Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-02-22
A Ceyl0nese Story.

LONG ago, king-or, as some say, a
very wealthy man, but it does not matter
which, though king sounds better-had
an only child, daughter, the heiress of
all his wealth. who could not, or would
not, speak. He tried all means to cure
her, but in vain. At last he sent forth a
proclamation that whoever, being of fit
ting degree, could restore speech to his
daughter, should marry her and eventu-
ally be lord of all her fathers wealth
Many tried, but all failed At last a
prince who had a magical gift, that of
causing things inanimate to talk with
him, came forward, and was admitted to
the hall where the princess was. He spoke
to her, and tried to induce 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, CT
will tell you story"
"Say on" replied the lamp
Well" went on the prince, -four
travelers-a carpenter, painter, cloth
merchant and jeweler-set out on a
journey. By-and-by they came to a rest
house, halted there, and prepared their
! food. The keeper of the rest-house had
laid on the floor log of wood, very suit
able for carving. The carpenter, seeing
this, pulled out his carving gear, and
carved the log into the shape of wo-
man, life-size, and exquisitely beautiful.
The painter next took his brushes and
colors, and painted the figure till it shone
as brilliantly fair as goddess. Then the
cloth-merchant opened his packages,
chose the finest silks and embroidered
robes, and dressed the figure in his choic-
est finery. Then the jeweler took gems,
loar rs nd hon nn1n oil
such things, and bedecked the figure with
them. Last of all, the figure was en-
dowed with life. / do not take on me to
explain how that came about, but it was
the fact.
mo more do l." said the lamp; "but
pray, go on. hate digressionsp
"When," continued the prince, ''that
exquisitely y-beautiful being burst into life,
all the four fell violently in love with her,
and each wished to make her his wife.
Why, shaped that matchless figure,
said the carpenter.
"'And bestowed on her that blooming
complexion retorted the painter.
And / robed her. exclaimed the mer-
chant.
"'But what are your choicest robes to
the costly gems which were my gift? A
woman is of little account without jew
els' cried the jeweler.
THUS they went on clamoring and dis
putting. Now, o lamp! who was to be
declared the rightful owner?"
First the lamp said one and then an
other, giving reasons-and whatever the
lamp said, the prince contradicted. The
dispute waxed hot and furious, but seem
ed never to come nearer to an end.
The princess heard all the dispute, and
held her peace a long time At last she
could bear to keep silent no longer. Sc
she cried: "You are both sillyl The
true owner was none of the four, but the
keeper of the rest-house, for to him the
wood she was made of belongedr'
''Ah. yes," said the prince, "you are il
the right, my princessl And now, tina
YOU have spoken, let me claim my reward
and take you for my wifel' So they wen
before the king, who was enchanted will
the cure; and they were married straight
way and lived happy ever Afterwards
least, it is said, the princess never CAV,
her husband any cause, after marriage, t.
reproach her for too persistently holding
her peacel