Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-04-26
The Sunken City.

the first place, The ships Of its mer-
chants covered the seas and imported the
productions of all zones. Tradition re-
lates that there were many houses that
euualed palaces in their grandeur, and
that its wealthy citizens tired TO outvle
each other in pomp and splen1or.
But of all the Stavoren merchants. none
could compare in riches with the virgin
Rlchberta- The success with which each
of her speculations was rewarded, and
not seldom with unexpected profits,
seemed to show to her 10 what degi ee
fortune could lavish her gifts on mortal.
and how long allow her favors to be en-
joyed-
Such unexampled good fortune Rich
berta could not support with indifference,
and if the maxim that 'great misfortunes
are easier to be borne tnan lmmoderate
happiness be true, Ricbberta was des-
tined to be glsrIng proof of the truth
of this assertion
Her pride and vain-glory kept step with
the increase OF her riches, and she showed
this both by contempt for her fellow
creatures and by preparing the most luku-
RANT and extravsgant feasts, less with tie
intention of amusing and gladdcning the
town than to give her guests the oppor-
tunity to admire the ever changing splen-
do, OF her apartments and be astonished
at the foreign AMI costly food and wine,
aud thus excite their envy. At one Of
these senseless repasts, Offering nothing 10
the mind and leaving the heart void. a
strange guest was announced. de came,
be said, from foreign countries, had seen
many royal kingdoms and the splendnr OF
their courts, and had come to admire
Ricbberta's riches fame reported to be
miraculous.
The fisttered mistress begged the stran-
ger to take sea; by her side. He sp-
peared TO be still robust old man, in the
picturesque costume OF the ORIENT. bis
conduct was both dlgnifed and noble as
he stepped to Richberta, expecting the
welcome from her hand which according
10 the usage oi his country, Is given sym
bolically by the offering OF bread and sGlt.
But there was no bread on the luxurious
table which grosned under its burden OF
rare epecurian dishes, and from which
the simple and wholesome nourishment Of
poverty was banished.
DRl6uill lut ccdACN uAlhoCAA. oA.N
while taking refreshment, related in a
manner which bound sli eyes and ears
upon him, of travels by land and water,
of foreign nations and their customs.
Every guest was entrsnced with his words.
but not so the virgin RIchberts- Her
vanity could expect uothIug else than that
the stranger should De loud in his praises
OF her riches, the 5rlllIancy of her feast.
and would make comparisons giving fresh
nourlshment ID her pride To these sub
jects, however, he made no allUsion; tIll
nnally, driven TO desperation, she deman
ded it of him herself. when he confessed
that only with kings had he found such
splendor END extravagance; and what
made 1t more singular TO him Was. that he
should miss here the best and nOblest thing
that the whole earth produced.
In VAN did she attempt TO OBTAIN a
fuller explaoation OF the strange guest,
and being questioned too pressIngly, he
disaI peared, aud was not seen again.
R.chberias pride and curiosity, equally
excited, allowed her NO qaietude.
She possessed in yaluables all thas could
be n,entiosed; however, the best and
noblest thing" was wanting. She cen
suited scholars and philosc piers, sent foT
magicians and astrologers, but none knew
how 10 name that thing which for years
she Lad not possessed
In her restless desire she had ships
equipped 10 orui-e through all the oceans
and seas, to wit every land, with orders
not 10 return until the IoQ hired article had
been found. The commander Of tie feet
put 10 sea, undecided whittier TO direct
his ships. One part he S, nj to the easf,
another to the west while he himself,
with his remaining vessels relied on the
favor of the winds. Ii happened that by
leak a part of the provisions became
spoiled, and although there was no want
OF meat, wine, and other luxLries, the
-four and bread had become unfit for food,
and the want or it was soUn felt most
severely.
In this strait the commander saw quickly
what lie must con-lier the best things the
earth prodrced-not The spices and perfumes
of Inois, nor The pearls from the depths Of
the ses, nor diamonds of most priceless
value; but that universally thriving gift
of nature, tie indispensable and Inestima
bic nJurishlng bread He recognized
now the sense of the obscure words spo
ken by the stranger, and his resoluuoa
was quickly made. He steered 10 a Bal
tic harber where he took in tull cargo of
the finest wheat, with which he sailed 10
Stavoren. As SON as he arrived he ap-
pearcd before R-chberta, who had not
expected him so quickly, and announced
to her that be now knew what was the
best of the earth's productions, bad found
1t, and IN abundance; had brought it with
him. He then related 10 his astoni,hed
mistress how he had obtained this know
ledge, and that the myste. lOus guest could
only have meant bread. lie therefore
believed he had executed his order In II
satisfactory manner.
But RIchberta was not OF the same
opinion. She cast reproachful looks at
the cenfounded commander, and painfully
repressing her rage. demanded 10 know on
what side OF the ships he had taken in the
cargo.
She was answered: "On the right
side"
swell, then said the naughty Rich
beita, Il command you to cast the whole
charge into the sea from the left
In vain were APPEALS aud expostulations
made against the carrying out of the or.
der, uselessly did the faithful servant beg
OF her not to destroy the rich gift of hea-
heaven, but at least to relieve the
wants of the needy poor with it.
Uselessly did he send to her crowds of
poverty stricken wrei CHS to soften her
heart Ali WAS in Win. Before her own
eyes she had the rich wheat cargo. which
could have gwen bresd TO SO many thrown
in o The sea, smid howlings and cursings
of the multitude
The bottom OF the sea had reserved the
cargo, but the grains became the seedlIngs
of rum. terminating in the mud, ccn
tinually covered with new earth, there
shot up forest of stalks without ears, OF
unastural growth, always ,prineing igher
and higher, which, like sea fungus or
huge spiders, covered the surface of the
wafer, Throwing out missma and breeding
fevers AMI pestIlence-
As the soft NOV BILE mass found sup
port. an immense sand bank was formed
Nr