Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-08-20
THE STONE BREAKER.

There was once in Japan--at time so
remote that savants hardly dare speak Of
tia poor little stone breaker who worked
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 alwa, 8 half dead with fa-
tigue, three-quarters dead from hunger,
and was not at all contented with his fate.
"Ohl how / would thank Heaven, y
said he, If could one day be but rich
enough 10 sleeh the whole morning
through, and eat and drink my fill. It is
said there exist people, blessed by fortune,
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 sery-
itor who should recall to me that had
nothing TO do, AID that / could sleep
without remorse.
An angel passing heard these words
and smiled. "Thy prayer be granted,
poor man, said he.
And suddenly the stone breaker, en-
veloped in sumptuous vestments Of silk,
found himself stretched upon some thick
mats before the door of splendid dwell.
ing. He was no longer hungry or thirsty,
no longer tired, and all this appeared to
him as agreeable as ii was surprising.
He tasted during half hour unknown
happiness, when the Mikado chanced to
pass. The Mikadol That was no small
matter-no The Mikado is the emperor
Of Japan and the emperor of Japan was,
at that time, above all, the most power
ful 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 howdal.s 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 great tinkling parasol, all
fringed with little bells.
The enriched stone breaker followed
with an envious eye the Imperial cortege
II haven't gained much" he said t.
himself. II am not much happier for the
few paltry pleasures I am enabled to give
| myself. Oh that were the Mikado! !
would travel in grand state, lolling in !;
golden palanquin blazing with precious
slones, attended by my prime minister
olding great glittering parasol over
ne, while my second minister should
c ol my face with fan made of pea
,ock's feathers. Ahl that could be the
! dikadol"
Your wish is granted, said theangel
And Immediately he saw himself
tretched In the palanquin Of fine gold.
tarred with precious stones, and sur
Ounded by his ministers, his warriors,
lis women, and his slaves, who said to
i'm 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 stone breaker said to himself
"Ahl happy dayi Now, here are people
who know my value.
The sun, which had been very fierce foI
some days, had parched the country.
The route was dusty and the suns glare fa-
tgued the eyes of the new made Mikado.
Addressing his minister who carried
tie tinkling parasol, he said:
Make known to the sun that he
troubles me. His famiiiarities dispIeast
me. Say to him that the grand emperor
Of Japan commands him to retire. Col
The prime minister confided to q
chamberlain the honor of carrying the
tinkling parasol, and went away.
lie returned, presently, with the great
est CONSERVATION written in his face.
@Great emperor Sovereign Of the
gods and Of mani II 10 past comprehen
sion. The sun pretends 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"
Il an the equal Of the gods-is it moi
so?"
aAssuredly, great Mikado--the equal
to say the least.
you told me, but 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 Hve minutes In which to put
out the sun. or 10 in which to commit
hari kari. Col"
The prime minister went away, but die
| not return.
The imperial stone breaker was purple
with rage.
@Upon my wordl This is fine posi-
tion-tlis Of emperor, when one il
obliged to submit to the familiarities, tn.
raprices, the brutAlities of a moving
planet It is no use to deny it, the sun i
more powerful than I. would like ts
be the sun.
You are the sun, said the angel.
And the little stone breaker shone IL
high heavens, all radiant, all flaming
he took pleasure ii scorching the trees
70 drying up the rivers and the springs
and in covering with sweat the august
1 -. ~ AZ