The weekly union record., 1865-07-22
The Three Wishes.

There was once wise Emperor who
made law, that to every stranger who
came to his court a fride fish should be
served. The servants were directed TO
take 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. If he did, he was to be immed-
lately seized, and en- the third day there
after be was to be put to death. But,
by great stretch of imperial clemency,
the culprit was permitted to utter one
wish each day which the Emperor pledg-
ed himself to grant, provided it was not
to spare his life. Many had already
persisted in consequence of this edict
when, one day the Count and his young
son presented themselves at the court.
The fish was served as usual, and when
the Count had removed all the fish from
one side, he turned it over, and was
about to commence on the other, when
he was SUDDENLY seized and thrown into
prison. Sorrow stricken, the Counts
young son besought the Emperor to al
low him to die in the place of his fa-
ther; favor which the monarch was
pleased to accord to 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 his iailers.
" You know | have the right to make
three demands before | die; 90 and tell
the Emperor to send me his daughter
and priest to marry u.s."
This first demand was not much to the
Emperor's taste, nevertheless he felt
bound to keep his word, and he there
fore complied with the request, to which
the Princess had no kind of objection.
This occurred in the times when kings
kept their treasures in a cave, or in
tower set apart for the purpose, like the
Emperor Morocco in these days and
on the second day of his Imprisonment
the young man demanded his treasures.
If his first demand was bold one, the
second was not less so; still. an En-
peror's word is sacred, and having
made promise, he was forced to keep it !;
and the treasures Of gold~and silver
jewels were placed at the prisoners dis
posal. On getting possession of them
he distributed them profusely among the
oourtiers, and soon he made host of
friends by his liberaity.
The Emperor began now to feel ex-
ceedinglv uncomfortable. Unable to
sleep, he rose early on the third morn
ing and went with fear in his heart to
the prison to hear what the third wish
was to be.
:" Now, ''said he to his prisoner, "tcll
me what your third demand is, that it
may be granted at once, and you may
be hung out of hand, for am tired Of
your demands"
Sir" answered his prisoner, |
have but one more favor to request of
your majesty; when YOU have granted,
| shall die content. 1t is merely to
cause the eyes Of those who saw my
father turn the fish over to be put out j.
''Very good,'' replied the Emperor,
"your demand is but natutal,and springs
from good heart. Let the chamber
lain be seized," he continued turning to
his guards.
Il, sire!n cried the chamberlain
! did not see anything-it was the
steward.n
Let the steward be seized, them
said the King.
But the steward protested with tears
In his eyes, that he had not witnessed
anything Of what had been reported,
and it was the butler. The butler de-
alared that he had seen nothing of the
matter, and that it must have been one
of the Wallets. But they all protested
that they were utterly ignorant of what
had been charged against the Count
in short, it turned out that nobody
could be found who had seen the Count
commit the ofense, upon which the
Princess said:
Il appeal to you, father, as to an
other Solomon. If nobody saw the
ofense committed. the Count cannot
be guilty, and my husband is innocent :
ne Emperor tfe"fieu, anu lorlnWltn
the courtiers began to murmur: then
he smiled, and Immediately their risages
became radiant.
Let it be So said his majesty
let him live, though have put many
man to death for a lighter ofense thar
ms. But if he is not hung, be is mar
ried. Justice has been done.-[ Once
Week.
The very low price Of wheat in Eng
land has induced farmers there to feet
it to stock quite extensively. Sheer
=