The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-01-15
THE STONE BREAKER.

upon the highways.
He worked upon the highways, while
1t was daylight, all the time, during all
seasons, under the rain, the snow. or the
sun. He was always half dead with ia
tigue, three-quarters dead from hunger,
and was not at all contented with his fate.
"Oh! how l 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 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 n serv-
itor who should recall to me that had
nothing to do, and that l 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 a splendid dwell
ing. 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 half hour unknown
happiness, when the Mikado CHANGED to
pass. The Mikado! That was no small
matter-no! The Mikado is the emperor
of Japan and the emperor of Japan was.
ut 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 ir
their silver howdahs perched upon white
elephants.
The Mikado reposed upon elder down.
in palanquin of fine gold studded will.
precious stones. His prime minister had
The unparalleled honor of holding above
his head great tinkling parasol, ali
fringed with little bells.
The enriched stone breaker followed
with an envious eye the Imperial cortege.
II 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 Mikado!
would travel in grand state, lolling in u
golden palanquin blazing with precious
stones, attended by my prime minister
holding great glittering parasol over
me, while my second minister should
cool my face with fan made of pea.
cocks feathers. All! 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 stone breaker said to himself:
"Ah! happy day! Now, here are people
who know my value"
The sun, which had been very fierce for
some days, had parched the country.
Tie route was dusty and the suns glare ia
t'gued 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 familiarities displease
inc. Say to him that the grand emperor
of Japan commands him to retire. Co"
The prime minister confided to a
chamberlain the honor of carrying the
tihkling parasol, and went away.
He returned, presently, with the great
est CONSERVATION written in his face.
"Great emperorl Sovereign of the
gods and of man! 1t is 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"
II am the equal of the gods--is it not
soa"
"Assuredly, great Mikado-the equal,
to say the least"
"You told me, but a 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 five minutes in which to put
out the sun, OF 10 in which to commit
hari kari. Go!"
The prime minister went away, but did
not return.
The imperial stone breaker was purple
with rage.
upon my word This is a fine posi-.
tion--this of emperor, when one is
obliged TO submit to the familiarities, the
.,aprices, the brutalities of moving
planet. 1t is no use to deny it, the sun is
more powerful than l. l would like to
la the SUM-"
sYou are the sum-" said the angel.
And the little stone breaker shone in
high heavens, all radiant, all flaming
Stock pleasure in scorching the trees,
a drying up the rivers and the springs,
and in covering with sweat the august
visages of emperors, no less than the