Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-02-04
THE MAIDEN AND THE Emp aaoR.


There was once poor man who dweIt in a
hut, and gained a livelihood By begging aims.
He 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 astonish-
ed at the wisdom with which he spoke, and
demanded from whom he acquired it. EsFrom
my daughter, o noble Emperorl'' answered
the poor man; and the Emperor, being very
wise himself, aud proud of his wisdom, resolv-
ed to put that OF the old man daughter to
trial SO he gave the old man thirty eggs. and
said
lake these to thy daughter, and bid her
get them Matched into thirty pullets. II she
refuses to obey, evil viii befalI her''
The poor man burst into tears, for he saw
that the eggs had all been boiled. But when
he had reached home, and had told his .ugi
ter all that had passed, she Jade him be cheer
ful aud retire to rest, telling him he need not
fear any dsngcr. Sic then took pot of wa
ter,.put handful of beans into it, and placed
il over the fire; aud on the morrow, when her
father bad Iisea, she gave him the boiIed beams
and told him TO dig trench in a certain field
by which the Emperor would pass as lie went
out hunting. 'sAut as the Emperor passes
hy, take the beans and SOW them in the trench,
and cry aloud, God be gracious, and grant
that my boiled beans may spring up quicklyl' =
and if the Emperor asks how it is possible for
boiled beans 20 grow, reply that it is as possf-
bic for pullot to be hatched from q boiled
egg"
The poor man did as his daughter had in
structsd him. He took his spade and dug a
trench in ! field by the side of the highway,
and when he saw the Emperor coming, he be-
gan to SOW his beans in trench and cry aloud,
"God be gracious, and grant that my boiled
beans may spring up quickly -
When the Emperor heard these words, he
stopped, and asked how it was possible for
boiled beans to growI Whereupon the poor
man answered:
''Grac!Ous Emperor, it is as easy as for
pullet TO be hatched from a boiled egg''
The Emperor OWNED who it was that had
arranged this stratagem. and in order still
more to try the maiden's wisdom, he gave the
poor MIN pack of hemp, and said:
'FaNe this to thy daughter, and bid her
MAKE me from II 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 tie pack OF hemp,
returned to his daughter, weeping all the way.
But when he had told her all that had pass
ed, she again conlforted him, and babe him be
chserinl and retire TO rest, and fear no dan
ger and on the morrow when he had risen,
SAe gave him little piece Of wood and said
Take this to the Emperor, and say that if
lie VIII cut me out spinning wheel, loom,
ana shuttle, then will ( do that which he
Has commanded
Inc poor man did the second time as his
laughter had instructed him and when he
"ld delivered her message, the Emperor was
more than ever astonished at her wisdom. To
put II to new trial, he took drinking glass,
@nd SAID to the poor man:
"Iake this to thy daughter, and bid her
'"p'y the sea with it, and make its bed dry
enough to grow corn on. If she refuses to o.
Uey, both her head and thine own shall pay
the forfeit
Al tnis the poor man was more terrified than
ever But when he had returned home and
'oid his daughter what the Emperor had COM
Hahaed, the maiden comforted i'm the third
"ihe and bade him be cheerful, retire to rest,
"ud lear no danger. And on the morrow,
"nen he had risen, she gave him pound of
low, and said TO him:
Take this to the Emperor and say that if
1e VIII stop with it the mouths and the springs
u all The rivers in the world then will do |
mat which he has commanded
again the man did according TO his daugh
UT counsel and, when he had delivered her
iessage, the Emperor acknowledged that she
"ss wiser then he himself, and commanded
'la' she should at once be brought before
1lui when she had come into his presence,
'Hu hsd saluted him, he said to her:
u! daughter, tell me what can be heard