Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-10

extract or two from the many interesting
details which are recorded, of the manners
customs, and superstitions of the people,
ST. JOHN DAY.
On the morning of St. Johns Day
number of people, your servants or
friends, present to you a bunch of wild
flowers, at the same time saying
Inkoutrtash' Take this present.: the
word, however, Is not used on presenting
any other sort Of gift. This day is re-
garded in AbysSinia much as our New
Years Day. 1t Is about the time when
nature seems to burst anew into life The
rainy season being over, the corn Is
springing up, the trees are in bloom :;
even the birds are decked out in their
brightest plumage, which, as the season
advances, they lose, and recover only
with the rains. Thus, the little scarlet
and black cardinals, which in this
spring-time of Abyssinia, and in the
succeeding months of corn-time and har-
vest, are to be seen everywhere lowering
like little balls of fire over the millet-
fields, in winter drop their brilliant
colors, aud assume a more quiet costume,
nearly resembling that of our common
English sparrow.
the nosegay presented on St. Johns
Day is a sort of Offering of the first
fruits, to remind the receiver of the
beautiful season that Is setting in. In
Abvssinia, the bearer Of good news Is
always rewarded with gift; and this
token Of the new year, being considered
as such. generally elicits gift in return.
Among equals every one strives to rise
earliest in the morning, and to be the first
TO offer his bouquet TO his friend, who
then has to give him a present according
to his means Interiors also give flowers
to their superiors; and in a great mans
house there Is good deal of rivalry
among the servants a. to who shall be
the first to wish him many happy re-
turns Of the day, for only two or three
earliest cOmers are usually rewarded. La
dies generally prepare new pair o.
breeches for their husbands, spun with
their own hands, which they offer when
he presents his nosegay; while be. in re
turn, gives them new dress. So the
master with his ineXpressibles, the mis-
tress with her calico shirts, and the SER
wants with their presents, are all joyous
in fact, all the house Is happy; and, with
a few exceptions, such as where there Is
sickness, much innocent pleasure and
gayety are. | believe, enjoyed by all
classes in this country on the anniversary
of Kouddos \ Yohanne>.
AN ABYsSINIAN SAINT.
Some Of the stories OF their saints are
very marvellous Perhaps one of the
most grotesque Is that of Gabro Menfu>
kouddos slave of the Holy GhoSt,)
who ." was a great saint from his birth
nay, more. he was born saint No
sooner did he enter the world than he
stood up, and three days after his birth
he bowed his head thrice, saying, in dis
tinct voice: Glory be to the Father
and to the Son. and to the Holy Ghost
He never tasted of his mothers milk, nor
during the whole period Of his life par
took of food or drink of any sort. Once,
when praying on 4 mountain, he fell over
a precipice two hundred cubits deep. Two
angels Immediately Joined their spread
wings under him to support him; but he
refused their assistance, saying that he
trusted in God alone for help. Another
time he was ascending a very high noun
tain, and, being fatigued, the Holy Trim
tv came and assisted him. Many other
equally absurd and almost bIasphemous
stories are related of him. At last, after
very long life. / forget of how many
years, the Almighty sent Azrael, the /
angel of death, to take him. But the
saint refused to die, saying, that, as he /.
lad neither eaten nor drunk, he could /
lot die So all the saints came to him in .
urn, for the purpose of persuading him /
10 leave earth for Paradise. St. John /
he Baptist first addressed him. saving /
hat he had gone the way of all flesh,
his many privations and /
,uferincs Gabo Menfus kouddos, how
ever. at once met him with the answer
Yes; but uou could not fast even for
ortv days. but fed on locusts and wild 1
honey Thus he replied to all the saints,
and at last even to the Virgin and our /
Saviour. Still, however, the DEGREES of
he Omnipotent must be obeyed, and his /
life was taken from him. But then there /
was dispute among the elements as TO |
what was to become of his body. The /
earth refused to receive it, as he had
never partaken OF her produce. \ sim
liar refusal was made by the water. for
he had never taken a drop within his
lips. The fire had also equally strong
objections So the saint was restored to
life, and taken up alive into heaven. His
tomb is, however, shown at Zoukwahla
in Shoa; but it is said to contain only one
Of his ribs, which, at the time of his as
cent to heaven, he took out and left on
earth as memento for his followers"
Ti,t. MnSI Intellectual CITY of