North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-05-10
THE THREE; WIRHEs. :

There was once wise Emperer who made
law, that to every stranger who came to
his court, fried fish should be served. The
servasts were directed to notice, if, when the
stranger had eaten the fish to the bone on
one side, he turned it over and began on the
other side. fhe did, b. was to be imme-
dlately seized, and on the third day thereaf-
ter he was to be put 10 death, But by N
great stretch of imperial clemency, the cul-
prt was permitted to utter one wish every
day, which the Emperor pledged himself to
grant, providing it was not to spare his life.
Many had already perished in consequence
of this edict, when, one day, count and his
young son presented themselves at court.
The fish was served as usual, and when the
count had removed the fish from one side,
he turned it over, and was about to commence
on the other when he was sesed and thrown
into prison, and was told of his approaching
doom. rs
Sorrow stricken, the counts young sor be
sought.the Emperor to allow him to die ir
( the room of his father; favor which tho
monarch was pleased to accord him. The
| count was accordingly released from prison,
and his son was thrown into his cell in his
stead. As soon as this had been done, the
young man said to the jjaors, 'FYou know Z
have a tight to make three demands before
| die, 60 and tell the emperor to send his
daughter, and priest to marry u.s." This
demand fo ha r.g
taste, nevertheless be fel. bound to kesp his
word, and he therefore complied with the re-
quest, to which the princess had no objection
This occurred in the times when kings kept
theta treasures in a cave, or in a tower set
apart for the purpose, like the Emperor of
Moscow in these days; and on the second
day Of his imprisonment the young man de-
manded the Emperor's treasures, @
If his first demand was bold one. the
second was not less SO; still, an Emperor's
word is sacred, and having made the prom
lse, he was forced to keep it; and the treas.
ures of gold and silver were placed at the
disposa! of the prisoner. On getting posses
sion of them, he distributed them protusely
among the courtiers, and soen he had made
| host of friends by his liberality.
The emperor began now to feel exceedingly
uncomfortable. Unable to sleep, he rose ear
y on the third morning and went with fear
in his heart to the prison to hear what the
third wish was to be. aEaa
Now" said he to his prisoner, s'tell mo
what your third demand is, that il NAV be
granted at once, and that it may be out of
hand, for am tired of your demands
''Sire," answered the prisoner, 'I have but
one more favor 10 request of your majesty,
which when you have granted I shall die
content. 1t is merely that you win. cause
the eyes of those who saw my father turn
the fish over to be put out" k@
very good, replied the emperor, s"your
demand is but perfectly natural and springs
from good heart. Let the chamberlain be
seized" he continued. turning TO bis guards,
ri sire !" cried the chamberlain 81 did
not see anything, it was the steward.o
But the Steward protested with tears in
his eyes, that ne mad not witnessed ANYTHING
OF what had been reported, and said it was
the Butler. The Butler declared that he had
seen nothing of the matter and that it must
have been one Of the Wallets. [
But the protested that they were utterly
ignorant of what had been charged agains the
count in short it turned out that nobody
could be found wac had seen the count com.
NIT the otfensr, upon which the, princess
said: "
Il appeal to you my father, as, to another
soloman, II Ienobody saw the offense com.
mltted, the count cannot be guilty, and, my
husband is innocent.D
The emperor frowned and forthwith. the
courtiers began to murmur; then, he smiled
and Immediately visages became radiant.
Let it be SO, said his majesty !, let him
live, though have put many man, to death
for lighter offense than his. But If he is
not hung, he is married. Justice ia done.n