The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-04-20
Mistellaneoas.
THE MAIDEN AND THE EMPEROR.

THE MAIDEN AND THE EMPEROR.
There was once u poor man who dwelt in a
hut, and gained livelihood by logging aims
llo had nm only daughter, whom heaven had
gifted with extraordinary wisdom, and who
lit,lc by little, taught her father to speak SO
wisely. that one day, which he had gone to ask
alms of the Emperor, the latter was astonish'
cd ut the wisdom with which he spoke, add dc
u,anded from whom he acquired it. "From
NV daughter, o noble Emperor !" answered
the poor man; and the Emperor, being very
wise himself. and proud Of his wisdom, resov'
ed to put that of the old mans daughter to
trial 50 he gave the old man thirty eggs, anu
said:
"rakc these to thy daughter, and bid her get
them ha;chci into thirty pullcts. Ii she re-
iuses TO obey, evil will bcIall her."
The poor man burst into tears, Tor he saw
that the eggs had all been boiled. But when
he had reached home, and had told his daugh-
ter all that had pass d, she bado him be cheer
iul and retire to rest, telling him he need not
fear any danger. She then took pot OF wa
ter, put Il handful of beans into it, and placed
il over the Iirc: and on the morrow, when her
father had risen, she gave him the boiled beans,
and told him t. dig a trench in u certain field,
by which the Emperor would pls1 as he went
out hunting "Andas the Emperor passes by,
take the beams aud sow them in the trench,
and cry aloud, God he gracious, and grant that
my boiled beans mny spring up quickly" AMI
il the Emperor asks how it is possible Tor boil
cd beans TO grow, reply that IL u rs easy as 1t
is for pullet to be hatched from boiled
eGg."
The poor man did rs his daughter had in.
structed him. lie took his spade and dug u
trench in field by the side OF the highway,
and when he saw the Emperor coming, he bc'
gan to SOW the beans in trench and cry aloud (,
.God b. gracious. and grant that my boiled
beans may spring up quickly"
When the Emperor heard these words, he
stopped, and askt% how 1t was possible for
boiled beans to grow? WheIeupon the poor
man answered.
"Gracious Emperor. il ls as easy for pulet
to be hatched from 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 tho poor
man peck Of hemp, and sdid;
"Take this to thy daughter, and bid her
make me from it as many sails and ropes as are
necessary for ship. II she refuses to obey,
her head shall pay the forfeit"
The poor man Was sorely troubled ut these
words and, having received the peek OF hemp,
returned to his daughter, weeping all the way.
But when he had told her all that had pass
cd, she again colnlorcd him, pnd bade him be
cheerful and retire To rest, when he had risen,
she gave him little piece Of wood and said:
",hkc this to the Emperor; and say that IL
he will cut me out a spinning-wheel. u loom,
and shuttle. then will do that which he has
commanded
The poor man did the second time as his
daughter had instructed him and when he had
delivered her m ssigc, the Emperor was more
to u new trial, he took drinking glass, and
said to the poor man
"lake this to thy daughter. and bid her
empty the SEA with it, and make its he'd dry
enough to grow corn on. II she refuses to
Obey, both her head and thine own shall pay
the forfeit"
At this the poor man was more terrified than
ever. But when he had returned home and
told his daughter what the Emperor had com
msndcd. the maiden comiorted him the third
time and babe him bc cheerful, retire to rest,
and fear no denger. And on the morrow, when
he had risen, she gave him pound OF tow, and
said tn him:
"rake this to the Emperor, and say that il
he will stop with il the mouths and the springs
OF all the rivers in the world, then will do
that which he has commanded"
Again the man did according to his dauch-
ter's counsel and, when he had delivered her
message. the Emperor acknowledged that she
was wiser than he himself. and commanded that
she should at once he brought before him.
When she had come into his presence, and had
salutcd him, he said tn her:
My daughter. tell Inc what can be heard the
furtheS,?" and she answered, Gracious Em.
peror, thunder ard a lic."
The Emperor then took his beard in his hand.
and demanded oC his councillors how much it
was worth. When they had placed upon it u
yaluc,-somc greater and some less the maid
en- said:
"Nlust gracious Emperor, none Of thy coun
ciors have answered well. Tho beard OF the
Emperor is worth three showers oil rain in u
dry summer"
These words delighted the Emperor, who de-
clared that the maiden had answered better
than all his councillors. lie then asked her
il she would become his wife, saying that he
would receive only one answer. The maiden
prostratcd herself before him and replied:
"Gncious Emperor il is thine to command,
and mine to obey what thou culnmandcst. let
me ask OF the but one thing, namely, that thou
shalt give me writing, written with thine
own hand, that il ever it should be thy plea
sure to send mo away, may carry from ty
castle whatever single thing may love best.
The Emperor gave her the writing that she
asked, and then had her placed on the throne
beside him.
for many summers the Empress was beloved
by her husband: but it came to pass in time
that he ceased To cherish her. He then said
to her one day, do not wish thee any longer
to be my vile. Leave my castle and 20 where
ever thou wilt.
She answered, lllustrious Emperor, I will
obey thee. Grant me only that may stay
until tomorrow.
The Emperor granted what rho asked, and
in the evening she poured solue Ol the juiye vi q