Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-06-30
THE STONEBREAKER.

Anere was once IN Japan-at time so
remote that savants hardly dare speak Of
la poor little stonebreaker who was
employed npon the highway
tie 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
fatigue, three-quarters dead from hun.
ger. 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 morning
through and eat and drink my fill. 1t is
said there exist people. blessed by for
tune, 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
servitor who should recall to me that
had nothing to do aud that could sleep
without reinorse."
An angel passing heard these words
and smiled-''Thy prayer be granted.
poor man." said he.
And suddenly the stonebreaker 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 at-
peared to him az agreeable as it was sur
prising
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.
at that time. above all, the most power
full of the eInperors of the orient.
Preceded by couriers the mikalo was
travelling for pleasure, surrounded by
cavaliers all decorated and bedizened,
like the grand Turk OF Turkey, followed
by famous warriors. escorted by mus
clans, accompanied by women the mos.
beautiful in the world, who dozed in
their silver howdahs 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 stonebreaker followed
with an envious eye the imperial cor
tege
81 haven't gained much" he said to
himself. 81 am not much happier for
the few paltry pleasures | am enabled to
give myself. Oh, that were the mi
kado! would travel in grand state,
lolling in a golden palanquin blazing
with precious stones. attended by my
prime minister holding great glitter
ing parasol over ME. while my second
minister should cool my face with fan
made of peacock's feathers Ali 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 invinclble.
All that the spirit Of man can conceive
ordinate to thy will, and God. trembling
awaits thy counsels.
And the stonebreaker 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.
The route was dusty and his glare
fatigued the eyes of the newlnade mi
kado.
Addressing his minister who carried
the tiukling parasol. he said;
Make known to the sun that he
troubles me. His familiaritics displease
me. Say to him that the grand emperor
of Japan commands him to retire. Col
The prime minister confided to a
chamberlain the honor of carrying the
| tinkling parasol and went away
He returned presently with the great
est CONSERVATION written in his face
Great emperor! Sovereign OF the
|
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"
n am the equal OF the gods-is it no,
sog"
"Assuredly. great midado-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 NE
or you have badly executed MY orders
give you five minutes in which to pu'
out the sun, or ten in which to commit
hari-kari Go!
The prime minister went away, but
did not return.
The imperial stonebreaker was purple
with rage,
Upon my world This is fine posi-
tion-this of emperor, when one Is oollSed
to submit to the famillarltles. the ca
nrices. the brutalities of a moving planet
it is no use to deny it, the sun Is more
powerful than would like to be the
sun.
"You are the SUM-" said the angel
And the little stonebreaker shone In
the high heavens all radiant all fam
ing. He took pleasure in scorchins the
trees, IN drying up the rivers and the
surings, and in covering with sweat the
august visages of emperors, no less than
,he dnstv noses of the stonebreakers, hi.
colleagues of the morning
IA on,,,a hatNpacn the cart