Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-10-01
THE STONEBREAKER.


remote that savants hardly dare speak of
it-a poor little stOnebreaker who was
employed upon the highways
He worked upon the highways, while
it was daylight, all the time, during all
seasons, under the rain, the snow or the
sun 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
servitor who should recall to me that !
had nothing to do and that conld sleep
without remorse."
An angel passing heard these words
and smiled-"Thy prayer be granted
poor man, said he.
And suddenly the stonebreaker, en-
veloped in sumptuous vestments of silk,
found himself stretched upon some thick
mats, before the door Of splendid
dwelling. He was no longer hungry or
thirsty, no longer tired, and all this ap-
peared to him as agreeable as it was sur
prising,
He tasted during half hour unknown
happiness, when the mikado CHANGED to
pass. The mikado! That was no small
matter-nol 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 musi-
clans, accompanied by women. the most
beautiful in the world who dozed in
their silver howdahs perched upon white
elephants.
The mikado reposed upon elder down
in 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.
81 haven't gained much" he said to
himself II 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 golden palanquin blazing
with precious stones, attended by my
prime minister holding a great glitter
ing parasol over me, while my second
minister should cool my face with fan
made of peacocks feathers. Ahl that
could be the mikado"
"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:
"Mikado, 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
"Ah! happy dayl now here are people
who know my value"
The sun, 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 his minister who carried
the tinkling parasol, he said:
"Make known to the sun that hi
troubles me. His familiarities displeast
me- Say to him that the grand emperor
OF Japan commands him to retire. Got
The prime minister confded to 1
chamberlain the honor of carrying thu
tinkling parasol and went away.
He returned presently with the great
est CONSERVATION written in his face.
"Great emperorl Sovereign of tn
gods and of man! 1t is past comprehen
sion The sun pretends not to hear ant
continues to shine on the road"
Let him be- punished. y
Certainly! His insolence merits it
but how shall | get at him to administe
the punishment
"a am the equal of the gods-is it no
SOP
"Assuredly, great midado-the equal
to say the least
You told me but a moment since tina
nothing was impossible to me. Yo1
have lied to me-you have disobeyed me
or you have badly executed my orders
give you five minutes in which to pu
out the sun, or ten in which to commi
harikari. Col"
The prime minister went away, bu
did not return.
The imperial stonebreaker was purpl
with rage.
Upon my wordl This is fine posi-
tion-this of emperor, when one is oblige
to submit to the familiarities, the ca
prices, the brutalities of a moving planet
1t is no use to deny it, the sun is NOR
powerful than l. would like to be tn
sum-"
"You are the sun" said the angel.
And the little stonebreaker shone il
the high heavens, all radiant, all fam
ing. He took pleasure in scorching tn
trees, in drying up the rivers and tn
: springs, and in covering with sweat tn
august visages of emperors, no less tha
the dusty noses of the stonebreakers. hi
colleagues of the morning.