Daily Republican., 1885-04-04
CUNNING CORANDA.

Prague, there once lived rich and
whimsical old farmer who had a beau
ttful daughter. The students of Prague,
OF whom there were at that time several
thousand, often walked to DEWITT, and
more Than one OF them offered to follow
the pillow In hopes Of becoming the son
In. law of the farmer. The first condi-
ton that the cunning peasant set on
each servant was this az engage you"
bio would ray, for year, that Is, till
the cuckoo sings the return of spring !;
but If from now till then you say once
that you are not satisfied will cut of
the end of your nose. l give you the
same right over me-" he added laugh
ing. And he did as be said. Prague
was full of students with the end of
their noses glued on, which did not pre-
vent an ugly scar, and still lees bad
jokes. To return from the farm dis.
figured and ridicaled was well cal.
culated to cool the warmest passions.
A young man by the name of Coran
da, somewhat ungainly In manner, but
cool, sdroit, and cunning, resolved TO
try the ad venture. The farmer recei we'd
him with his usual good nature, and,
the bargain made, sent him to the field
to work. At breakfast time the other
servants were called, but good care
WAS taken to forget Coranda. At din
ner time 1t was the same. Coranda
gave himself no trouble about it. He
went to the house, and while tho far
mer's wife WAS feeding the chickens he
unlocked an enormus ham from the
kitchen rafters, and took o huge loaf
from the cupboard, and went back to-
me neius W uinc aud 'aho a pep.
" Arc you satisfied ?" cried the far.
mer, when he returned at night
Perfectly" said Coranda; 81 have
diDed better than you have"
AT that instant the farmers wife
came rushing in, crying that her ham
was gone. Corsnda laughed, and the
farmer turned pale.
Are you not satisfied" asked
Corauda.
A ham IL only ham," answered
his master, "such trife does not
trouble me-" But after that he took
good care not to leave the student
fasting.
Sunday came. The farmer and his
wife seated themselves in the wagon to
go TO church, saying to Corando, ut Is |
your business TO cook the dinner. Cut
up The piece OF meat you wee yonder,
with ONIONS, carrots, leeks, and parsley,
and boil them all t. gether In the great
pot over the kitchen fire."
Very WE'LL" answered Coranda.
There is little pet dog at the farm
house by the name of Parsley. Coran-
da killed him, skinned him, cut him
up with the meat and Vegetables, and
put the whole TO boil over the kitchen
fire. When the farmers wife returned.
she called her favorite, hut alas! she
saw nothing but bloody skin hanging
by the window.
" What have you done?" said she to
Coranda.
What you ordered me, mistress. II
have boiled the meat, onions, car.
rots, and leeks, and parsley in the bar.
gain"
Wicked wretch" cried the farmer,
" had you the heart to kill the limo
cent creature that was the joy of the
house,"
Arc you not sati. fied?" said
Coranda, taking his knife from his
pocket.
~ did not say that" returned the
farmer " dead dog il nothing but a
dead dog" But he sighed.
A few days after, the farmer and his
wife went TO market. Fearing their
terrible servant, they said 10 him,
"stay At home and do exactly what you
see others do
Very we'll, said Coranda.
There was an old shed in the yard
the roof Of which was falling to pieces
The carpenters came to repair II, and
began, as usual, by tearing down the
roof. COranda took ladder aud
mounted the roof of the house, which
WAS quite new. Shingles, laths, nails
and tiles, he tore off everything, aud
scattered them all to the winds
When the farmer returned, the hoUs.
WAS open to the sky.
Villain |" he said, "what new trick
have you played me?"
81 have obeyed you, master," an
swered Coranda. You tod me to do
exactly what saw others do Are you
not satisfied ?" And be took 0ut his
knife.
Satisfied !" returned the farmer :;
why should 1 not be satisfied. A few
shingles more or less will not ruin me-"
But he sighed.
Night came the farmer and his wife
said TO each other that 1t was high time
to pei rid of this incarnate demon. As
in way the case with sensible people,
they never did any thing without con.
suiting their daughter, it being the
custom In Bohemia to think that chill
dren always lave more wit than their
parents.
Father" said Helen, 81 " Ill hi lie
in the great pear tree early in tue
morning, and call like the cuckoo. You
can tell Corauda that the year Is up,
since the cuckoo is singing lay him,
and send him away"
Early in The morning the plaintiye
cry of tho cuckoo was heard through
the fields. This farmer seemed surpr 8 p.
ed. Wen, Ey boy, spring Is come, ="
sad lie. Do you hear the cuckoo
singing yonder 8? l will pay you, and
We will part good friends !"
A cuckoo |" cried Coranda; "that
is bird which 1 have always wanted
to see."
He ran to the tree and shook 1t with
all his might, when behold a y, ung
girl fell from the branches fortunately
more frightened than hurt.
Villain |" cried the farmer.
Are you not Satisfied 2" said Co
randa, opening his knife.
Wretch you kill my daughter,
and you think ought to he satisfied
am furious. Beeone, il you would not
die by my hand p
will go when have cut off your
nose," said Coranda. 81 have kept
my word do you keep yours"
Stop 7" cried the farmer, putting
his hand before his face -" you will
surely let me redeem my nose"
p" 1t depends on what you offer" said
Corauda.
"Will you take sheep for it ?"
"No."
TEN cows?"
No. l would rather cut off your
nose" And sharpened bis knife on the
doorstep.