Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-02-17
The Three Wishes:


court, fried fish should be served. The SER
wants were directed to take notice if, when
the stranger had eaten the fish to the bone on
bne side, he turned it over and began on the
other side If he did, he was to be immedi-
ately seized, and, on the third day thereafter,
lie was to be put to death. But, by a great
stretch Of imperial clemency, the culprit was
permitted to utter one wish each day, which
the emperor. pledged himself to grant, provi-
ded it was not to spare his life. Many had
already perished in consequence Of this edict,
when, one day, a, count and his young son
presented themselves at court.
The fish was served as usual, and when the
he turned it over, and ives about to commence
and thrown into prison, and was told of his
counts young son besought the emperor to
favor which the monarch was pleased to accord
him. The count was accordingly released
from prison, and his son was thrown into his
done, the young man said to his :iailors "You
know have the right to make three demands
before | de- go and tell the emperor to send
me his daughter, end priest to marry us"
The first demand was not so much to the en-
peror's taste; nevertheless, he felt bound to
keep his word, and, 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 cave, or in
tower set apart for the purpose, like the En-
peror Of Morocco in these days; and, on the
second day of his imprisonment, the young
lol 1l,o L., r
first demand was bold one, the second was
bot less SO; still, an emperors word is sacred,
and, having made the promise, he was forced
to keep it. and the treasures Of gold and sill
yer were placed at the prisoners disposal On
them profusely among the courticrs, and soon
Ire had madoa host of friends by his liberality
The emperor began now 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 what 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 out Of
hand, for ] am tired of your demands
but one more favor to request of your majesty,
WHlCH) WaioA yOO ua'o l. Suall ulC
content. 1t is merely that you will cause the,
eyes of'those who saw my father turn the fish
over to be put out"
every good" replied the emperor, "your
demand is but natural, and springs from
good heart. !. Let the chamberlain be seized,'
he continued, turning to his guards
"I, sire!' cried the chamberlain; g did
not see anything-it was the steward
Let the steward be seized, then" said
the king.
But the steward protested, with tears in his
eyes, that he had not witnessed anything of
what had been reported, and said it was the
butler. The butlor declared that he had seen
nothing of the matter, and that it must have
been one of the Wallets. 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 the offence, upon
which the princess said:
81 appeal to you, my father, as to another
Solomon. If nobody saw the offence commits
ted, the count cannot be guilty, and my hus-
band is in>iocent."
The emperor frowned forthwith the cour-
tiers began to murmur; then he smiled, and
Immediately their visages became radiant.
Let it be so" said his majesty; let him
live, though have put many man to death
for a lighter offence than his. But if he is,
not hung, he is married. Justice has been
done"