Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-05-24
THE THREE WISHES.

There was once wise emperor who made
law that 70 every stranger who came TO his
wants were directed TO take notice If. when
the stranger had eaten the fish to the bone on
one eide, ne turned II over and began on the
other eide If he did, he was to be imm ediats-
ly relied, ar d on the third day thereafter he
was to be put 10 death. But, by a great stretch
OF I'm erial clemency. the cuprit was permitted
TO utter one wish each day, which the ezpe-
ror pledged bim-el 20 grant, provided 4: was
Lot 10 spare his life. Many had already per.
Isbedfn consequence OF this edict, when, one
esy, count ard his yourg son presented
sbemse1yesat court The FISH was served as
nsnai, and when the cound had removed all
the fish from one side, be tn rned it over, and
Wss about 10 commence ON the other, when ne
was suddepiy seized and thrown into PRISON,
and was told of his approaching doom. Scr.
row. STRICKEN, the counts young son besought
The emperor 10 allow him to die IN the room Of
his fatfIer; favor which the monarch WAS
pleased to accord him. The count was accord.
tkalys released from prison and his son was
hhrown into his cell in his stead. As soon rs
ans had been done, the young man said to his
yaclers-'You know have the right to make
three demands before die; go and tell the EN-
perez 70 send me his daughter, and a priest to
marry as" The first demand was not much
70 tie Emperors taste, nevertheless he felt
bound 70 Keep bis weird, and he therefore com
Piled with the request to which the PRINCESS
had no Kind OF objection. This occurred in
me times when kings kept their treasures in q
cave, or In tower set apart for the purpose,
and on the second day of his impris onIneut
sIes. Iffis mat demand was bois ou sse aSs
second WAS not less 50; still an emperor's woro
IL sacIed, and. having made the promise. he
WAC ioreed TO Keep IT and the treasures of
gold and silver and Jewels were placed at the
prisoners dis posai. On getting posses sion OF
ansus 10 distributed them profuseiy among the
sooItters, ana soon he made a host of friends
The emperor began row to feel exeesdtnv,v
hbeomtortaole. Unable TO sleep, he rose ear
~ on the third morning and went, with fear
10 bIs nesrt, TO ne prison to hear what the
Now" said be to the prisoner, "tsll me
what your third demand is, that it NAV be
hand; for / am tirr a Of your demands o'' OF
''Sire,' Answered hts prisoner, 81 have bnt
enc more favor to request of your majesty,
rhich, when yon haveieranted, 1 shall die con-
eyes Of those who saw my father turn the Ash
eve 70 be put ont
avery good" frpiied the emperor, .your
senasois but natural. and springs from a
good heart. Let the cham berlain be seized"
he sontinued, rurni ing 10 his guards.
~, nis! cried The chamberlain; ~ did not
80 enythinK-t was the teward -
Lat tae steward be seized, tnen," said the
But the steward protested with tears IN his
eyes that he had net witnessed an,thin. nf
r Snns hs9 zen iepot.ea. and said 1t was the
Iothing of the matter, and that /. must have
been one OF the yaiets. But thew nro,estad
mat they were utterly ignorant OF what had
been charged against the count; In short. il
turned ont that nobody could be found who
had sem the count commit the offence, upon
which the princess said:
81 appeaI 70 you, my father, as 70 another
Solomon: II nobody saw the offence commit
ko, TIE Count cannot be guilty, and my hus.
band II tppocentn 80 - .
The Emperor frowned, and forthwith the
courtsers began TO rpurmur; and then he
smMsq and immediately their visages became
"Let it be so,ai said mis- majesty; alet him
i've. ,nough have put many to death for
nsnsI Snshce tnan his. But il he Is not huug,