The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1852-06-09
Setrtt MjgrIIQnq.
THE CUP OF COLD WATER.

One beautiful evening, IN the year 1919
the parish priest Of Sau Pielro, a vlIagca
few miles distant from Seville, returned
E:uch flligued To his lille cottage where
he found his aged h~ousokeePer, The Seno-
ra Margarita. watching for him. Not,
withslanding that one is well accustomed
to the sight Of poverty in Spain, ii was
impossible TO help being struck by the ui'
Ter deslituiiOn which appeared IN the
house of the good priest. the more So as
every imaginable contriyance had been
tesorted to, to hide the nakedness OF the
walls, aud the ~shabbiuess Of Inc furniture.
Msrgari,a had prepared for her masters
supper a rather small dish of ORa,podrigd,
which consisted, TO say the truth, Of The
remains of the dinner, seasoned and dis
guised with great skill, und with the addI'
lion of some sauce, and a name. AS she
placed The savoury dish upon the table,
the priest said: 1--WE should thank God
for this good supper, Margariia; this ola
podriga makes ones mouth water. My
friend, you ought 10 be grateful for finding
SO good a supper at the house Of your
bosIl" AT the word host, MargariIa raised
herr eyes. ..and saw a stranger, who had
followed her master. Her countenance
changed, and she looked annoyed She
glanced Indignantly FIRST at the unknown.
and then a. The priest, who, looking down.
said in a low voice, and with tie tinldl'y
of a child: "What is enoush for Two, lie
always enough for three; and surely you
would not wish that | should allow a
Christian to lie of hunger! lie has nOl
tasted foud for twO day"
"A Christian! lie is more like a bfi-
.gand!' and Margarila left the room
musmuring loud enough 10 be heard.
Meanwhile the unwricume guest had
remained standing al the door. lie was
a man of great height, ~half.diessed in rays
and covered with mud; while his black
hair, piercing eyes, and carbine' gave him
Nh appearance which, though hardly pre-,
possessing, was certainly interesting
t',Must l go!" said he.
The priest replied with an emphatic
gesture: "Tiose whom bring under my
Tuor are never driven forth, and are never
unwslcome. Put down your ca,5Ine.-
Lei us say grace, aud 90 to the table"
Il never leave my carbine, for, as The
Castilian proyerb says, tive friends ar,
one" My carbine is my'besl friend; and
always keep il beside me. Although
you allow me to come in,u your house
and do not oblige me to leave it until
wish to do SO, there are others who woult
think nothing of hauling me out, and, per
haps with my feet foremost. COme-t'
your good health, mine host. and let Va II
supper.
Tho priest possessed an extremely goot
appetite. but the voracity Of the strange
soon obliged him 10 give up, for. not con
tented with eating, or rather devourlng
nearly the whole Of the olla.pOdriga, tn
guest finished a large loaf Of bread, with
out leaving a crumb. While he ale, h
kept continually looking round with a
expression Of inquieiude; he started at tn
slightest sound; and once, when a yioler
gust Of Wind made the door bang,he spran
10 bis feet, and seized his carbine, with a
air which showed that, il necessary, I
would sell his life dearly. Discoyefir
the cause Of the alarm, he re-seaIed hin
self at The table. and finished his repa'
"Now," said he, IL have one mo
'ething TO ask. have been wounded, al
for eight days my wound has not bet
dressed. Give me a few old rags, and "
shall be no longer burdencd with ny pr
sence."
IL am in no haste for you 10 60" I
piled the priest, whose guest, noiwilhsian
ina his constant walchlulness. had CO
yetsed very enter,aininsly. 81 knC
something Of surgery and will dress 20
wound"
50 srvinr. hc .cck ftom q rupbo'rd
sesesofAu,ls asHEiIag uetcts'J z
.sptacseded ~ do rs tg bad sud- {
@ s.tlbgfr had hldl prp6i,tly, "a ball he'i
aasspJ tifoagh bis ih'gh; and 10 be
hstnnaolsdam his onndi ma, aud shde 81
sii-rfbAstoe Cfyal waai of food, Showed
slrgpg3b allph seemed hardly homar.
"Yoa essnpi posstbly continue va
jUlracy today said The host. ~.