Year: 1865

mere was Cucc NlcC GHlpCicA "AO
made law, that to every stranger who
came to his court fried fish should be
served. The servants were directed to
take notice if, when the stranger had
eaten the fish to the bone on one side, ne
turned it over and began on the other
side. If he did he was to be immedl-
ately seized, and on the third day there
after he was to be put to death. But,
bya great stretch of imperial clemency,
the culprit was permitted to utter one
wish each day, which the Emperor
pledged himself to grant provided it was
not to spare his life. Many had already
perished in consequence of this edict,
when, one day, Count and his young
son presented themselves at court. The
fish was served as usual, and when the
Count had removed all the fish from one
side, he turned it over and was about to
commence on the other, when he was
suddenly seized and thrown into prison,
and was told of his approaching doom.
Sorrow-stricken, the Counts young son
besought the Emperor to let him die in
the place of his father favor which
the monarch was pleased to accord him.
The Count was accordingly released
from prison, and his son was thrown
into his cell in his stead. As soon as
this had been done, the young man said
to his goalers, "You know | have the
right to make three demands before |
die; go and tell the Emperor to send
me his daughter and priest to marry
u.s."


This first demand was not much to
the Emperor's taste, nevertheless he felt
bound to keep his word, and he there
fore complied with the request to which
the princess had no kind of objection.
This occurred in the time when kings
kept their treasures in cave, or in a
tower set apart for the purpose, like the
Emperor of Morocco in these days; and
on the second day Of his imprisonment
the young man demanded the treasures.
If his first demand was bold one, the
second was no less so still, an Emper-
or's word. is sacred, and having made
the promise, he was forced to keep it !;
and the treasures of gold and silver
jewels were placed at the prisoners
disposal. On getting possession of
them, he distributed them profusely
through the courtiers, and soon he had
made host of friends by his liberality.


The Emperor began now to feel ex-
ceedingly uncomfortable. Unable to
sleep, he rose early on the third morning,
and went with fear in his heart to hear
what the third wish was to be.


"Now," said he to his prisoner, "tell
me what your third demand is, that it
may be granted at once, and you may
be hung out of hands, for | am tired of
your demands" !"


"Sire," answered the prisoner, 81
have but one more favor to request of
your majesty ; when you have granted,
| shall die content. 1t is merely that
you will cause the eyes of those who
saw my father turn the fish over to be
put out.'


every good," replied the Emperor !;
''your demand is but natural, and
springs from good heart. Let the
chamberlain he seized" he continued,
turning to his guards.


Il, sire" cried the chamberlain, 81
did not see anything-it was the stew
ard"


''Let the Steward be seized, then,"
said the king.


But the steward protested with tears
in his eyes, that he had not witnessed
anything of what had been reported,
and said 1t was the butler. The butler
declared that he had seen nothing of the
matter, and that it must have been one
Of the yalets. But they all protested
that they were utterly ignorant of what
had been charged against the Count; in
short, 1t turned out that nobody could
be found who had seen the Count com
NIT the offense, upon which the Princess
said:


II appeal to you, my father, as to
another Solomon. If nobody saw the
otfense committed, the Count cannot be
guilty, and my husband is innocent"


The Emperor frowned, and forthwith
the courtiers began to murmur then he
smiled, and Immediately their visages
became radiant.


let it be so," said his majesty F.;
"let him live, though have put many
man to death for lighter offense than
his. But if he is not hung he is married.
Justice has been done.'


Your FARE, MIss.-A young lady