The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-23

From the French of Quatrelles.
There was once, in Japan, in times
so far away that the learned hardly
now dare speak of them, poor little
stone breaker who worked on the
highways.
He worked on the highways as long
as Gay lasted. in all weathers. in all
seasons, in rain, in the burning sun
shine, and in snow. He was always
half dead with fatigue and three-quar-
ters dead with hunger and he was not
at all contented with his lot. "Oh! now
] would bless heaven" he said, IF one
day became rich enough to sleep TAR
into the morning, to eat when I was
hungry and drink when I was thirst.
I am told that there are people so
blessed by fate as always to be gay
and full of food Stretched at ease up
on thick mats before my door. my back
covered with soft silken vestments,
would take my afternoon nap, wakened
every quarter of an hour by a serv-
ant. who should remind me that l had
nothing to do, and that I might sleep
without remorse."
A passing angel overheard these
words, and smiled.
BE it according to your wish, poor
man." the angel said. And suddenly
the stone breaker found himself before
the door of splendid dwelling of his
own, stretched at his ease upon pile
of thick mats and dressed in sumptu-
Gus garments of silk. He was no long
cr hungry, no longer thirsty. no longer
tired-all of which appeared to him as
agreeable as it was surprising.
He had toasted for half an hour on
these unknown enjoyments when the
Mikado passed by. The Mikado! 1t
was a great thing to be the Mikado.
The Mikado was the Emperor of ia
pan, and the Emperor of Japan was,
especially in those days off times, the
most powerful of all the Emperors of
the East.
The Mikado was travelling for his
pleasure, preceded by couriers sur
rounded by cavaliers more embroider-
ed and belaced than the Grand Turk
of Turkey, followed by famous war
riors, escorted by musicians. accom-
panied by the most beautiful women
in the world, who reclined in howdahs
of silver borne on the backs of white
elephants.
The Mikado lay upon a bed of down
in palanquin of fine gold, decked
with precious stones. His Prime Min
lister had the unequaled honor of hold
ing above his masters head large
umbrella, fringed all round with tiny
jingling bells.
The enriched stone breaker followed
the imperial procession with an eye of
envy.
Much advanced I am" said he to
himself. Shall l be happy with the
few p2ltry indulgences / am able to
give myself Why am l not the Mi
kado? l could then traverse the high
ways in a splendid carriage and a
golden palanquin, powdered with pre-
cious stones, followed by my prime
minister, under the shade of a great
umbrella, fringed with jingling bells,
while my second minister refreshed my
visage with the waving of a fan of
peacocks' feathers. All. I wish I were
the Mikado''
BE as you wish to be-" said the
angel.
And instantly he found himself
stretched on the down bed of the gold
en- palanquin, powdered with precious
stones, surrounded by his ministers,
his warriors, his women and his slaves,
who said to him in Japanese:
"Mikado, you are superior to the sum-
you are eternal, you are invincible. All
that the mind of man can conceive you
can execute. Justice itself is subor-
dinate to your will, and Providence
waits on your counsels tremblingly."
The stone-breaker said to himself:
Very good! These people know my
value"
The sun, which had been shining
very ardently for some days, had
parched the country. The road was
the eyes of the apprentice Mikado, who,
addressing his minister, the bearer of
the jingling umbrella, said:
Inform the sun that he is incom-
moding me. His familiarities displease
me. Tell him that the great Emperor
of Japan authorizes him to retire! Col"
The prime minister conflded to a
the jingling umbrella, and went on his
mission.
He returned almost instantly, his
face expressing the utmost consterna-
ton.
Great Emperor sovereign of the
gods and men, it is inconceivablei The
sun pretends not to have heard me,
and continues to burn up the road"
Let him be chastised!"
Certainly! Such insolence deserves
it; but how am / to get hold of him
to administer his punishment"
Am 1 not the equal of the gods?''
"Assuredly, great Mikado. at least
their equal"
You told me just now that nothing
is impossible to me. Either you have
lied, or you resist me, or you have
badly executed my orders; I give you
five minutes to extinguish the sun, or
ten to have your head chopped off.
Got"
The Prime Minister departed, and
did not return.
The exasperated stone breaker was
purple with anger.
This is a pretty sort of a dogs
business, upon my word, to be En-
peror, If he has to submit to the IA
miliarities, caprices and brutalities of
a mere circulating star. 1t is plain
that the sun is more powerful than l.
/ wish / were the sun"
BE ii as you wish" said the angel
And the little stone breaker sparkled
in the highest heavens, radiant fam
ing. He took pleasure in scorching
trees, whitening their leaves, and
parching up springs in covering with
perspiration the august visages of En-
perors. as well as the dusty muzzles
of the wayside stone breakers--his
companions Of the morning.
But cloud came between the earth
and him and the riotgd gafd.