National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-10-11
The Stonc.Cutter's Six Wishes.

Once upon time there was in Japan
II poor stone-cutter, n simple workman
in the auarries. His life WAS rude, he
worked much, gained little, and was not
at all contcnted with his fate
"Oh. il could only be rich enough
to rest, to sleep on thick mating, wrap
ped in "A kirimon of soft silk!" Such was
the sigh he brcathed to heaven. An
angel heard il.
1t shall he according to thy desire, "
said an angel to him. And he at once
became rich. and he rested, slept upon
the thick mating and wrapped himself
in IA kirlmon of soft silk. II happened
that the Emperor passed by. He WIS
preceded by herllds on horseback, fol-
lowed lay a brilliant escort OF cavaliers,
and surround d by persons who held
over his head an immense paraso'
resplendeut with gold.
What good does it do me to be
rich" murmured the man, " as long rs
have not the right to go with an escort,
and nv head protected by golden
parasol ? Why am | not IN emperor 2
" Thou sualt be-" said the angel.
And indeed, he became the Emperor,
Ilt nutl All tNtDlA Ufiblt tli ''hih' htAi
and people who held above his head an
immense parasol resplendent with gold
However the sun with its ardent
beams dried mp the country. and the
dusty road. quiverisg with its bright
ness. fatigued the eyes.
" II is a great advantage to he en-
perer." cried the man, "when the heat
Of the day exhausts you, and the sun
never coases to make YOU feel his power.
| But if one could be tine sun y
Behold Are you satisfied 2 the
angel asked. For he had become the
sun. aud he darted hls beams mp, dowh
light and left, aud all around hun. And
he scorched the herbage of the eerth.
and the faces OF the princes upon the
earth.
But now cloud thrust itself between
the earth and him. 1t held back the
rays OF the sun, and prevented them from
! falling upon the earths sarface.
There is strength, cried the sun
"a cloud capable OF resisting my power
it would he better if | were a cloud.
" Very well, said the angel
Aud the transformation was at once
ACCOMPLISHED. The new cloud placed
itself hauohtilv between the sun and the
earth, and so thoroughly intercepted tue
rays of the sun that it soon saw the
earth covered with shadow. Then 1t
caused big drops Of rain and pouring
showers and water spouts to fall on the
! and. so that the torrents burst their
| bounds, and the rivers spread over and
devastated the fields.
Nothing resisted the force OF the inun
dation /: only rock defied it, perfectly
motiouless. In vain the believing
waters beat it in their fury--the rock
Yielded not, but the foaming waves died
at its foot. ?,
" A rock, then, is my SUPERIOR" sail
the cloud " | would rather be i'll its
place"
And he was transformed into steep,
unshaken rock. insensible to the rays of
the sun, Indifferent to the torrents OF
rain and the shock of the tumultnona
waves. But he distinguished at his foot
man of poor appearance hardly
clothed, armed with chisel and ham
mer and the man, with the help OF
rock. which he dressed into stones
proper for cutting.
" What is that ?" cried the rock :
has a man the power of randlng pieces
of stone from my base Snail l be
weaker than he Then it is absolutely
necessary that l should be that man y
" Have your will - said the angel !;
and he became again what he had been
IA poor stone-cut'er, simple workman
in the quarries. His lite was rude he
worked much and gained little. but he
had learned contentment with his lot
Japanese FABLE