East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-04-22
THE UNGRATEFUL MAN.

The following, which is one Of the bos
Of the old monkish stories, may be tracec
to the Arabian fable book called Cdllah
u-damnah. Matthew Paris recites il as q
fable commonly used by King Richard
the Crusader, to reprove his ungratefu
mobiles; and old Gowar has versified it ir
his Coafessio Anaat,s. It appeared in
Blaekeood some years ago; but the trans
lator seems not to have been aware of it,
existence in the Gesta Ron,anor,sm, con
tent to translate it from the Latin YER
sion of Massenius, a German Jesuit, who
lived at Cologne in 1857. 1t well illus
trates the popular method by which the
writers Of these tales inculcated Christian
duties on their brethren of the Convent
or On their hearers in the Church:
Vitalis, noble Venitian, one day, at q
hunting party, fell into pit which had
been dug to catch wild animals. He
passed a whole night and day there, and
l will leave you to imagine his dread and
his agony. The pit was dark. Vitalis
ran from the 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 extraordinary
noises, growlings, hissings and plaintive
cries, that he became half dead with ter.
ror, and crouched in corner motieness,
awaiting death with the most horrid dis.
may. On the morning Of the second day,
he heard some one passing near the pit ;
and then, raising his voice, he cried out,
with the most dolorous accent, Help,
helpl draw me out of this; l am perish
ingP
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?
a poor huntsman,' answered Vitalis,
who has passed long night and day
here. Help mo out, for the love of God.
Help me out, and 1 will recompense you
Handsomely
Il will do what can,' replied the peas
ant.
Then Massaccio (such was the name of
the pcasant) took hedgebill which hung
at his grdle, and, cutting branch Of a
tree strong enough to bear man, Lis
ten, huntsman, said he, Ito what am GO
ing to say to you. / will let down this
branch into the pit. / will fasten it
against the sides and hold it with my
hands; and, by pulling yourself out by it,
you may get free from your prison.
Good, answered Vitalis; ask me any
thing you will, and it shall be granted
Il ask for nothing said the peasant;
'but am going to be married, and you
may give what you like to my BRIDE
So saying, Massaccio let down the
branch--he soon felt it heavy, and the
moment after a monkey leapt merrily out
of the pit. He had fallen, like Vitalis,
and had seized quickly on the branch of
Massaccie. 1T was the devil surely
which spoke to me from the pitt said
Massaccio, running away in alright.
do you abandon me, then? cried vi
tails, in lamentable accent; my friend,
my dear friend, for the love Of the Lord,
for the love of your mistress, draw me
out of this; / beg, / implore you; will
give her wedding gifts, will enrich you.
| am the Lord Vitalis, rich Venetian;
do not let me die Of hunger in this hor-
riblc pit
Massaccio was touched by these pray
ers. lie returned to the pit-let down
another branch, and lion jumped out,
making the woods echo with roar Of
delight.
'Oh, certainly, certainly, it was the
devil heard said Massaecio, and fled
away again. but, stopping short, after q
few PAGES, he heard again the piercing
cries Of Vitalis.
'G God, o God,' cried he, ito die OF
hunger in pit! Will no one, then, come
to my help? Whoever you may be, i'm.
plore you to return; let me not die when
you can save me. l will give you house
and field, and cows and gold, all that you
can ask for; save me, save me onlyp
Massaccio, thus implored, could not
help returning. He let down the branch,
and serpent, kissing joyously, sprang
out of the pit. Massaccio fell on his
knees, half dead with fear, and repeated
all the prayers he could think of to drive
away the demon. He was only brought
to himself by hearing the cries of despair
which Vitalis uttered.
will no one help meY said he. 'Ah
then, must die? o God, o Godl' and
he wept and sobbed in heart-breakine
manner.
1T is certainly the voice of man, for
all that said Massaccio.
'Oh, If you are still there said Vitalis
lin the name Of all that is dear to you
save me, that / may die at least at home
and not in this horrible pit. can say nc
more, my voice is exhausted. Shall
give you my palace at Venice, my pos
sessions, my honorsP 1 give them all
and may l die if / forfeit my word
Life, life only,-save only my life.'
Massaccio could not resist such pray
ers, and mingled with such promises
He let down the branch again.
.Ah, here you are at last sail he, see
ing Vitalis come up.
Yes, said he, and uttering a cry o
Joy, no tainted in the arms of Massaccio
Massaccio sustained him, assisted him