Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-11-22
ONLY ONCE.
Quaint Origin of Familiar Hungarian
Proverb.


Proverb.
There was but once dogs fair az
Buda." The originator of this provefb,
King Matthias Corvinus. was the great
monarch of Hungary. He was a genius,
and Hungary 5 mighticst monarch, and
reigned in the fifteenth century. He
was young when he died. and in spite
of his youth the people exclaimed at his
departure: liking Matthias dead-just-
ice is dead From this one saying of
the people we can Judge the King. In
fact, hundreds of proverbs originated
directly with him. Even now, when we
Hungarians want To say that something
very good has happened, and is not
likely to happen again, we use this say
ing, which became Il provcrb: There
was but one dogs fair ut Buda." My
duty as narrator is to tell how il orig
mated 1t is quite a story, and, if the
kind reader peruses these lines with the
same pleasure | take in writing them,
we will be even.
ORIGIN OF THE PRovERB.
At the time of our just and great King
ilNtu DOOl WHY EOOu
shepherd in the southern part of Hun
gary. Good as he was, his landlord
was just as wicked, and above all, u
great miser. The shepherd fulfilled his
duties we'll The flocks were always
cared for, and all the landlord had to
do was to find his sheep multiplied and
in the very best order. All the good
ness, however, was on the side
of the shepherd; all the wickedness
on the side of the landlord. The wick
ed rich man never acknowledged any
service. He took everything and gaze
nothing.
Such state of things can last, but
not forever. Even the shepherd had
enough of it. So the poor fellow studied
for good while how he might anchor
ate his wrctched situation. After think
ing many days upon his sad condition,
suddenly happy idea struck him. He
heard of the young Kings goodhearted-
ness and justice, and he heard also that
the poorest man could go to him and
tell him his grief, and, if it were in the
King power. he surely would find some
means of doing justice. After many
days of sorrow he went to his landlord,
counted the sheep, which were found in
good shape, and told him that his in
tention was to leave him and to look for
another situation. All he had to say
was that he hoped the landlord might
find another faithful shepherd just as
patient and submissive as he. The
landlord did not even thank him.
The shepherd went his way, followed
hu bis five 1ons TIn StartaH towards
the Capital of Hungary. where the King
lived, towards Buda. The journey last
ed many days, but finally he arrived.
The poor fellow was tired and lay down
in a ditch, surrounded by his dogs, and
fell asleep. How long his sleep lasted
we do not know, but we do know that
he was awakened by very handsome
young man in whose eyes goodness
.beamed, and who apostrophized him as
follows:
THE KING AND THE SHEPHERD.
"My dear shepherd friend, what are
you doing here in the ditch with your
five dogs around you? You must be
tired to find no better resting place than
this"
80, yes, am tired, and have come
long way" was the shepherds reply.
"Where do you come from?" asked
the young man.
From the southern part of Hungary,
and have walked all the way. Now
you can well understand how tired
am; but what care /? am young and
| come to tell the King my grief. |
know he will give me good advice and
tell me how TO redress the injustice done
me-"
"Well, my dear friend" replied the
young man, Il am special friend of
the Kings, and YOU might as well tell
me your grief, and you may rest assur-
ed will lay the matter before him. dc
is still young, but he knows what he is
about
The shepherd did not quite see why
he should confide his griefs to another
: knowing well that everybody was adj
mitted' into the presence of the King, no
matter who he was. So he simply said
mo. il is useless, / will tell all to my
King himself, but / thank you all the
same for your kindness.
s'Do as YOU like; but can assure you
my dear friend" replied the young
man, '.that il would greatly forward
your interests il you would tell me al
once all your sorrows, as the King has
"a great deal to do, and has to listen Il
many grievances: and /, as his friend
make Il special duty to tell him al
such matters which, by chance or other
wise, come to my knowledge from diff
ferent sources. So the King know,
many matters beforehand
"WeIl, then, will tell you all. an,
frankly" The shepherd began hi
story.
THE SHEPHERDS STORY.
s.sYou see, my dear sir, that lam cvel
Younger than YOU are. but youth doe