Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-15
A SPANISH LEGEND.
TFcOm Cushing's Reminisceuc,

There was once, you know, King of CASTLE,
called Don Alfonso, the Learned, and truly, 1
think, he was moro learned than wise, for he had
the presumption to say, that If his counsel had
been taken at the creation of the world, he could
nave arranged things much more conveniently
than we lind them {; and the ancient writings tell
US that God punished him for his impiety with
many and grievOus affections in his old age
Well, Don Alfonso was prcking on towards
Amanda, at the head Of a troOpOf lancers, when
darkness overlook him near the convent OF San
MILAN de COgollOs. Of course IT was resolved
as of common accord to demand hospitality of
the good fathers Of San MILAN, and the party
rode up to the gates, nothing doubling they
should be cordially received, and should mend
their ropast by emptying q few of the wine skins
of the monastery But when they arrived at
the gate and asked for admission, the porter
surli1y bade them begone, suppOsing or pretend
ing to suppose that they were a band of noun
tain outlaws come to rob the convent, and it was
some time before Don AlonsO's people could
bring the friars to their senses and procure adj
mission within their walls; nor even then until
the soldiers had begun to devise means Of enter
ing by force. The King, by this, had fallen into
n towering passion, which it required all the OBJ
seauiousness of the Abbot, and all the hospit-
able attendance of his monks, to pacify and
silay. Bat. in discussing the contents Of their
cellar and larders, Don Alfonso came to be
somewhat Modified, and thus ended with i'm
n
book-worn and star-gazer like himself would
ever have imagined.
Father CayetanO," said he, s'you or YOUR
people have done that which might we'll visit
upon you to your cost but feel inclined to
admit your humble Acknowledgements and over
look your offence; and will do 80, provided
You will be prepared on the morrow. before
depart, to answer me four questions. You shall
tell me how much the moon weighs; how many
c.sks it would take to hold the sea how much
the King If CASTLE is worth and what l am
thinking Of at the time2 and woe betide you
and your house if you fail to answer me cor
rectly to all these inquiries"
Hereupon the old king retired TO rest, leaving
the monks sorely puzzled by the questions
which he had given them for meditation, for
they had abundantly more wealth than wit.
They pOIdered in vain upon the odd fancies Of
the hing and the morning found them as i'll
prepared to solve the mysterious questions "a
when they were first prOpOunded When hon.
est Jose, the miller Of the convent, came in the
morning to leave them wherewithal to furnish
fOr the royal table for breakfast, he found the
monks full of trouble and dismay; and on
learning the cause of alarm from the porter, he
undertook TO answer the Kings questions, If
they would permit him to assume the gown and
.onsure. Father Cayetano saw not we'll what
course to pursue; but rejecting at length, that
the miller was known for a shreHd and cunning
varlet and that if he failed to satisfy the King,
it might all be passed of as matter of merri-
Inent, he concluded to venture upon the e1pe-
dent suggested by the miller Jose, in fine,
was carefully shaven, dressed in the garb of
the order, and presented himself at the ap-
pointed time before Don Alfonso
Well, says the king, - how much does the
moon weigh ,"
A pound" replied the miller without q
moments hesitation
A pound" demanded the king, chow do
YOU make that out 30
Why" said jose "the moon has four quar-
ters, all the world knows, and four quarters
make but one pound; and if you think il weighs
more, you are welcome TO send and have it
weighed
The king was at loss 10 know what TO say
at this, and so he proceeded to the next ques-
tion- " How many casks would it require to
hold the sea 90
- Only one 70 be sure" said Jose, provided
II be large enough"
1t was impossible TO dispute this 80 the king
Eai no alternative for it but to put his third
question. - How much am i worth ~
How much Is the King Of CASTLE worth ?'
said the miller, why twenty nine pieces Of sill
ver7
Only twenty-nine pieces Of silver 2" cried
the king in a rage
- Yes" said the miller, "f0r our Saviour was
rated and sold for thirty. and put you but one
piece below our Saviour"
At this palpable evasion Of his inquiry the
king began to laugh, and could do no less than
put his last question. What am thinking
Of at this moment ?''
Hitherto Jose had received and answered the
questions Of the King with an air Of mock dig
nifty verging into broad humor but he saw that
the crisis was now at hand, and that it beloved
him to take heed what he did and it was in all
humility that he replied:
Senor you are thinking am the Abbot
CayetanO.'
'' To be sure" said the King; " and who else
should You be? And, seeing you have an
swered my four questions, suppose must be
good as my word, and suffer your inhospital-
ity and your lsEiness to 90 scot Free
At this, Jose fell on his knees at the feet OF
the King, and confessed the trick which the
lurdane monks had fallen upon TO escape from
their embarrassment; and the King, being
highly amused by the whole affair very freely
pardOned the imposition, and took the witty
miller into his service; and Jose played his
part so well in those times, when blows were
the current coin Of all CASTLE, that some thirty
or forty years afterwards the house Of San Mil
Ian. in consideration Of a welcome addition, to
their glcbe and vineyard performed a bounte-
ous allowance of masses for the spiritual repose
OG Don Jose dc la Molina