The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-06-24
The Three Wishes.

There was once wise emperor who made
a law that to every stranger who came to his
court a fried fish should be served. The
servants were directed to take notice if, when
the stranger had eaten the fish Is the bone
on one side, he turned it over and began on
the other side, If he did, he was to be i'm
mediately seized, and on the third day there
after he was to be put to death. But, by a
great stretch Of imperial ch9mcncy, the Gull
prit was permitted to utter one wish a day,
which the emperor pledged himself to grant,
provided it was not to spare his lie. Many
had already persisted in consequence of this
edict, when one day, Il count and his young
son presented themselves at 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, and was told Of his APP
preaching doom. Sorrow stricken, the
counts young son bcsought the emperor to
die i'll the room Of his father; favor which
the monarch was pleased to accord him.
Tue count was accordingly released from
prison and his son was thrown into his cell
in his stead As soon rs this had been
DONE the young man said to his gaolers--
You know have tie right TO make three
demands before die go and tell the en-
peror to send me his daughter, and priest
to marry us" The first demand was not
much to the emprror's taste, nevertheless
he felt bound to keep his word, and he
therefore complied with the request, to which
the princess had no kind of objection. This
occurred in the times when kings kept their
treasures in II cave, or in q tower set apart
for the purpose and on the second day of
his Imprisonment the young man demanded
the kings trcasur s. If his first demand
was a bold one, the second was not less so
still an einpcror's word is sacred. and, hay
ing made the promise, he was forced to keep
it; and the treasures Of gold and silver and.
jewels were placed at the prisoners dispo-
sal On getting possession Of them he dis
trbutcd them protusely among the courtiers:
and soon he made a host Of friends by his
Iibcrality.
The emperor began to feel exceedingly
uncomfortable Unable to sleep. he rose
early on the third morning and went, with
fear in his heart, to the prison to hear wha!.
the third wish was to be.
''Now,' said he to the prisoner, ''tell me
what your third demand is, that it may be
granted at once. and you may be hung ont
OF hand for am tired Of your demands
Sire" answered his prisoner, Il have
but one. more favor to request of your ma
.iesty which, when you have granted. shall
die content. tits merely that you will cause
the eyes of those who saw my father turn
the fish over to be put ont"
4" Very good replied the emperor
your demand is but natural, and springs
from good heart. Let the chamberlain be
seizcd,' he continued, turning to his guards.
Il SIRE" cried the chamberlain did
not sec anything--it was the steward
LET the steward be seized then" said
the king.
Bat the steward protested with tears III
his eyes that he had 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 they pro
tested that they were utterly ignorant of
what mad beea charged against the count,
IN short, 1t turned out that nobody could be
found who had seen the count commit the
otlense, upon which the princess said:
II appeal to you, my father, as to another
solomon. If nobody saw the otfense COM
United, the count cannot be guilty, and my
husband Is nnocent.'
The emperor frowned and forthwith the
conrtiers began to murmur; and then he
smiled and Immediately their yisage became
radicnt.
''Let it be so" said his majesty "lct him
I've: though have put many to death for a
lighter oticnsc than his. But if he is not
hung, he is married Justice has been done"