The hydraulic press., 1860-08-11
Che 9ydra,llir gress.
THE LEFT EYE.

AGkE - - Lzs
A rich old man. who had resided at the
extremity of the camp, quite apart from the
rest, had three daughters, the youngest of
whom, named Kookju, was as much distin-
guished for her beauty as her extraordinary
wisdom.
One morning as this old man was about
driving his cattle fer sale to the Chan's
market-piace, he begged his daughters to
tell him what presents they wished him to
bring them on his return home. The two
eldest asked him for trinkets but the hand
some and wise Kookju said that she had a
different kind of request for him to execute,
upon which her father, who loved her more
than her two sisters, swore he would do her
wish, though it were at the sacrifice of his
life.
"If it be So" said Kookju, "sell all your
cattle except the short-tailed OK, and ask no
other price for it but the Chan's left eye"
The old man was startled. However, he
remembered his oath, and confding in his
daughters wisdom, he resolved to do as she
bade him.
After having sold all his cattle, and being
| asked the price of his short tailed OK, he said
he would sell it for nothing else but the
Chan's left eye.
The report of this singular and daring
speech soon reached the ears eff the CHAINS
courtiers. At first they admonished the old
man not to persist in such an offensive and
dangerous request; but they found that he
persevered, and they bound him and carried
him RS a mailman before the Chan. He cast
himself at the feet of the Prince, and made a
confession that he had so spoken at The re-
quest of his daughter, of whose motives he
was perfectly ignorant; and the Chan, sus
pecting some secret must be hidden under
this extraordinary request, dismissed the old
man, on condition that he wonld bring that
daughter before him.
He was as good as his promise.
"Why," asked the Chan of Kookju, s'didst
thou instruct thy father to demand my left
eyeY
because I expected, my Prince, that after
so strange request, curiosity would urge
thee to send for me-
"And wherefore is it that thou desirest to
see me?"
~ wish to tell thee truth important to
thee and thy people"
s.Name it,
"Prince," replied Kookju, swhen two per-
sons appear before thee in a case, the wealthy
and noble generally stand on the right hand,
while the poor and humble stand on the left
have heard in my solitude, that thou most
frequently fayoTest she noble and rich. This
is the reason why persuaded my father to
ask for thy left eye-it being Of nc use to
thee, since with II thou seest not the poor
and unprotected"
The Chan, incensed and surprised at the
daring of the maiden, commanded his court
to try her, The court was opened, and the
president, who was the eldest Lama, proposed
that they should first ascertain whether this
bold speech had been dictated by malice or
wisdom.
The first thing done was, to send Kookju
log of wood, cut even on all sides, order
ing her to find out which was the root and
which the top. She threw it into water, and
soon found the answer, on seeing the root
sink, while the top rose to the surface.
They next-sent her two snakes, to deter
mine which was the male, and which the
female. The,wise maiden laid them on cot
ton, and on-seeing that one coiled itself in
ring, while the other crept away, she said to
her judges, "The latter is the male, and the
former the female"
From these trials, the court was convinced
that Kookju had not offended the Chan from
malice, but at the inspiration of wisdom
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 had her brought before
him again, and asked
"On sending number of maidens into the
orchard to gather apples, which will bring
home the most ?"
"She," replied Kookju, "who, instead of
climbing the trees, remains below and gath
ers those which fall off when the branches
are shaken"
The Chan then led her to fen, and asked
hea which would be the readiest way to get
over it.
Kookju replied, that ITO cross it would
be the farthest distance-going round it, the
nearest"
The Chan felt vexed at the readiness and
propriety of these replies, and after some
reflection inquired
(which is the safest means of becoming
known to many?"
'By assisting many that are unknown"
"What is the surest means of always lead |
ing vrtuous life 2"
ITO begin every morning with good res
olution, and conclude every evening with |
good action"
ssWho is truly wise 2"
tsHe who does not believe himself so.n
(Which are the requisite qualities of q |
good wife?''
ssShe should be as beautiful as pea hen,
gentle as lamb, pnre as the scale of q fsh. |
She must mourn for her deceased husband |
like she-eamel, and live her widowhoodI
like bird which has lost its wingsn
The Chan vas astonished at the wisdom
of the fair Kookju; yet, enragsd at her for |