Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-02-17

The following Japanese story il
quoted by a Ouch author, Decker
IN his "Max Havelaar :"
"THE sTONE-CUTTER."
"Once upon time there lived il
Japan poor stone-cutter, simple
workman in the quarries. His life
was rude, he worked much, gained
little and was not at all contented
with his fate.
so, if | could only be rich enough
to rest, to sleep on thick mating
wrapped in kirimon of soft silk!
Such was the sigh he breathed to
heaven. An angel intercepted it.
at shall be according to thy de-
sire," said the angel to him. And
he at cnce bees me rich, and he rest.
ed, slept upon thick mating, and
wrapped himself in kirimon Of soft
silk.
Il happened that the Emperor
passed by. He was preceded by
heralds on foot and on horseback,
followed by brilliant escort of cav
alters, and surrounded by persons
who held over his head an immense
parasol resplendent with gold.
" What good does it do me to be
rich 7" murmered the man, /" as long
as | have not the right to 90 out with
an escort, and my head protected by
golden para'ol? Why am | not the
Emperor"
"Thou shalt be-" said the angel.
And, indeed, he became the En-
peror. He had an escort of cavaliers
before and behind him, and peoplo
who held above his head all immense
parasol resplendent with gold.
However, the sun with his ardent
beams dried up the country, and the
dusty road, quivering with his
brightness, fstigued the eyes.
cit is a great advantage to be EN-
peror," cried the man, "when the
heat of the day exhsusts you, and
the sun never ceases to make you
feel his power But if one could be
the sunW
"Behold Are you satisfied ?" the
angel asked. For he had become the
sun, and he darted his beams up and
down, right and left, and all around
him. And scorched tho herbage of
the earth and the faces Of the princes
upon the earth.
But now cloud thrust itself be-
tween the earth and him it held back
the rays of the sun, and prevented
them from falling upon the earth'S
surface.
"There is strength" cried the sun
ia cloud capable of resisting my
power. 1t would be better if / were
a cloud"
every WELL" said the angel.
And the transformation was soon
accomplished. The new cloud
placed itself haughtily between the
sun and the earth, and so thoroughly
intercepted the rays OF the sun that
it soon saw the earth covered with
its shadow. Then it caused big drops
of rain, and pouring showers and
waterspouts 20 fall on the lands, 80
that the torrents burst their bounds
and the rivers spread over and de-
vastated fields.
Nothing resisted the force of the
inuudation; only a rock defed it,
perfectly motionless. 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"
said the cloud 81 would rather be
in its place"
"You shall be-" said the angel.
And he was transformed into a
steep, mistaken rock, insensibIe to
the rays of the sun, Indifferent to
the torrents of rain and the shock
of the tumultuous waves.
Nevertheless, he distinguished at
his feet man of poor appearance,
hardly clothed but armed with a
chisel and hammer; and the man
with the help of these instruments,
struck off pieces of the rock, which
he dressed into stones proper for
cutting.
"What is that?' cried the rock; ;
has a man the power Of rending
the pieces of stone from my
breast? Shall | be weaker than he /?
Then it is absolutely necessary that |
should be that man"
Have your will" said the angel (;
and he became again what he had
been-a poor Stone-cutter, a simple
workman in the ,qusrries. His life
was rude; he worked much and
gained little, but he was contented
with his lot?