The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-02-22
The 8edford Gazette.
From Edward Laboulay's ''Fair Book of all Ma
tions French
THE STORY OF THE NOSES.

| At DEWITT, in the neighborhOod of
Prague, there once lived rich and
| whimsical old farmer, who had a beau
tiful daughter. The students of Prague,
of whom there were at that time twen-
| ty five thousand, often walked in the
| direction of DEWITT, and more than
one of them offered to follow the plow
in hope of becoming the son-in-law of
| the farmer. The first condition that
! the cunning peasant set on each new
servant was this: Engage you," he
would say, '.for year, that is, till
cuckoo signs the return of spring but
| if, from now till then, you say once
that you are not satisfied, | will cut off
the end of your nose. | give you the
same right over me-" he added, laugh
ing. And he did as he said. Prague
was full of students with the end of
their noses glued on, which did not
prevent an ugly scar, and, still less,
bad jokes. To return from the farm
disfigured and ridiculed was well cal
culated to cool the warmest passion.
A young man by the name of Coran-
da, somewhat ungainly in manner,
but cool, adroit and cunning, (which
are no bad aids in making ones for
tune, took it in his head to try the adj
venture. The farmer received him
with his usual good nature, and, the
bargain made, sent him to the field to
work. At b. eakfast time the other SER
wants were called, but good care was
taken to forget Coranda. At dinner it
was the same.-Coranda gave himself
no trouble about it. He went back to
the house, and while the farmers wife
was feeding the chickens, unlocked an
enormous ham from the kitchen raft
ers, took huge loaf from the cupboard,
and went back to the fields to dine and
take nap.
care you not satisfied ?" cried the
farmer, when he returned at night.
Perfectly satisfied" said Cofanda.
81 have dined better than you have"
AT that instant the farmers wife
came rushing in, crying that her ham
was gone. Coranda laughed, and the
farmer turned pale.
"Are you not satisfied?" asked Co.
randa.
GA ham is only ham," answered
his master. "Such a trifie does not
trouble me-" But after that time he
took good care not to leave the student
fasting.
Sunday came. The farmer and his
wife seated themselves in the wagon to
go to church, saying to Corarfdai 1T is
your business to cook the dinner. Cut
up the piece of meat you see yonder,
with onions, carrots, leeks and parsley,
and boil them all together in the great
pot over the kitchen fire."
every WE'LL" answered Coranda.
There was alittle pet dog at the farm
house by thename of Parsley. Coran-
da killed him, skinned him, cut him
up with the meat and vegetables, and
put the whole to boil over the kitchen
fire. When the farmers wife return
ed she called her favorite, but alas I!
she saw nothing buta bloody skin hang
ing by the window.
"What have you done?" said she to
Coranda.
"What you ordered me, mistress. [
have boiled the meat, onions, carrots
and leek, and parsley in the bargain"
"Wicked wretch ~ cried the farmer,
chad you the heart to kill the innocent |
creature that was the joy of our hOuse"'
care you not satisfed?" said Coran-
ola, taking his knife from his pocket.
81 did not say that" returned the
farmer. ga dead dog is nothing but |
a dead dog" But he sighed
A few days after the farmer and his
vile went to market. Fearing their
terrible servant, they said to him, "Stay
at home and do exactly what you see
others do"
every WE'LL" said Coranda.
There was an old shed in the yard,
the roof of which was falling to pieces.
The carpenters came to repair it, and |
began as usual, by tearing down the
roof. Coranda took ladderind noun
ted the roof of the house, which was
quite new. Shingles, lath, nails and
tiles, he tore off everything and scat
tered them all to the winds. When
the farmer returned, the house was o.
pen to the sky.
"Villain, ,"said he, "whst new trick
have you played me"'
81 have obeyed you, naster," an
sWered Coranda. "You told me to do
exactly what / saw others db. Are you
not satisfed?" And he took out his
knife
"Satisfiedv returned the farmer;
"why should | not be satisfied? a few
shingles more or less, will rlin met"
But he sighed.
Night came, the farmer andhis wife
said to each other that twas high time
to get rid of this incarnate demon. AS
is always the case with sensible people,
they never did anything without con-
sulting their daughter, it beingt the GUS
tom in Bohemia to think that children