The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-11
THE S%TONEBREAKER.
His Flight 10 the Heavens Brought
Him, Longing. Back to
Earth.

He worked upon the highways. while
It was daylight. all the time. during all
seasons, under the rain, the snow or the
SUM- He was always half dead with
fatigue, three-quarters dead from hun
ger, and was not at all contented with
his fate.
"Oh, how ! would thank heaven
said he. IF | could one day be but rich
enough to sleep the whole morning
through and eat and drink my fill 1t is
said there exist people. blessed by for
tune, who thus live In ease and comfort.
Stretched upon thick mats before my
door, my back covered with soft vest
ments of silk, | would make a siesta to
be broken every quarter Of an hour by a
servitor who should recall to me that !
had nothing to do and that | could sleep
without remorse."
, An angel passing heard these words
and smiled-"Thy prayer be granted.
poor man" said be.
And suddenly the stonebreaker, en-
veloped in sumptuous vestments of silk,
found himself stretched upon some thick
mats, before the door of a splendid
dwelling. He was no longer hungry or
thirsty, no longer tired. and all this APP
peared to him as agreeable a it was sur
prising.
He tasted during a half hour unknown
happiness, when the mikado CHANGED to
pass. The mikadol That was no small
matter-noi The mikado is the emperor
of Japan and the emperor Of Japan was,
at that time. above all, the most power
full of the emperors of the orient.
Preceded by couriers the mikado was
travelling for pleasure, surrounded by
cavaliers all decorated and bedizened,
like the grand Turk Of Turkey, followed
by famous warriors, escorted by must
clans. accompanied by ome the most
beautiful in the world. who dozed in
their silver howdahs perched upon white
elephants.
The mikado reposed upon elder down
in a palanquin of fine gold studded with
precious stones His prime minister had
the unparalleled honor Of holding above
his head a great tinkling parasol all
fringed with little bells.
The enriched ~stonebreaker followed
with an envious eye the imperial cor
tege.
II haven't gained much" he said to
himself. Il am not much happier for
the few paltry pleasures | am enabled to
give myself. Oh. that | were the mi
kadol | would travel in grand state,
lolling in a golden palanquin blazing
with precious stones. attended by my
prime minister holding a great glitter
ing parasol yer me, while my second
minister should cool my face with a fan
made Of peacock's feathers. All! that |
could be the mikadoI"
"Your wish is granted" said the angel.
And Immediately he saw himself
stretched in the palanquin of fine gold,
starred with precious stones, and sur
rounded by his ministers. his warriors.
his women and his slaves. who said to
him in Japanese;
"MikaGo, thou art superior to the sun
thou art eternal-thou art invincible.
All that the spirit of man can conceive
thou canst execute. Justice itself is sub
ordinate to thy will, and God. trembling.
awaits thy counsels.'
And the stonebreaker said to himself,
"Ahi happy dayl now here are people
who know my value
The sum-, which had been very fierce
for some days, had parched the country.
The route was dusty and his glare
fatigued the eyes of the newmade mi
kado.
Addressing bis minister who carried
the tinkling parasol. he said:
Make known to the sun that he
troubles me. His familiarities displease
me. Say to him that the grand emperor
Of Japan commands him to retire. Col"
The prime minister confided TO a
chamberlain the honor Of carrying the
tinkling parasol and went away.
He returned presently with the great
est CONSERVATION written in his face.
"Great emperor Sovereign of the
gods and of mani 1t is past comprehen-
sion. The sun pretends moi to hear and
continues to shine on the road"
LET him be punished"
Certainly His insolence merits it
but how shall | get at him to administer
the punishment"
81 am the equal of the gods-is it not
sol"
"Assuredly, great midado-the equal,
to say the least"
"You told me but a moment since that
nothing was impossible to me. You
have lied to me-you have disobeyed me,
or you have badly executed my orders.
| give you FIVE minutes in which to put
out the sun, or ten in which to commit
hari-kari. Cor
The prime minister went away, but
did not return.
The imperial stonebreaker was purple
with rage.
Upon my wordl This is a fine posi-
tion-this of emperor. when one is obliged
to submit to the f~amiliarities. the ca
prices, the brutalities of a moving planet
It is no use to deny it. the sun is more
powerful than L would like to be the
SUM-"
"You are the SUM-" said the angel.
And the little stonebreaker shone in
the high heavens. all radiant, all fam
ing. He took pleasure in scorching the
trees, N drying up the rivers and the
springs, and in covering with sweat the
august visages Of emperors. no less than
the dusty noses of the stonebreakers. his
colleagues OF the morning.