Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-01
misrelIamenms.
TIE KNEES FOUR QUESTIONS.
An Ancient Story.

AL AuNtOus
There was once, vou know, king of
CASTLE. called Don AloDzo. the learned:
| and truly he was more learned than wise,
for he had the presumption to say that if
his counsel had been taken at the creation
Of the world he could have arranged
things much more conveniently than We
| find them: and the ancient writings tell
Us that God punished him for his impety
with many and grievous Affections in his
oil age. Well, Don Alonzo was prickipg
on towards Amanda. at the head of troop
| Of lancers, when darkness overlook him
near the convent OF San MILAN De Cogol-
los. Of course it was resolved. as OF
common accord, to demand hospitality Of
the good fathers of San Milan and the
party rode up to the gates, nothing doubt
| ing that they should be cordially received,
and should mend their repast by emptying
a few Of the wine-skins OF the monastery
But when they arrived at the gate and
asked for admission the porter surlily babe
them begone, supposing, or pretending to
suppose. that they were a band of mount
. n outlaws come to rob the convent: a d
IL was some time before Don Alorzo's peu-
| pie could bring he friars tn their senses,
| and procure admission within their walls
not even then until the soldiers had begun
TO devise means of entering by force. The
king, BY this time, had fallen into tower
ing passion which il required all the obse-
quiousness of the abbot. and all the hos
pitable attendance of his monks. to pacify
and allay. But in discussing the contents
of the cellar and larder Don Alonzo came
TO be- somew hat Modified, and thus ended
with imposing on the monks such terms
as none but book worm and star-gaZer
like himself would have imagined.
Father Cayetapo," said he, ''you or
| your people have done that which might
well visit upon you to YOUR cost but feel
inclined to admit your humble acknowledge
ments. and overlook your offence; and
will do so. provided you will be prepared,
on the morrow before depart, to answer
me four questions. You shall tell me
how much the moon weighs; how many
casks it would take to hold the sea; how
much the King of CASTLE is worth; and
what | am thinking of at the time; and
woe betide you and your house if you fail
to answer me correctly to all these in
quiries."
Hereupon the old king retired to rest,
leaving the monks sorely puzzled by the
questions which he had given them for
meditation for they had abundantly more
wealth than wit. They pondered in vain
upon the odd fancies of the king. and
morning found them as ill-prepared to
solve the mysterious questions as when
they were first pronounced. When honest
Jose, the miller of the convent. came in
the morning to leave them wherwithal to
| furnish forth the royal table for breakfast.
he found the monks iull oftroube and dis
may; and on learning the cause of alarm
| from the porter he undertook To answer
the kings questions il they would permit
him to assume the gown and tonsure.
| Father Cayetano saw not well what course
to pursue; but rejecting Ut length that
the miller was known for a shrewd and
cunning valet, and that, if he failed to sat
isfy the king, it might be passed off as a
matter of merriment. he concluded to ven
ture upon the experiment suggested by
the miller. Jose, in fine, was carefully
shaven, dressed in the garb of the order
and presented himself at the time before
Don Alfonso.
WELL" said the king, ..how much
does the moon weigh Pr
"A pound" replied the miller, without
a moments hesitation.
"A pound!' demanded the king chow
do you make that out ?'
Why" said Jose, 1.-THE moon has four
quarters, all the world knows, and four
quarters make but one pound; and. if you
think it weighs more, you are welcome to
send and have it weighed,''
The king was at loss to know what
to say at this, and so he proceeded to the
next question:
"Ilow many casks would it require to
hold the sea?'
only one, to be sure" said Jose, pro-
vided it be large enough"'
1t was impossible to dispute this so
the king had no alternative for it but to
put his third question -
"How much am worth ?"
"How much is the King of CASTLE
worth P" said the miller. ''Why. 20
pieces of silverr'
Only 30 pieces of silver" cried the
king, in a rage.
Yes" said the miller, ..for our Saviour
was rated and sold for 80. and put you
but one piece below our Saviour. ~
At this paipabie evasion OF his inquiry
the king began to laugh, and could do no
less than put his last question:
"What am | thinking of at this mo-
msnt P"
Hitherto Jose had received and answered
the questions OF the king with an air of
mock dignity vergng into broad humor ;
but he saw that the crisis was now at hand
and that it beloved him to take heed what
he did. and it was in all humility that he
replied
.Senor, you are thinking am the Alb
bot Cayetano.'
ITO be sure ~ said the king "And
who else should you be? And. seeing
you have answered my four questions.
suppose | must be as good AS my word
and suffer you TO go scot free"
At this Jose Tell on his knees at the feet
of the king, and confessed the trick which
the lurdan monks had fallen upon to es-
cape from their embarrassment: and. the
king being highly amused by the whole
affair, very freely pardoned the imposition
and took the witty miller into service and
Jose played his part so well in those times.
when blows were the current coin of all
CASTLE, that, some thirty or forty years
Afterwards the house of San MILAN in