Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-07-19
The Three Wishes.

There vas once wise Emperor who made a
law that 10 every stranger who lme 10 his court
fried fish should be served. The servants were
directed to ttke notice / {, when the stranger had
eaten the fish to the bone side he turned il
over and began on the other side. IL he did, he
was TO be Immediately seized, and on the third dly
thereafter he 10 be put TO death Bat, BY
great stretch OF imperial cemency. the culprit was
permitted to utter one wish each day, which the
Emperor pledged himfei to grant, provided it WIS
not to spare his life. Many had already persisted
in consequence OF this edict, when, one day, a
Count and his young son presented themselves at
court The fish WAS served usual, and when
the Count bud removed all the flesh from one side
he !urnedlt over, and WIS about to commence on
the other, when he suddenly seized AMI thrown
INTO prison, and was told of his approaching doom
Sorrow stricken, the Counts Young son besOught
the Emperor TO allow him 20 die in the room of
his father favor which the monarch was pleas
ed 20 accord him. The Count was accordingly re-
leased from prison and his son WIS thrown into
his cell in his stead.
As soon rs this had been done, the youg man
said to the saolers, "You know have the right
TO make three deminds before | die; go and tel
the Emperor TO send me his daughter AMI i priest
10 marry US" The first demand WIS not much 10
the Emperor's taste; nevertheless he felt bound to
keep his word, and he therefore complied with the
request, 10 which the Princess had no kind OF Oh
lection. This occurred in the times when kings
\
apart Tor the purpose, and on the second day OF
his imprisonment the yOung man demanded the
kings treasures II his Erst demand was bold
one, the second WAS not less 20; still an emperor :
word Is sacred. and having made the promise, he
lac was forced TO keep it; ard the treasures OF
goid ana silver and jewels were placed at the pris
0ners Disposal. On getting possession of them
he distributed them profusely among tho courters,
and soon made host of friends by his liberaIity
The Emperor now began to feel exceedingly IN
comfortable. Unable to sleep he rose early on
the next morning, nd went with fear in his heart
10 TIE prison 10 hear what the third wish WAS to
be.
- Now" said he to the prisoner, "teH me what
your third demand is, that il nav be granted atOnce
and you may be hung out OF hand, for am tired,
OF your demands
"STe, answered the prisoner, 81 have but one
more; iavor 70 request of your Majesty. which
when you have answered. | slal die content. 1t
Is merely thar you will cause the eyes of those who
saw my father turn the fish over to be put out"
VERY good replied the emperor. "your de-
mand is but natural, and springs from good
heart. Let the chamberlain be sezed,'' be con
;inued turning 10 his guards stse
II, sire7' cried the chamberlain; "I did not
see anything-it was the steward
Let the steward be seized, them" said the
King.
But the steward protested with tears in his ewes
So" ~ H@N bos hIhHts>t4 vi hn1l nau
been reported, and said it was the butler The
butler declared that he had seen nothing OF the
matter and that il must have been one OF the val
Cts, But they 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 TIE Of
Tense; upon which The Princess said
I'll appeal to YOU, my father, as to another Solo
mon If nobody the offense committed, the
Count can not be guilty, and my husband is limo
cent" LGfE
The Emperor frowned and forthwith the cour-
tiers began TO muTmuf; and then he smiled, and
Immediately their visages became radiant
''Let il be so,'' said his Majesty; '.let him i've
though have put many to death for lighter of
fcnse than his. But il he il not hung, he is uar-
ried. Justice has been done 81,