The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-06-24
THE STONEBREAKER

it--a poor little stonebreakeT who was
employed upon the highways
He worked upon the highways. while
II was daylight. all the time. during all
SEASONS. under the rain. the snow OF the
sun de WAS always half dead with
fatigue. three quarters dead from hun
ger. and WAS not nj all contsnted with
his fate
'.Oh. how | would thank heaven
said he. Iii ! conld one day Ike but rich
enough TO sleep the whole morning
through and Eat and drink my fill II is
said there exist people. blessed by for
| tune. who thus live In ease and comfort.
Stretched upon thick uiats before my
door. my back covered with soft vest
ments Of silk. | would make "A sies,a to
be broken every quarter Of an hour by
servitor who should recall 10 NE that
hal nothing to do and that could sleep
/ without reinurse."
An angel passing heard these words
and smiled-"Thy prayer be granted
poor man" said he
And suddenly the stonebreaker, en-
ve!oIs'd In sump,uous vestInents Of silk.
found himself stretched upon some thick
mats. betor. the door Of a splendid
dwelling He was 10 longer hungry or
Thirsty. no longer tired. and all this APP
! peared 10 him as agreeable as II was sur
prising
lie tasted during half hour unknown
| Happiness. when the mikado CHANGED to
pass The mikado! That was no SINAI!
tnait-r-no. The mikado Is the emperor
Of Japan and the emperor Of Japan WIS
al that time. above all the u, 81 power.
| fui Of the rinperurs 81 the orient,
Preceded 10y cuuriers the inikado WIS
! travelling Tor pleasure surrounded by
cavaliers all decorated AMI btt.izened,
like the grand Turk Of Turkey. followed
| Toy famous warriors. escorted by mus
Clans. accompanied 10y women the mos
beautiful IN the world. who dozed In
their silver howdahs perched upon white
! elephants
The uiikado reposed upon elder down
( in pslauquin q! hne gold studded with
| precious stones His prime minister had
| The unparalleled honor Of hoi,in. above
| his bead great unklins is,r.lsol all
! trng-d with hi;lc bells
The enriched e;onebreaker followed
| with an enyious eye the imperial cor
i-;e
Il haven't gained much" be said 10
hims-ls Il am not much happier for
/ the few pal,ry pleasures | am enabled 10
/ give myself On. that were the mi
Aado: would travel IN grand state.
loillng In n golden palanquln blazing
/ VITA precious STONES. attended by my
1 prime munster holding great glitter
/ In: rlsrasol over Inc. while my hs-uuud
4 minister should cool nay face with a Ian
I n4aIr Of i~acocks feathers All tina,
I could lie the nikado!'
4 Your wish is granted. said the angel
/ Aud immediately lac saw hi;usei!
stretched IA the palanTu,n 81 fine gold,
s'Arr-i with precious STONES. and sur.
+ rounded 10y It's ministers. his warriors.
I his women aud hls slaves. who slaid 10
him IN Japanrsc
"Mikalo. thua ar; superior TO the sun
1 thou art eternal iaua art iuyIntlbie
All tina, the spin, Of man can conceive
/ thou cansi execute Justice itself Is sub
| ordinate To thy will, and Goi. trembling
| awaits thy coun~rls
/ And the stone breaker said to himscl!
An. happy day! now here are people
who know my value"
The sun. which hal been very fierce
/ for some days. hal psrchci The country
| The route was dusty and his glare
/ !a;isued the eyes 81 the ncwInade uni
kalo
AddrcSsin; his minister who carried
the iinkllu. ,'arasol he said;
Make known 10 the sun that he
troubles me HIS famillsritirs displea>c
me Say Ia him tina, the grand emperor
of Japan commands hiin 10 retire io!
The prime minister cuuiilcd 10 n
cham bc;lsin the honor of carrying the
tinkIing parasn! and wen, away
He returned presently with the great.
est CONSERVATION written IN his face
| "Grcai emperor. Sovereign Of tie
gosls and OF man! 1t is past compreh,n.
slon The sun prcirnds not TO hear and
continues 10 shine on the road "
lie, him tr punished
Certainly, HIS insolence merits it
bu, how shall &c, a, INN to administer
the punishment
81 am the equal OF the gods--is 1t no,
! soy'
"A~urejly. grea, midado--the equal
to say the least,
You told me but a moment since that
nothing was impossible to me You
have lied Ia mc--y YOU have disObcyed me
or you have badly executed MY u,l.iS
! give you five minutes in which 10 put
out the sun. or ten in which to COMM,
har,.kar ao''
The prime minister wen, away. b.,
did not return.
The imperial stonebreaker was purple
with rage
Upon my word! This is fine posi-
ton this Of emperor when one is obliged
to submit to the ianillar,t,ps. the ca.
prices, the brutali,ies oi moving planet
1t is no use 10 deny 1t. the sun Is more
powerful than | would like to be the
sun"
lyon are the sum-" said the angel
And the little stnnebreaker shone in
the high heavens, all radiant. all fam
ing. lie took pleasure in scorch,u9 the
trees, IN drying up the rivers AMI the
springs, and in covering with sweat the
august visagcs Of cmperors. no less than
the dusty noses OF the s;onebreakers. his
colleagues Of the morning
Bnt n cloud came between the earth
and him, and the cloud said.
Halt there, my dear No one can
pass.