The Opelousas courier., 1885-07-11

eoSAi w aioas LIS soice SAYING poH,
obedience is better than life
"Our prince was a great man for all
OF that. and a great lover of Justice.
Once he heard that a merchant in his
village had cheated the wife of a poor
peasant. He at once mounted his
horse, galloped to the market place and
entered the shop.
":Ah, Tchourkin, Tchourkin,' said
he, you've been a rascal. Now quit
the shop at once
"The prince installed himself in the
discounted merchants place. With
the yardstick in his hand he stood at
door of the shop and cried out with a
loud voice, so that he could be heard
all through the market place.
"'Walk up here. ladies and gentle
men, walk up here and look at our
goods. We give no change, and we
will not be bothered with small money
from our customers. If you pay We'll
thank you for it, but if you don't. why,
then, it can't be helped. Only walk
in and buy
Everyone rushed TO .thes =,
nrina@ shop. Inc
nee himself served them behind the
counter, measuring the goods by the
yard and by whole pieces. In less than
three hours the entire shop was cleared
of its goods, but the sum produced by
this extraordinary sale was very
small. ~
"'There,' said the prince, reckoning
to the crestfallen merchant to come in,
there is your ready money, but a good
deal has been sold on credit. You can
now exert your wits, not in cheating
my poor serfs, but in collecting your
debts. But mind you never forget the
people whom you cheated, lest a worse
fate befall YOU
"The great event of each day was
the princes afternoon nap The mo-
ment the prince, with his pipe in his
mouth, placed himself in his arm.
chair, a flag was hoisted from the
palace turrets-a warning signal to
tell that the lord of the estate was
mapping.
"When it was seen floating from
above, the stiffness of death fell upon
all around. Everything stood still; not
even a cat in the village dared to new,
''There was at one time a ruined
landlord of noble birth, who for want
Of means lived with the prince. Now
this gentleman was a bit of a wag.
One unlucky day in midsummer,
while the prince was having a nap in
his armchair in the eastern pavilion,
and the flag was f~uttering from above,
and peace and quiet reigned far and
near, the ruined gentleman. named
Rubathky, out of mere brayado, shout,
ed the last line Of a popular song called
The Road and took to his heels.
"The Waterman OF duty, with the
resignation of their class, had also
gone to sleep.
AT that instant the prince awoke.
heated and enraged. His voice was
heard demanding in terrible accents
"slVho sang "The Road2'"
seThe servants, terrified out of their
wits, ran about like wild people. but
could notdiscoyer any one who could
have committed the dreadful act.
"'Who sang 1.-THE Road again
yelled the Infatuated prince. rushing
to the front door with a huge whip in
his hand. Let him instantly come
forward. or I'll beat every one Of you.'
Not a soul appeared. The enraged
prince re-entered the house and began
to make a general havoc of the table
glasses and china. The butler and
head-steWard rushed TO Vasllka's room.
Vashka was the princes hired singer.
They entreated him to take the blame
upon himself. Their tears and sup
plications had no effect. until they sec
onded them with q promise of ten
poor VaslIka was unwilling to tell
The untruth, or to bring his back into
close contact with tho knout-but then
be was in dreadful need Of money.
AT length he yielded, and said
I IF he does not beat me with his
own hands, . that you lay 1t on
lightly.
by this time the prince had worked
himself into a terrible state Of frenzy.
AT length voices were heard, cry
ing that they were bringing the man.
And lol the butler and steward were
seen dragging poor innocent Vashka
along with them, his hands and feet
tied with strong cords.
"The prince, with q great knout in
his hand, seated himself on the sofa,
in order to bring his whole mind to
judge this case fairly. The lockers on
were 50 terrified that they hardly knew
whether they were dead or alive.
a.Did You sing 'sThe Road?" de-