The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-02-15

BEING THE WONDERFUL AND INSTRUCTIVE
LEGEND OF MEDIo-POLTTTo.

good and SO uncommon OF Its KIND, that We IL el tna
We stand in need OF excuse for our selection, eve
to the graver portion Of our readers.
The legend here given is the Andalusian one, an
Processes explain the origin of weathercocks in th
history of Medic Polito, HaltChicken the cross
grained founder of his tribe. The curious supersti
ton alluded to in it, OF eggs being LAID by old cocks
is firmly believed by the people; and we have hear
it asserted by well-informed Spaniard that ull
usually small egg which he had found in the hen-roos
must certainly have been laid by the cock. The cock
however, said to lay only once in his life and tn
basilisk contained IN the egg takes seven years Il
hatch. The fifst person whom he sees on breaking
the shell he is able to Kill by the power of his eye
but il any one should first him, the basilisk him
self dies Scarcely less curious is the notion, OF
which the final catastrophe hinges, of st. Peter
dislike to the growing OF the cock, and his stoopin
to take revenge that had Offended him in thi
manner. our story lis translated from La Gdpiofa
tale OF Spanish life BY Fernan caballero, the great
est living Spanish noyeiistl
There was once upon time a haldsom
Hen, who lived very comfortably in court
yard surrounded by her numerous family
among whom there was one chicken that wa
both lame and ugly. Now this was the yer,
one that the mother loved best of all for that j
the way of mothers. t.s f5ai ID iaf ~
This cripple had been Matched trom a YER
tiny little egg. He was indeed no more thar
half a chicken, for he had only one eye, on,
wing and one claw; and for all that he CAV,
himself more airs than his father did. who wa
the handsomest and bravest and most gentle
manly cock in all the fowl wards Tor sixty mile.
around. This chick thought himself the Pho
nix of his race If the other cocks laughed al
him, he thought IL was out OF envy; and il
the hens did, he said that it was fer anger be.
cause of the little attention that lac paid to
them. fi5e ,ssa,
One day he said to his mother, Look here
mother the country wearies me; l have made
up my mind to go TO Court. 1 want to see the
King and Queen" -sfa ~
The poor mother began to tremble when she
heard these words. w
a. I.s. /.
put such nonsense into your head Your ia
Their has never once been outside his own do
main, and he is the pride Of his race. Why
where would you find such q courtyard as you
have here? or where a grander manure heap
Where would you lind better or more plentiful
you more dearly 2"
"Nego," said Medio-Pollito in Latin, for he
set up to be great scholar SHY brothers and
my cousins are ignorant clowns"
But my SON., continued his mother, Shave
you never looked at yourself in the glass
Have you not found out that you have got one
eye and one claw less than other people?' ,ll )
Nay, II you begin upon that SAID Medic
Pollto, Il shall answer that YOU ought to fail
down dead Tor shame at seeing nesin such a
state. IL is your fault and nobody's else. What
sort of an egg did come out Of pray ? Was
1t laid by an old cock ?"
mo, my son, said the Hen, ''for only basil
hsks come out of those eggs You were hatch
ed from avery Wee little egg, but indeed that
was no fault of mine.' la
Perhaps" said Medio-Pollito, his comb
turning as red as scarlet, perhaps shall meet
with some clever surgeon who will put on my
missing limbs. Anyhow, my mind is made up;
OFT 60" Isl 1861 1851
When the poor Hen saw that there was no
way OF turning him from his purpose, she
said,-
AT leastimy son, hearken to the prudent
counsel OF loving mother. Take care not to
pass by any churches where there is q statue
OF st. Peter, for that saint is not at all fond OF
COCKS, and still less OF their crow. Avoid also
certain men whom there are in the world
called cooks, for they are our mortal enemies
and will wiring your neck as soon as they look
at you. And now my son, Saint Raphael the
patron OF travellers, be your guide. Go and
ask your fathers blessing" 49, ~ III
Medio-Pollito approached the venerable au-
thor of has existence, and, STOPPING to kiss his
claw, begged his blessing. The worthy old
COCK gave 1t to him with more dignity than at
lection, for he was by no means fond OF him
on account of his peevish temper But his
mother was SO much moved, that she was
Obliged to wipe away her tears with a wither-
ed leaf - =
Then Medio-Pollito began his march, Clap
ping his wing and Growing three times as a
signal of departure.
