News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-08-23
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LETELLING.

LETELLLNG.
ihe Emperor of China had something on h
mind;
1t had struck him that distinctions. such {
everywhere you find,
Of wealth and rank are most unfair, as well g
most unkind.
So he said to his Prime Minister, 'sThis sha
no longer be;
For why my friends and brothers should G
bowling down to me,
When 1 am no whit better, 1 really canno
see!"
shocked;
His head he shook astutely, and his eyes HI
wisely cooked,
As he said with deepest reverence, ''My lore
has surely mocked
Hereditary wisdom, hereditary truth"
-s,Hereditary chopsticks :" the Emperor cried,
''Good sooth
As sensibly might you adore hereditary youth.
-''Ihis thing shall have trial; you viii write,
my friend, strsightway,
My imperial proclamation, that from this very
day
Bank and riches shall be equall" With ges-
ture of dismay
The Minister besought him, ''My lord, crave
one boon;
I will write the proclamation; 1 can have it
done by noon.
But beg you to defer it; not to try it quite so
soon.
Not until we make this trial: take six men
who equal be
As to rank and age and learning, and convey
them over sea,
To an island uninhabited, and leave them
there quite freei
'tAnd in three years return there, and if you
find them so,
Precisely as we left them, that day three
years ago,
As to wealth and rank and pow !, let the world
your edict know"
The Emperor assented, second thoughts are
always best,
And the vision of himself discrowned, un-
ranked and dispossesscd
OF all imperial privilege, was rather fiat, at
best.
Six mandarins were chosen, as equal as could
be-
Shipped to the distant island and left entirely
free
How they Jared, the three years over, the En-
peror went to see.
He was met by procession; in gaudy litter
sat
One of the six, distinguished by button on
his hat;
He was carried by four bearers and herald
shouted that
he was Ruler of the island. Said the Emper-
or, ''What is this?
How, ask has my arrangement gone so ut
terly amiss?
There is something hidden from me; must
fathom it 1 wis !"
Twas simple explanation, for the Ruler made
it plain;
IIe had worked and planned so wisely for /
himself, the rest were fain
To intrust him with their business, and to make /
the greater gain.
Then he gave each one title, Agent, Umpire,
Lawyer, Judge,
Watchmani these were their appointments,
and they found they dared not bulge
Without his royal edict; and they did not seem
to grudge
This assumption of authority; it saved them
from much care,
The first was the Prime Minister; the rest
agreed to share
The life of simple subjects and the royal |
throne to bear.
That was all; the Emperor listened silently and
thoughtfully;
Then he said to his Prime Minister, ''Since |
rank, it seems, must be,
! suppose the rank 1 stand in may as well be-
long to me
'tAs to another: Seasons must be equal in their
And heat; all rivers equal in length; the noun
tains old
OF equal height, ere all men are equal as to
gold,
"And rank and power. Return we to our en-
pire leaving these
To play at king and subject, since the playing
seems to please!
/, too, will play my part out, though perhaps
with less of ease :"
MARGARET YANDEGRIFT