him with great aduhiity, when the
princes of the blood and grand disnitaries
who had been following the chase issued from
valley, and came to range themselves round
their imperial master, aud Khang.Hi deter
mined to make this brilliant throng the wit
ncsses of the punishment of the wicked man
DARN. After having reproached him bitterly
he ordered him to be beheaded, and then
addressing himself to the old man, who stood
as if petrifed, the Emperor said:
"Venerable old man, restore to you the
son and the estate which were taken from
YOU, and from this moment | appoint yor
governor of this palace; but take care tha
Drosrerity effects no change in your feelings