As he arrived at the banks of a stream that
was almost dried up-tor it was summer--it 80
"
hindered from flowing by few branches that
had fallen across its bed. On seeing the tray
eiler, the Stream said
Thou seest, friend, how weak am Scarce
~ can move step, and have not strength
to push aside these branches thar ohst,uct m
way. Neither would make a round to avoid
them, for it would entirely exhaust me- Thou
couldst easily get me out OF this difficulty by
parting the branches with thy beak. In re.
turn, thou mayest not only qnench thy thirst
in my current but reckon ON my services as
soon as the rains of heaven shall have restored
my strength" -. lsat
Ihe Chicken REPLIED -
Il could, but L don't choose. Do Won think
look like the servant Of little dirty streams ?''
Ihou wilt remember me when least thou
thlhkest, murmured the Stream in fainting
voice. In .,.t..,se,. ..ts Hf7-f 70
IT is very fine for You to boast r. returned
Medlo-Pollito, mOckingly. "Why, one would
think you had just drawn prize IN the lottery
or could be sure of help from the waters of the
Deluge."
A little farther on he met with the Wind. w.
ing faint and helpless ON the ground Dear
Medio-Polhto,' he said, lin this world we ali
have need OF one apother. Come near and
look on me. Seest thou not what the heat of
summer has done to me? to me, SO strong, to
me, who raise the waves, who lay waste the
fields, whose power none can withstand? This
midsummer day has killed me. / fell asleep,
intoxicated by the perfume OF the flowers with
with which was playing, and here thou seest
me sWoonlng Ii thou wouldSt but raise me
Two ihches from the ground with thy beak and
tan me with thy wing, that would enable me
TO take flight to my cavern where my mother
and sisters, the Storms, are busy mending up a
a few old clouds that L have torn There thew
VIII give me some refreshing draughts, and
shall recover my strength"
'Sir Wind" replied the ill-natured chicken
many time have you amused yourself al nv
expense, putting at me from behind and blow
ing open my tail like tan, SO that ali who saw
1t might laugh at me. No, no, my friend: ey
cry dog mas ms day, SO good afternoon to you,
Mr.. Joker. With this he crowed three t,mes
IN loud voice and strutted proudly away.
In the middle OF a stubble-field to winch the
IaDofers mad set IRE, there rose up a slender
column of smoke. Medic Pollito drew near.
and saw tiny fame Pickering from time To-
time among the ashes
"Deal Medio-Pollito," said the little Flame
thou art come i'd the very nick of time To save
my Hie. l am at my last gasp for want of tuel
l cannot think what is becoming OF nv cousiI,
we WIND Tor 1t is e who always helps me ont
straws TO revive me-" "''o
w hat business is it of nina 1 shonII Ill, =.
Know repiied Medio-Pollito s.Yon NAV on
you" - Jun wahI
Who knows but You may want ma som.
day.? answered the Flame mo ono c., oo .ni
There shall be no harm hapnen mt "a, oah say
Nov, then" said the cross creatmra a,
you always DE preaching? Take thar tba,I %
And SO saying, he covered him with ashea.
after when ne began to crow, as usual, as
though ne had done some great deed. -
MediO-Pollit0 at last reached the capital and
passed in front of church which thew tolI
him was st, Peters. Thereupon he posted
himself in the doorway and crowed until he
nearly cracked his voice. for nothing in the
world but to annoy the Saint, and to have the
pleasure of disobeying his mother 1851
When he came to the Palace he wanted to
goin TO see the King and Queen. but the senti-
neis cried out to him, Keep OFF,
Ihereupon he turned aside and went throuph
49,. ,' uoot INTO large room where he saw a
80, many people passing to and fro He
~ aneu Nv VINO they Were, and was informed they
away. as bis gesys cooks. Instead of runnino
he marched with HI had advised him to do. in
M -; ouia.eiy one of the scull;ons
aHa,l a ~ wiahg his neck i'm n tyias',i hahds
-. ~ thefeF said he, BRING nv hihg
wafer that may pluck this foTS i ~ some hot
alter, my beautiful crvstan
Medlo-Poilito, "do not scald me 1auyF cried
dive pity on mel" 'Ae ehtreat you
Hadst .lou any pity ON me. when r os,,
thy help, ill-natured bird 2" renled tha M asked
boiling with Indignation, and splashino I h;,
rom neau 10 ioot' whiie the scullion soon left
him without single feather to cover b;,,, iei'
Then the cook laid hold of him and NM
on the spit. put MN
Fire, brilliant Fire." cried the unbannv
b1lrd, thou who art sopowerful and so gloriaps
h, lave pity on my state, draw in thy flames and
burn me notr anu
tbon mretchr replied the Fire, "how darest
smotblp,p ' to me, after having attempted to
never na n,e on the pretext that thou couldst
what can any my help? Come near and see
ana, not contant -,
burnt him as blac eht with browning him, he
IVban a. ack as a cinder