New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-04-19
TILE CHURCH OF THE CUP OF COLD WATER.


In the breast of the minstrel more homage will gain.
TILE CHURCH OF THE CUP OF COLD WATER.
One beautiful evening, in the year 1915, the
Parish priest of San Pietro, village few miles
distant from Sevilla, returned much fatigued to
his little cottage, where he found his aged house
keeper, the Sonora Margarita, watching for him.
Notw outstanding that one is well accustomed to
the sight of poverty in Spain, it was impossible
to help being struck by the utter destitution
which appeared in the house Of the good priest,
the more so, as every imaginable contrlvance
had been resorted to, to hide the nakedness OF
the walls and the shabbiness Of the furniture.
Margarita had prepared for her masters supper
rather small dish of ollapodrida, which con-
sisted, to say the truth, Of the remains of the
dinner, seasoned and disguised with great skill
and with the addition of some sauce, and a
name As she placed the savory dish upon the
table, the priest said: s'We should thank God
for this good supper, Margarita This ollapo-
drida makes ones mouth water. My friend
you ought to be grateful for finding so good a
supper at the house of your hostp' AT the word
host, Margarita raised her eyes and saw q
stranger, who had followed her master. Hel
countenance changed, and she looked annoyed
She glanced Indignantly first at the unknown
and then at the priest, who, looking down, sale
in IL low voice, and with the timidity of child
"What is enough for two, is always enough fol
| three; and surely you would not wish that
should allow Christian to die of hunger' HI
| has not tasted food for two days.
| GA Christian! He is more like brigand!'
and Margarita left the room, murmuring louc
enough to be heard.
Meanwhile, the unwelcome guest had re-
mained standing at the door. He was man o
great height, half dressed in rags and covered
with mud, while his black hair, piercing eyes
and carbine, gave him an appearance which
though hardly prepossessing, was certainly in
teresting. Must go !" said he.
| The priest replied, with emphatic gesture
&C Those whom l bring under my roof are neve
driven forth, and are never unwelcome. Pu
down your carbine. Let us say grace and re
turn to table,
81 never leave my carbine, for, as the Cas-
tlian proverb says, Two friends are one. NJ
carbne is my best friend, and always keep j
beside me- Although you allow me to come int
until wish to do so, there are others who woul
think nothing of hauling me out, and, perhaps
with my feet foremost. Come, to your goo
health, mine host, and let us to supper"
The priest possessed an extremely good appe
tlte, but the voracity Of the stranger 500
obliged him to give up, for, not contented wit
eating, or rather devouring, nearly the whole c
the ola podrida, the guest finished large loa
of bread, without leaving crumb. While h
ate, he kept continually looking round, with a
expression of inquietude he started at til
slightest sound and once, when violent gus
of wind made the door bang, he sprang to hi
feet and seized his carbine, with an air whic
showed that, il necessary, he would sell his lii
dearly. Discovering the cause Of the alarm h
reseated himself at table, and finished his re
past
GO Now said he, "I have one more thing t
ask L have been wounded, and for eight day
my wound has not been dressed. Give me
few old rags, and you shall be no longer bul
dened with my presence"
C am in no haste for you to CO." replied til
, priest, whose guest, notwithstanding his COZ
stant watchfulness, had conversed very entel
tainingly. 81 know something Of surgery, an
will dress your wound"
So saying, he took from cupboard ca.
: : containing every thing necessary, and pr,
ceeded to do as he had said The stranger ha
bled profusely, a ball having passed through h
thigh; and to have Travelled in this condition
and while suffering too, from want Of foo
showed strength which seemed hardly humal
"You cannot possibly continue your journe
to-day said the host. "You must pass Il
night here little rest will get up yo,
Y strength, diminish the Inflammation Of yo,
y wound, and"
:. 81 must go to-day, and immediately" inte
rupted the stranger. 'There are some wi
wait for me" he added with a sigh" and thel
l are some, too, who follow me-" And the MT
mentary look Of sadness passed from his fe,
lures between the clauses of the sentence ar
II gave place to an expression almost Of ferocit
''Now, is it finished? That is we'll See, l ca
walk as firmly as though l had never bee
wounded. Give me some bread, pay yourse
= for your hospitality with this piece Of gold, ar
t adieu"
The priest put back the gold with displeasur
!, 81 am not an innkeeper," said he "and l {
!. not sell my hospitality"
+ cas- you will, but pardon me; and no.
m farewell, my kind host"
IS So saying, he took the bread, which Marg
rita, at her masters command, very unwillin
ly gave him, and soon his tall figure disappear,
I. among the thick foliage Of wood which su
=, rounded the house, or rather the cabin 4
ie hour had scarcely passed, when musket sho
re were heard close by, and the unknown r
I appeared, deadly pale, and bleeding from de-
y wound near the heart.
o "Take these," said he, giving some pieces
to gold to his late host they are for my childr'
near the stream-in the valley"
q He fell, and the next moment several poll
officers rushed into the house. They hastily s
, cured the unfortunate man, who attempted
v resistance Inc prlest entreaueu 10 pe allow
to dress his wound, which they permitted; b
u when this was done, they insisted on carryil
him away Immediately. They would not ey
procure carriage; and when they were told
u the danger of removing man so severely woun
ed, they merely said, what does it matte
If he RECEIVERS, it will only be to receive senten
Of death. He is the famous brigand, Jose !"
Jose thanked the intercessor with look.
k then asked for little water, and when the prit
brought it to him, he said in faint voice
Remember! The reply was merely sign
20 intelligence. When they were gone, notWit
standing all Margarita could say as to the da
ger of going out at night, the priest crossed t
p wood, descending into the valley and soon four
: beside the body of q woman, who had doubtl
been killed by stray ball Of the police, an
3 FAINT, and little boy Of about four years o
D who was trying in vain to awaken his moth
on Imagine Margarita's amazement when the pri
o. returned with two children in his arms
ssMav all pood SANTA defend us What hs