Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-04-18
A Ceylonese Story.

Long ago, king-or, as some say, :
very wealthy man, but it does not mat.
ter which, though king sounds better
had an only child, daughter, the
heiress of all his wealth, who cohld moi
or would not speak. He tried all means
to cure her but in vain. At last be sent
forth proclamation that whoever be-
ing of fitting degree, could restore
speech to his daughter, could marry her
and eventually be lord of all her faith
er's riches. Many tried, but all failed.
At last prince who had magical gift
that of causing things inanimate to
talk with him-came forward, and was
admitted to the hall where the princess
was. He spake to her, and tried to in
duce her to speak, but answer he got
none.
Now, lamp was hanging in the hall,
and to it the prince good humoredly ad-
dressed himself. Lamp" said he, 81
will tell you story"
'Say on" replied the lamp.
"Well,'1 went on the prince, ''four
travellers-a carpenter, painter, a
cloth merchant, and jeweller-set out
ON journey. By-and-by they came to
rest-house, halted there and prepared
their food. The keeper of the rest
house had laid down on the floor a log
of wood, very suitable for carving.
The carpenter, seeing this, pulled out
his carving gear, and carved the log in
to the shape of woman, life-size and
exquisitely beautiful. The painter
next took his brushes and colors, and
painted the figure till it shone as beau
tifully fair as goddess. Then the
cloth-merchant opened his packages,
chose the finest silks and embroidered
robes, and dressed the figure in his
choicest bravery. The jeweller took
gems, earrings, necklaces and spangles
and all such things, and bedecked the
figure with them. Last of all, the fig
ure was endowed with life. L do not
take on me to explain how that came
about, but it was the fact"
mo more do l." said the lamp; s'but
pray, &C. on; hate digressions,"
"When," continued the prince, "that
e1quisitely beautiful being burst into
life, all the four fell violently in love
with her, and each wished to make her
his wife.
"Why, 1 shaped that nlatchless figure"
said the carpenter.
"And l bestowed on her that bloom
ing complexion" retorted the painter.
"And l robed her." exclaimed the
merchant.
"But what are your choicest robes to
he costly gems which were my gift?
A woman is of little account without
ewels!" cried the jeweller.
''Thus they went on clamoring and
iisputing. Now, o lamp, who was to
De declared the rightful owner?''
First the lamp said one and then an
'ther, giving reasons-and whatever
he lamp said the prince contradicted.
The dispute waXed hot and furious, but
eemed never to come near to an end.
The princess heard all the dispute,
md held her peace a long time. At
asst she could bear to keep still no long
II. She said:
"You are both silly. The true own
vas none of the four, but the keeper of
he rest-house, for to him the wood she
vas made of belongedT"
"Ah! yes" said the prince, 'you are
light, my princess! And now that you
AVE spoken, let me claim my reward
md take yOu for my wife," So they
vent before the king, who was enchant-
d with the cure,and they were married
traightway and lived happy ever after
vard-at least it is said, the princess
ever gave her husband any cause after
marriage to reproach her for too per-
istently holding her peace.-Interior.