The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-31
The Longest story that ever was Told.

The Longest story that ever was Told.
The following fable is not only an ANU
sing triAe, but is also good satire on some
Of the interminable stories of our more
long-winded authors:
1t is related that there was once GER
tain King who, like many eastern kings,
was very fond Of hearing stories told. To
this amusement he gave up all his time,
but yet he was never satisfied. The exer-
'tons of his courtiers were all in vain. lie
at last made proclamation that If
if any man would tell him o story that
should last forever he would make him his
heir and give him the princess, his daughter,
in marriage but if any one should pre-
tend he has such story, but should fail,
he was to have his head cut of.
For such price as a beautiful princess
and kingdom many candidates appeared,
and dreadful long stories some of them
told. Some lasted week, some month,
some six months. Poor fellows, they all
spun them out as long as they possibly
could but all in vain. Sooner or later
they all came to an end one after another
the unlucky story-tellers had their heads
chopped Off. At last came man who said
he had story that would last forever, if
His Majesty would be pleased to give him
trial. lie was warned of his danger;
they told him how many others had tried,
and lost their heads, but he said he was not
afraid, and so he was brought before the
King. He was man of very composed
and deliberate way of speaking, and after
making all requisite stipulations for time
for his eating, drinking, and sleeping, he
thus begun:
"Oh, King! there was once a king who
was great tyrant, and desiring to increase
his riches, he seized upon the corn in his
kingdom and put it in an immense granary,
which was built on purpose, as high as
mountain. This he did for several years,
until the granary was quite full to the top.
lie then stopped doors and windows, and
closed it up fast on all sides. But the
bricklayers by accident left very small
hole near the top of the granary, and there
came flight Of locusts and tried to get at
the corn, but the hole was so small that
only one locust could pass through it at one
time. So one locust went in and carried
OFF one grain of corn, and then another To-
Gust went in an carried off another grain
of corn, and then another locust went in
and carried off another grain of corn, and
then another locust went in and carried OIL
another grain Of corn, and then another To-
Gust went in and carried off another grain
Of corn, and then another locust went in
and carried off another grain of corn. lie
had gone on thus from morning till night
Except when he was engaged at his meals)
for about q month, when the King began
to be rather tired of the locusts, and in
terrupted his story with: 'Weh, well, we
have heard enough of the locusts; we will
suppose they have helped themselves to all
the corn they wanted. Tell us what hap
pened afterwards
To which the story-teller answered de-
liberately, eff 1t pleases your Majesty, 1t
is impossible to tell what happened AFTER
wards before / tell what has happened
first" 4Ee i
And then he went on again !" And then
another locust went in and carried off an
ether grain Of corn, and then another To-
Gust went In and carried off another grain
Of corn, and then another locust went in
and carried off another grain Of corn, and
then another locust, sc.
The King listened with unconquerable
patience six months more, when he again
interrupted him with, Oh, friend ! am
weary Of your locusts. How soon do you
think they will have dOneS To which the
story-teller made answer, ooh, King,
who can tellf At the time to which my
story has come, the locusts have cleared q
small space, it may DO Q cubit each way
round the inside Of tho hole, and the air
is still dark with locusts on all sides, But
let tho King have patience, and no doubt
we shall come to the end Of them in time"
Thus encouraged, the King listened on for
another full year, the st0ry-teller going on
still as before, Sand then another locust
went In and carried off another grain Of
corn, and then another locust went in and
carried of another grain Of corn" till at
last the poor King could stand II no longer,
and cried out, "Oh, man, that is enough,
take my-daughtcr! take my kingdom!
take anythiDg-evcrything--only let us
near no more Of them abominable locusts."
Aud SO the stOry-teller was married to the
Kings daughter, and was declared heir to
tne throne, and nobody ever expressed q
wisn 70 hear tho rest Of tho story, for he
said 1t was impossible TO come to the other
Rals oI ~ III he had done with the locusts.
lug unreasonable caprice Of the foolish
Mig was thus overmatched by the inge-
Nous dewico Of this wise man.
Lgxusy.-A London shirtmaker has iust
nnisaea aczen shirts for gentleman, the
Price Of which u El00. They are Of the
Hnest' cambria, and have fronts am,
broidered with gold thread.
NJ
Lord Broughsm has talked with . LADY
who lived IN tho reign Of Charles II. She
WAS bis great great-aunt, who died al the
age Of los. In the year 1889. Longevity