Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-10-02
THE STONEBREAKER.

HE y IONESHEANeH
There was once in Japan-at time
so remote that savapts hardly dare
speak of it-a poor little stonebreaker
who was employed upon the high
ways.
He worked dupon 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
hunger, 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 morn
ing through and eat and drink my
fill. 1t 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 vestments of silk,
would make siesta to be broken ev
cry quarter of an hour by 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 he.
And suddenly the stonebreake 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 appeared to him as agreeable
as it was surprising.
He tasted, during a half hour, un-
known happiness, when the mikado
chanced to pass. The mikado That
was no small matter-no The mika
do is the emperor OF Japan, and the
emperor of Japan was, at that time,
above all, the most powerful Of the
emperors Of the orient.
Preceded by couriers, the mikado
was travelling for pleasure, surround
ed by cavaliers all decorated and
bedizened, like the grand Turk Of
Turkey, followed by famous warriors,
escorted by musicians, accompanied
bv women the most beautiful in the
world. who dozed in their silver how
dahs, perched upon white elephants.
The mikado reposed upon elder down
in palanquin of fine gold studded
with precious stones Hisprime min
lister had the unparalleled honor of
holding above his head a great tink
ling parasol all fringed with little
bells.
The enriched stOnebreaker followed
with an envious eye the imperial cor
tege.
Il 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
mikadol | would travel in grand
state, lolling in golden palanquin
blazing with precious stones, attend
ed by my prime minister holding a
great glttering parasol over me, while
my second minister should cool my
face with fan made of peacock's
feathers. All that | could be the mi
kado -
Your wish is granted, " said the an
gel.
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 irwin
chile. All that the spirit Of man can
conceive thou canst execute. Justice
itself is subordinate TO thy will, and
God, trembling, awaits thy counsels.'
And the stonebreaker said TO him
self: "Ah happy day now here are
people who know my value
The sun, which had been very fierce
for some days, had parched the coun-
try The route was dusty and his
glare fatigued the eyes of the new
made mikado.
Addressing his minister who carried
the tinkling parasol, he said:
Make known TO the sun that he
troubles me. His familarities dis
please NE. Say to him that the grand
emperor of Japan commands him to
retire 60 =
The prime minister confided TO a
chamberlain the honor Of carrying the
tinkling parasol and went away.
He returned presently with the
greatest CONSERVATION written in his
face.
Great emperor Sovereign of the
gods and of man. 1t is past compre-
hension. The sun pretends not to
hear and continues 10 shine on the
road"
Let him be punished.
Certainly, His insolence merits it
but how shall get at him to ad-
minister the punishment
Il am the equal OF the gods-is it
not so?'
"Assuredly, great mikado-the equal,
to say the least"