The Hickman courier., 1878-07-12
eroufance human being possesses.-
THE TWELVE PURSES.


eneedote Of Emperor Joseph n.
one night the Emperor Joseph H., of
1eImany, determined on visiting his
GUARDS, to ascertain their fidelity, and
Fhst dependence might be placed on
ftneir vigilance. Finding them all
hs'eeP. or at least in appearance, he re-
turned to his chamber for some money
which he had reserved for a different
purpose, contained in as many purses as
there were soldiers on duty--twelve in
number. These he visited once more,
aud placed under the arm of each one of
these purses, in every one of which were
100 pieces of gold.
x One OF the soldiers who was not asleep.
altnough be feigned to be 80, took par
,,.l ,t.ls's-sr notice of tie emperor, and, at
S.--. -xamined the purse which
nau oeo" P". 1,,;s arm, and, finding
that it contained 100 Pi~.s of gold, sup
posed each of his companIoS had "a
much, of which he might take pos.-ss;on
before they awoke. This he immedia.lv v
put in practice by gently easing them o
their valuable burdens.
The emperor, who had no doubt tina
all the soldiers were asleep when he Wis
tied them, and that they must be over
loved at discovering their good fortune
caused them to be called together EARL
in the morning, and asked of them sue
cessively what they had dreamed tn
preceding night, and whether the sue
cess was answerable to the vision
imagining that each would say that h
had found purse under his arm will
100 pieces of gold. But not word o
the matter did he hear from the firs
eleven that he examined until he cam
to the twelfth, the watchful sentinel 0
the preceding night, who, making pro
found bow to the king, said
"Sir, I fancied at night that persol
who very much resembled your majesty
visited us one after another, and, findini
us all asleep, returned to his chamber
but soon came back with dozen purses
which he attached severally to tn
arm of each of us, and then withdrew
Afterward, sire, it was evident, unles
my dream deceived me, that when tha
generous and venerable persen had re
tired, ] began TO examine the content
of the purse under my own arm, aud
finding in it hundred pieces of gold,
supposed each of my companions had 81
many, when / was seized with a suddel
zeal to put them all together, saying Il
myself that, for many cogent reason
which then occurred to me, it would b
well to do 80; and 80 did, which pleased
me exceedingly on awaking. This, sir
is the whole of my dream. Ihope YOU
Majesty approves of my devotion, which
l assure you, is very sincere and sffec
tionste"
The Esnperot. learning from bis in0e
nsuos harEngue that the colder was no
one OF those who slept, and that, not
withstanding he had feigned being in the
same condition with his companions, he
was the only one at his duty, permitted
him alone to enjoy the reward, saying
Yes, 1 approve of your decision; the
prize is yours alone, for you only were
awake As for the rest it is sufficient fol
them to knew that each had a hundred
pieces of gold, which he lost by being
asleep. Hence they will IeaIn that riches
are not acquired by slumber, or if, by some
lucky accident they fall to the share of the
slothful, they take flight as suddenly
and as Unforeseen as they came"