Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-15
THE ST0NEBREAKER.

lie worked upon the highways. while
II was daylight, all tho time during all
seasons, under the rain. the snow or tho
sun. He was always half dead with
fatigue. threo.quartcrs dead from hun.
ger, and was not at all contented with
his fate.
"Oh, how would thank heaven
said he, III could ono day DO but rich
enough 20 sleep the whole morning
through and eat and drink my I'LL II Is
said there exist people, blessed by Tor.
tune. who thus live IN ease and comfort
Stretched upon thick mats before my
door my back covered with soft vest.
mcnts Of silk. would make sicata TO
DO broken every quarter Of an hour hy a
aervitor who should recall 10 mo that
had nothing 10 do and that could sleep
without romorsc."
An angel passing heard these words
and milcd-"Thy prayer be granted.
poor man." snid he.
And suddenly tho stonohrcll,er. en-
yolopcd In smnpiuous vcsitnonts Of silk.
found himself stretched upon some thicl,
mats, before the door Of splendid
dwelling lie was no longer hungry or
thirsty, no longer tired. aud all this APP
pcnrcd to him as agreeable as II was sur.
priing
ilo tasted during y half hour unknown
Happiness. when tho mikado chlnccd 20
pass The mikadol That was no small
matter-nol The milalois the emperor
Of Japan and the emperor Of Japan was,
az that time. above all. the most power
ful Of tho cmpOror Of tho orient.
Preceded 10y couricrs the mikado was
travelling for pleasure, surrounded by
cavaliers all decorated and hcdzancd.
like the grand Turk Of Turkey, followed
by famous warriors. escorted by must
clans, accompanied by women the most
beautiful In tho world. who dozed IN
their silver howdnhs perchcd upon white
elephants.
The mil,ado rcposcd upon cider down
In p1lanquin Of fine gold studded with
precious stones. His prime minister had
the unparalleled honor Of holding above
bis head a great tinbling parasol all
fringcd with little bells
Tho enriched stoncbroaker followed
with an cnyious ego the imperial cor.
tcgc.
81 haven't gained much, he said 20
himself ~ am not much happier for
the few paltry pleasures am enabled 10
give myself Oh, that | were tho mi
l,adoi 1 would travel In grand state,
lolling Ia a golden palanquin blazing
with precious stones. attended by my
prime minister holding great glitter
ing parnsol over me, while my second
minister should cool my face with ian
mndc Of pcncocks feathers. Ali! that
could be the mikado!'
"Your wish Is granted. " said the angel.
And Immediately no saw himself
stretched In the palan1uin Of fine gold,
starred with precious stones, and sur
rounded by his ministers, his warriors,
hts women aud his slaves, who said to
him In Japancsoi
"Mikado, thou art superior to tho sun
thou art oternal-thou art iuyinciblc.
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.'
Aud the stoncbfcakcr said 10 himself
"Ahl happy dayl now here arc people
who know my value"
Tho sun, which had been very ferco
for some days, had parchei the country
Tho route was dusty aud his glare
fatigucd tho eyes OF the uowmado mi.
kado.
Addressing his minister who carried
the tinkling plrasol, hc sid;
make known 90 tho sun that no
troubles me, His iamiliaritics displeaso
me. Say 20 him that the grand emperor
OF Japan commands him TO retire Got"
Tho prime minister oonhdcd 10
chamberlain the honor OF carrying tho
tinkling parnsol and went away.
Hc returned presently with the great.
est CONSERVATION written IN his face.
Great emperor! Sovereign OF tho
gods and OF mani II Is past comprehen.
sion. The sun pro,enda not 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"
u am the equal Of tho gods--is It not
sol"
"Assurcdly, great midado-the equal,
/ TO say the least"
you told me but n momont since that
nothing was impossible to mo. You
have lied TO me-you have disobeyed me.
or You have badly executed my orders.
give you fivo minutes in which TO put
out the sun, or ten in which to commit
hili. kari. Got"
The primo minister went away, but
did not return.
The imperial stonobreaker was purple
with rage,
Upon my wordl This Is a fine posi-
tion-this Of emperor, when one h obliged
TO submit TO the fnmilarities. tho ca
prices, tho brutalties 81 moving planet
It Is no use to deny it, tho sun is more
powerful than |. Iwould like to DO tho
sun"
"You arc the SUM-" said the angel.
| And the little stonebrenkor shone IN
tho high heavens, all radiant, all fam
ing, He took pleasure In scorchng tho
trees, In drying up tho rivers aud tho
springs, and in covering with sweat tho
august yisages of emperor, no less than
lilo dusty noses OF the stonebreakers, his
colleagues OF tho morning.
But cloud came between tho earth
aud him, aud the cloud said;
"ilalt therei my dear No one can
pass"
by the moonl This "a n little too