East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-04-22
you have promised me marriage

Yes, certainly, Will give portion 10
your wife, my dear Massaccio, and i will
make you the richest peasant of your
village. Where do you liveY
'AtCapalatta in the forest; but I would
willingly quit my village to establish my
self at Venice in the palace you have
promised me-
'Here we are out of the forest, said
Vitalis; L know my road now; thank
you, Massaccio.'
But when shall come for my palace
and the portion of my intended?' return
ed the peasant.
when you will, said the ether; and
they separated.
Vitais went to Venice, and Massaccio
to Capalatta, where he related his adver-
ture to his mistress, telling her what a
rich portion she was to have, and what a
fine palace she was to live in.
The next day early he set out for We.
nice, and asked for the palace of Signor
Vitalis-went straight to it, and told the
domestics that he should come shortly
with his mistress, in fine carriage, to
take possession of the palace which the
Signor Vitalis had promised to give him.
Massacco appeared to those who heard
him mad, and Vitalis was told that there
was peasant in his hall, who asked for a
marriage-portion, and said the palace be-
longed to him.
Let him be turned out Immediately
said Vitalis; Il know him not
The Wallets accordingly drove him away,
with insults, and Massaccio returned to
his cottage in despair, without daring to
see his mistress. At one corner of his
fireplace was seated the monkey, at the
other the lion, and the serpent had twist
cd itself in spiral circles upon the hearth.
Massaccio was seized with fear. 'The
man has driven me from his door, thought
he; the lion will certainly devour me,
the serpent sting me, and the monkey
laugh at me; and this will be my reward
for saving thom from the pit But the
monkey turned to him with most ami
cable grimace; the lion, vibrating his
tail, came and licked his hand, like dog
caressing his master, and the serpent, un-
rolling its ringy body, moved about the
room, with contentcd and grateful air,
which gave courage to Massaccio.
poor animalsp said he, they arc bet
ter than the Signor Vitalis; he drove me
like bcggar from the door. Ali with
what pleasure l would pitch him again
into the pit. And my bridel whom |
thought to marry so magnifcently; |
have not stick of wood in my wood
house, not morsel of meat for meal,
and no money to buy any. The un-
grateful wretch, with his portion and his
palace'
Thus did Massaccio complain. Mean
while the monkey began to make signifi.
cant faces, the lion to agitate his tail
with great uneasiness, and the serpent to
roll and unroll its circles with great ra-
pidity. Then the monkey, approaching
his benefactor, made him sign to follow,
and led him into the wood-house, where
was regularly piled up quantity of wood
sufficient for the whole year. twas the
monkey who had collected this wood in
the forest and brought it to the cottage
OF Massaccio. Massaccio embraced the
grateful ape. The lion then, uttering a
delicate roar, led him to a corner of the
cottage, where he saw an enormous pro-
vision 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 hunted for his benefactor.
Massaccio patted kindly his name. .And
you, then said he to the serpent, 'have
you brought me nothing? Art thou a
Vitalis, or a good and honest animal like
the monkey and the lion? The serpent
glided rapidly under a heap of dried
leaves, and re appeared Immediately, rear
ing itself superbly on its tail, when Mas
saccio saw, with a surprise, beautiful
diamond in its mouth. "A diamondl'
cried Massaccio, and stretched forth his
hand to stroke caressingly the serpent
and take its Offering.
Massaccio then set out Immediately for
Venice to turn his diamond into money.
He addressed himself to a jeweller. -
The ieweller examined tho diamond: it
was OF the finest water.
How much do you ask for it?' said he.
Two hundred crowns said Massaccio,
thinking his demand to be great; it was
hardly the tenth part of the value of the
stone. The jeweller looked at Massaccio,
and said, TO sell it at that price you
must be robbcr, and l arrest you
If it is not worth so much, give me
less said Massaccio; Il am not robber,
am an honest man; it was the serpent
who gave me the diamond
But the police now arrived, and con-
Quoted him before the magistrate. There
he recounted his adventure, which ap-
peared to be mere fairy vision. Yet,
as the Signor Vitalis was implicated in
the story, the magistrate referred the
affair to the state inquisition, and appear
ed before it.
Relate to us your history said one OF
the inquisitors, 'and lie not, or we will
have you thrown into the canal
Massaccio related his adventure.
'So,' said the inquisitor, 'you saved the
Signor Vitalis|
'Yes, noble signors.'
And he promised you o marriage-por
ton for your bride, and his palace Al
Venice for yoursclfY
sYcs. noble sipnors.'