Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-03-27
AN UNGRATEFUL MAN.

Ine following WHICH Is one OF tNe pest
of the ola monkIsh stories. may be traced
to the Arabian fable called CaI ahudUmna.
Matthew Puris recites it as fable CON-
monty used by King Richard. the Crusa-
der, to reprove his ungrateful mobiles and
old Cover has versiied in his. tomfessia
AmantiS. 1t appeared in Blackwood
some years ago but the translator seems
! not to have been aware Of its existence in
the GeStO ROnl4n0rum. content to trans.
late it from the Latin version Of Masseni.
US. a GermAn Jesuit, who lived at Cologne
in 1857. II well illustrates the method
by which the writer of these tales incul.
Gated Christian duties on their brethren
OF the Convent, or on their hearers in the
church :
Vitalis. noble Venetian, one day, at
hunting party, fell into pit which had
been dug to catch wild animals. lie pass
ed whole night aud day there. and ]
will leave you to imagine his dread and
his agony. The pit was dark. VitaIis
ran from one side OF it to the other in the
hope OF finding some branch or root BY
which he might climb its sides and get
out Of his dungeon but he heard such
confused and extraoi binary noises that he
became half dead with terror, and crouch.
ed in corner motionless. awaiting death
with the most horrid dismay. On the
morning Of the secund day, he heard
some one passing near the pit and then.
raising his voice, he cried out. with the
most dOlorous accent. Help. help
draw me out of this !; am perishiny p
A peasant crossing the forest heard his
cry. At first he was frightened !; but.
after moment or two. taking courage,
he approached the pit. aud asked who
had called .I. '
L" A poo huntsman." answered Yitalis,
''who had passed Il long night and day
here. Help me out. and l will recon-
pense you handsomely" .ra.za-. .g't
Z" will do what can. replied the
peasant.
Then Massaccio (such was the, name ol
the peasan,) took hcdgebiII which hung
TO his girdle. and cutting branch of a
tree strong enough to bear man. i" Lis.
ten hunIsman." SAID he. "to what am
going 10 say to you. will let down this
branch into the pit. will (asten il
+ against the sides and hold IL with my
hands; and by pulling yourself out by it.
you may get free from your prison" r.
Z" Good" answered VitaIis.; % ask me
anything you will, andit shall be grant
ed" r. -EH
{" ask for nothing" said the peasant;
butI am going to be married, and you
may give what you like, to my BRIDE"
So saying. Massaccio let down the
branch, he felt it heavy, and the moment
after a monkey leaped merrily out of the
! pit. He had fallen like Vitalis, and
had seized quickly on the branch Of Mas
saccio. /" 1t was the devil surely which
spoke to me from the pitt said Massac.
clio, running away in alright. o.. ..
| Z" Do you abandon me, then 2" cried
Vitalis, in a lamentaLle accent my
friend. my dear friend. for the love oi
the Lord, for the love OF your mistress
draw me out of this l beg, imp!ore
you will give her wedding gifts. vii
enrich you. am the Lord Vitalis. rich
Venetian do not let me die Of hunger il
this horrible pit" z.
Massaccio was touched by these pray
ers. He returned to the pit-let doRr
another branch. and lion jumped out
making the woods echo with a roar o
delight. " Oh. certainly. certainly. i
was the devil l heard said Massaccio. anc
fed away again, but stopping short afte
few PAGES he heard again the piercing
cries OF Vitalis. - s
30 God o God ri cried he ..'to di
OF hunger in q pit Will no one then
come @ help? Whoever you may be.
lIimpl2re you to return let me not di
when you, can, save me. l will give yo
a house and 6elIl, and COWS and gold. al
iouiy r. - 2 = ~ 80 -, =. ,,. q = I.
4 Massaccio. thus implored. could nc
help returning. He LEI down the branch
and : serpent Kissing i9yopsly. sPra0