St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-10-08
THE STONEBREAKER.

THE STONEBREAKER.
|zzere was once in Japan-at time
mote that savants hardly dare
of it-a poor little stonebreak-
11b was employed upon the high
e worked upon the highways,
e it was daylight, all the time,
30 all seasons, under the rain,
how or the sun. He was al
S half dead with fatigue, three
ters dead from hunger, and was
af all contented with his fate.
h how l would thank heaven,
3 he, If | could one day be but
hough to sleep the whole morn
81 Through and eat and drink my
8 1t is said there exist people,
Esed by fortune, who thus live in
and comfort. Stretched upon
mats before my door, my back
III ed with soft vestments of silk,
E, aid make a siesta to be broken
"a quarter of an hour by servitOr
= should recall to me that | could
3 without remorse."
angel passing heard these
IDS and smiled-"Thy prayer be
led, poor man." said he
I'd suddenly the stonebreaker, en-
led in sumptuous vestments OF
found himself stretched upon
III thick mats, before the door of
plendid dwelling. He was no
Ter hungry or thirsty, no longer
Ii, and all this appeared to him as
liable as it was surprising.
&e tasted during a half hour un-
wn happiness, when the mikado
need to pass. The mlkado
IL was no small matter-no
j mikado is the emperor of Japan
] the emperor of Japan was, at
/ t time, above all, the most power
|of the emperors of the orient.
receded by couriers the mikado
S travelling for pleasure surround
/ v cavaliers all decorated and
lizened, like the grand Turk of
! key, followed by famous warriors,
|b-ted by musicians, accompanied
women the most beautiful in the
/ rid, who dozed in their silver
|Kdahs perched upon white
bhants.
HE mikado reposed upon cider
knin a palanquin of fine gold stud
H with precious stones. His prime
lister had the unparalleled honor
holding above his head a great
Hing parasol all fringed with
lie bells.
HE enriched stonebreaker follow
with an envious eye the imperial
ftege.
y haven't gained much,'' he said
himself. Il am not much happier
the few paltry pleasures | am
Abled to give myself. Oh, that
Re the mikado 1 would travel in
Ind state, lolling in a golden
4anquin blazing with precious
Ines, attended by my prime minister
ading a great glittering parasoI
er me, while my second minister
build cool my face with a fan made
peacock's feathers. All! that
bid be the mikadop
fYour wish is granted" said the
bel. And Immediately he saw
hself stretched in the palanquin O
L gold, starred with preciou:
bnes, and surrounded by his min
|ers, his warriors, his women anc
b slaves, who said to him in Japan
*Mikado, thou art superior to the
h-thou art eternal-thou art in
EDIBLE. All that the spirit of MAI
Id conceive thou canst execute
|stice itself is subordinate to thy
III, and God, trembling, awaits thy
II nsels."
IND the stonebreaker said to him
u, All happy day. now her
Ii people who know my value"
h he sun, which had been very herc
L some days, had parched tn
Entry. The route was dusty AM
81 glare ia tigued the eyes of the new
|ade mikado.
a Addressing his minister VINO car
"a the tinkling parasol, he said:
f. Make known to the sun that b
|o ubles me- His familiarities dis
xase me. Say to him that tn
and emperor of Japan command
Ia to retire. Co."
The prime minister confded to
ii mberlain the honor of carrying
81 tinkling parasol and went away
lie returned presently with tn
latest CONSERVATION written i
Isl face.
|sGreat emperor Sovereign of tn
Ids and of man 1t is past compre
aston. The sun pretends not t
ar and continues to shine on tn
bad."
Let him be punished"
n certainly! His insolence merit
but how shall | get at him to ad
mister the punishment :"
Y am the equal of the gods-it i
e so? ~