The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-08-11

sting
the monkey will laugh at and still this will |
be my reward for saving them from the pit
But the monkey turned to him with the most !
aInieaeie grimace; the lion, vibrating his tail |
come and licked his hand like dog caressing |
MS master, and the serpent, nnrolling his ringy
body, moved about the room, with a contented
and grateful air, which gave courage to Massac-
clio.
Poor animals!" said he, they are better than
the Signor Vitalis; he drove me like a beggar
from the door. All! with what pleasureI would
pitch him ag lin into the pit. Aad my bride
whom thought to marry so magnifcently
nave not stick of wood III my wood house, not
morsel of meat for my meal, and no money to
buy any. The ungrateful wretch, with his por-
ton aud his palace ~
Thus did Massaccio complain. Meanwhile
the monkey began to make significant faces, the
lion TO agitate his tail with great uneasiness and
the serpent to roll and unroll its circles with
great rapidity. Then the monkey, approaching
his benfactor, made him sign to follow and led
him into the wood house where was regularly
piled up quantity of wood sufficient Tor the
whole year. 1t was the monkey who had col
lected this wood in the forest, and brought it to
the cottage of Massaccio. Massaccio embraced
J the grateful ape. The lion then uttering deli
cate roar, led him to corner where he saw the
enormous provision of game, two sheep, three
kids, hares and rabbits in abundance, and fine
wild boar, all covered with the branches of trees
/ to keep them fresh. 1t was the lion who had
Z uuuleU iOf MS Deue1act0f. MaccaCclO patteQ
kindly his name. "And you, then,'' he said to
the serpent, shave you brought me nothing p
Art thou Vitalis, good and honest animal
like the monkey and the lion? ?o The serpent
ghded rapidly under heap of dried leaves, and
re-appeared Immediately, rearing itself superbly
on its tail, when Massaccio saw With surprise
beautiful diamond in its mouth. "a damond!'
cried Massaccio, and stretching forth his hand
to stroke caressingly the serpent and take its
offering.
I Ii.
nice to turn his diamond into money The jew
eller examined the diamond; it was of the finest
water.
.sIow much do you ash; for it % said he.
"1wo hundred croyns, . said Atassaccio think
ing his demand 10 be great; il Yas hardly the
tent part OF the of IN stone. tn ie eler
looked at Massacoio, and said, tfo sell it at that
price you must be sfrobber and Farrest you"
Lift not worth much, give less,s' said
Massacco; = am not robber, honest
man; it was the serpent VINO gave the dia-
mend."
But the police now arrived, and conducted him
before the magistrate. There he recounted his
adventure, Which appeared 20 be mere isi,ry
vision ret, as Signor YitaIis was implicated
in the story, the magistrate referred the affairs
to the state inquisition, and appeared before it.
'.Relate to US your history" said one of the
inquisitors, land lie not, or we will have you
thrown into the canal"
Massacco related his adventure.
so" said the inquisitor, you saved the Sig
nor yitaiis :"
Eyes, noble Signor"
''And he promised you marriage portion for
your bride, and his palace at Venice for your
self?''
eyes, noble .signor.''
''And he drove you like a beggar from his
docr?''
Yes noble signor.''
''Let the Signor Vitalis appear, said the same
inquisitor.
VitaIis appeared.
s.Do you know this man, Signor yitalis %
!, Fitalis replied, 81 know not the man.
The inquisitors consulted together.
| 'sThis man, said they, speaking of Massac-
; clio. lis evidently knaye and cheat; lie must
be thrown into prison Signor Vitalis, you are
acquitted Then, making sign to officer
of police, Take that man, said he, ssto prison. y
Massaccio fell on his knees in the middle OF
} the hall. ''Noble signors noble slgnors,'' said
} he. sit is possible that the serpent may have
wished to deceive me. 1t is possible that the
ape the lion and the serpent may all be delu-
sion of the demon; but it is true that saved the
!, Signor Vitalis Sighor Vitalis,'' turning to
; him. Il ask you not for the marriage portion
for my Bride, or for your palace of marble, but
say word for me; suffer me not to be thrown
into prison; do not abandon me; l did not aban-
don you when you were In the pit
..Nobe signors,' said Vitais, bowing to the
tribunal, 81 can only repeat what have said; ]
1 know not the man. Has he single witness to
produce ?'
At this moment the whole court thrown
into fear and astonishment for the lion, ,the mon
key, and the serpent entered the hall together
The monkey was mounted on the back Of the
lion, and the serpent twined round the arm
of the monkey. On entering, the lion roared
the monkey spluttered, and the serpent hissed
ssAh. these are the animals of the pitt cried
Vitalis, In alarm.
''Signor sVitalis,' resumed the chief of the in.
quisitors, when the disInay which this appari-
ton had caused had somewhat diminished, '.you
have asked where the witnesses of Massac-
clio? You that God has sent them at the
: right time before the bar of our tribunal Since
then, God has testified against you, would
be cuipable before him If did not punish
! your ingrattude. Your palace and your pos
! sessions are confscated and you shall pass the
, rest Of your life IN narrow prison. And you
continued he, addressing himself to Alassaccio
who was all this time caressing the lion, the
monkey aud serpent, sssince Venitan has pro-
missed you palace of MARBLE and portion
| for your bride, the republic of Venice-will ac-
compsh the promise; the palace and possessions
Of Vitalis are thine. You, said he to the secre
tary of the tribunal, s.draw up an account of al
this history, that the people of Venice may know
j 1hrough ali generations, that the justice of the
tribunal of thestate inquisition is mot less equ
{ table than it is rigorous
Massaccio and bis wife lived happily for many