Litchfield enquirer., 1878-08-15
MIsERY'S PEAR TREE.
AN ANCIENT LRGAND OF FLANDERS.

MIsERY'S PEAR TREE. AN ANCIENT LRGAND OF FLANDERS. Once upon time, there lived in the village of VicQ, on the banks of the Scheldt, good woman called Misery who went abont begging from door to door. In those days the village of Vicu was little better than hamlet. It lay on the edge of marsh, and there were on ly few miserable farms covered with rushes to be seen. Misery dwelt apart in a lonely hut plastered with clay, where her sole com panion was her dog, Faro, and her worldly goods were staff and scrip, which too of | ten she brought back almost empty. To tell the truth, however, she had besides in a little inclosure, behind her hevel, tree-a single one. This tree was pear tree so beautiful that it's like was never seen since the famous apple tree of the garden of Eden. The only delight that Misery experienced in this world was to eat the fruit of her garden, that is of her pear tree. .s
 Unhappily, the little boys of the village came to rob her inclosllre. Every day Misery started forth with Faro to beg but in the au- tumn Faro remained at home to guard the pears, and it was heart breaking to both, for the poor waman and the poor dog loved each other with a great affection.
 Now there came a winter in which for two whole months it hailed fit to break the very stones. Then there fell such snow that the wolves left the woods and came into peoples houses It was terrible time for the whole country and Misery and Faro suffered more than the rest One evening when the wind howled and the snow piled up in great drifts, the two unfOrtunateS were neStllng close to keep each other warm before the dying enlbers on the hearth, when knock was heard on the .l1 the cabin, Faro parked with rage, thinking that it was the little marauders. This even- ing, on the contrary he began to whimper gently and to wag his tail as mark of joy.
 For the love of God" cried 8 pleading voice, 'open your door to poor man who is perishing of cold and hunger !"
 Pull the latch string" answered Misery. ''It shall never be said that in such time as this I would keep one of the dear Lords creatures outside"
 The stranger entered he seemed even older and more miserable than Misery, and had no other covering than a blue frock all in tatters.
 Sit you down, my good man," said Mise ry. "You have come to very poor place, but have still something left to warm you up with"
 She put her last stick on the fire and gave the old man three morsals of bread and pear, which was all she had left. Very soon the flame leaped up and the old man ate with a hearty appetite. Now, while he ate, Faro licked his feet.
 When her guest had finished, Misery wrap ped her old cOverlet of fustian around him and forced him to lie down upon her cot, while for herself, she settled herself to sleep with her head resting on her stool.
 In. the morning, Misery was the first to awake
 Il have nothing left,' she said to herself land my guest will go hungry. Let us see if there IS no way to go and beg something in the village. -....
 She put her head out of the door; the snow had ceased to fall, and the sun shone as if it were spring day. She turned back to get her staff and saw the stranger risen and ready to leave.
 What" said she, ''are you going al- readyf"
 My mission is fulfilled" replied the un- known, ''and have to go and give account to my master. l am not what l seem; 1 am Saint WanOn, the patron of the parish of Ronde, and have been sent by the Good Fla ther, to see how many faithful ones practice charity, which is the first of the Christian vir- tues. 1 have knocked at the doors of the bur gomaster and the burghers of Condo; have knocked at the doors of the lord and farmers of Vicq; the burgomoster and the burghers of Condo, and the lord and the farmers of Vicq have left me to freeze at their thresholds. Thou alone hast taken pity upon me, and thou art as wretched as I. God will reward thee {; make wish and it shall come to pass"
 Misery crossed herself and fell on her knees.
 "Great Saint Wanon," said she, no longer marvel that Faro licked your feet, but it is not for reward that 1 do charity. Besides, have need of nothing"
 ''Thou art too destitute of everything to have no wants speak, what wilt thou have ?"
 Misery kept silent.
 t'Wiit thou have a beautiful farm, with a granary full of wheat, the wood house full of wood, the cupboard full of bread? Wilt thou have riches? Wilt. thou have honors? Wilt thou be duchess? Wilt thou be a queen ?'
 Misery shook her head.
 "A saint who has any self-respect ought not to be under obligation to poor woman" returned Saint WanOn, with an air of pique. Speak, or shall think thou refusest me from pride"
 Since you insist upon it, great Saint Wan on, will obey. I have there in my garden pear. tree which bears me most beautiful pears unfortunately, the young rogues in the village come to rob me of them, and am forced to leave poor Faro at home to mount guard. Grant that whoever climbs my pear tree may not come down without my permis- sion."
 "Amenl" replied Saint Wanon, smiling at her simplicity, and after having given her his blessing he set out upon his journey. ts
 The blessing of Saint Wanon brought good luck to Misery, and from that time forth, she never returned home with an empty sack. Spring followed winter, summer, spring, and autumn, summer The little boys seeing Mis- cry go off with Faro, climbed up the pear tree and stuffed their pockets; but, when they un- dert0ok to come down, they found they were caught fast in trap. tst a.,. s.5 Misery, on her return, beheld them perched up in the tree, left them there a good while, and, when in the kindness of her heart she let them go, set Faro barking at their heels They did not dare to come again the villagers themselves avoided passing the enchanted tree, and Misery and Faro lived as happy as one can live here below.
 Toward the end of autumn, Misery was en- toying herself in her garden in the sun, when she heard voice crying, Misery! Misery Misery!" Thls voice was SO mournful that the good woman began to tremble in every limb and Faro howled as though there had been corpse in the house. She turned around and saw a man, tall, lean yellow and old, old as patriarch. This man carried scythe as long as hop-pole. Misery recognized Death.
 'sWhat do you want, man of God ?" said she l in an altered voice; land what have you come for with that scythe?',
 s'I come to do my work Come. my good Misery, thine hour hath struck; thou must | follow me" <. ''Already!''
 'sAleady? But thou shouldst thank me, thou who art so poor, so old and so crip- pied"
 'sNot so poor nor old as you think for, mas ter. have bread in the cupboard and wood in the pile; I shall be only ninety-fve come Candlemas, and as for being crippled, I am a. straight as you on my legs, without offense be | it said"
 ''Go to! Thu wilt be much better of ir paradise"
 | ssWn know what vve loSn what to uain ht