The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-12-07

eyes anu ears upon niin, his Lr3VelS U.
land and watef, of foreign nations an
their customs.
Every guest was entranced by hi
words but not so the virgin Richbel
ta Her vanity could expect nothing
else than that the stranger should b
loud in hi, praises of her riches, tn
brilliancy of her feast, and woul,
make comparisons giving fresh nour
ishment to her pride. To these sub
jects, however, he made no allusion
till finally, driven to desperation, sh.
demanded it of him herself, when ht
confessed that only with kings had he
found such splendor and extravaganza
and what made it more singular tc
him was, that he should miss here the
best and nobIest thing that the earth
produced.
In vain did she attempt to obtain
fuller explanation of the strange
guest, and, being questioned too
pressingly, he disappeared, and was
not seen again. -
Richberta's pride and curiosity,
equally excited, allowed her no quiet
ude. She possessed in valuables all
that could be mentioned however,
'the best and noblest thing" was
wantingl She consulted scholars and
philosophers, sent for magicians and
astrologers, but none knew how to
name that thing which for years the
had not possessed.
In her restless desire she Lad ships
equipped to cruise through all oceans
anil seas, to visit every land, with
orders not to return till the required
article had been found. The COM
mander of the fleet put to sea, unde-
cided whittier to direct his ships.
One part he sent to the East, anoth-
er to the West, while he himself, with
his remaining vessels, relied on the
favor of the winds. 1t happened that
by leak. part of the provisions
hecau,e spoiled. and although there
was no lack OF meat, wine and other
luxeries, the flour and bread had
become unfit for food, and the want
of it was soon felt severely.
In this strait, the commander saw
quickly what he must consider the
best thing the earth produced not
the spices and perfumes of India, nor
the pearls from the depths of the sea,
nor diamonds of most priceless value
but that universally thriving gift of
nature, the indispensable and inestim
able uourishing brea1. He realized
now the sense of the obscure words
spoken by the stranger, and his reso-
luton was quickly made. He steered
to baltic harb IT, where he took in a
cargo of the finest wheat, and then
sailed to Stavoren. rs soon as he
arrived he appeared before Richberta,
who had not expected him SO quick
Iy, and announced to her that he now
knew what was the Lest of all the
earth's productions had found it in
abundance had brought it with HIM.
He then related to his astonished |
mistress how he had obtained this
knowledge, and that the mysterious
guest coul'l only have meant the fail
ing bread. lie, therefore, believed
he had executed her order IN a salts
factory manner.
But Richberta was not of the same
,rinion. She cast reproachtul looks
1t the confounded servant, and, pain
fully suppressing her rage, demanded
o know on which side of The ship he
lad taken in the cargo. She was an
wered, Son the right side" "Well
hen, ,nsaid the naughty Richberta, "I
you to cast the whole car
20 into the sea from the left"
In vain were appeals and expostu-
ations made against the carrying out
# this order; uselessly did the faith
ul servant beg of her not TO destroy
he rich gift of God, but at least allie
late the wants of The needy poor .
rith it; use!essly did he send to her
rowds of poverty stricken wrctches to
often her heart. All was in vain
Before her own eyes she lad the rich
gheat cargo, which could have given s
read to SO many, thrown into the sea,
mid the howlings and cursings Of the ,
multitude. The bottom Of the sea
ad received the cargo, but the grain ,
ecame the seeds of ruin. Germina. S
ng in the mud, continually covered
18th new earth, there shot up for
st of stalks, without ears, of great !
rowth, always springing higher and S
igher, which, like sea fungus or huge
,iders, covered the surface of the =
ater As the. soft movable mass of a
arth thereby found support, an t
nmense sard-bank was formed be- Il
re the harbor of Stavoren, which no :
imam power was able to break .
rough. The numerous ships of the a
wn, and also those of the rich Rich a
rita, being unable to find an en- t