The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-02
A Beautiful Legend Current in Northern
Italy.

bread at his gate than Of asking him
for all his fortune.
However, there was a spring on
his land, sweet spring of cold wa
ter, and as it was the only one for
miles many a wayfarer paused to
drink of it, but never was permitted
to do so. A servant. well armed, was
kept upon the watch to drive such
person saway.
Now. there never had been known
before any one 80 avarlcious as to re.
fuse cup of cold water to his fellow
man, and the angels. talking amongst
each other, could not believe it; and
one of them said to the rest:
ut is impossible for any one but
Satan himself. / will go to earth and
prove that it is not true"
And so the fair and holy angel dis.
gulsed herself as beggar- woman.
covered her golden hair with a black
hood, and chose the moment when
the master of the house was himself
standing near the spring to come
slowly up the road, walking over the
stones with bare feet, and to pause
beside the fountain and humbly ask
for drink of its sweet water.
Instantly the servant who guarded
the spot interpOsed the pike he car.
ried, but the angel, desiring to take
news of good deed. not of an evil
one, back to heaven, turned to the
master himself.
Sir" she said, II am, as you see,
a Wanderer from afar. See how poor
my garments are. how stained with
travel, 1t is not surely at your bid.
ding that your servant fOrbids me to
drink. And even if it is, pray you
bid him let me alone, for / am very
thirsty"
The rich man looked at her with
scornful eyes and laughed contempt.
uously,
"This Is not a public fountain" he
said. "You will find one In the next
village"
1.-THE way is long," pleaded the
angel, land ] am woman, and but
weak"
"Drive her away!' said the rich
49, ITO. ,- lert
s.s.a.s' :. =, =. :, -
turned but on the instant her black
hood dropped from her head and re-
vealed floods of ripping golden hair
her unseemly rags fell to the
ground-and the shining robes that
angels wear stlone in their place. For
moment she lowered poised on pur-
pie wings. with her hands folded on
her bosom and an ineffable sweetness
of sorrow in her eyes. Then with a
gush of music and food of perfume
she vanished.
The servant fell to the floor like
one dead. The rich man trembled
and cried out. for he knew that he
had forbidden a cup OF cold water to
an angel, and horror possessed his
soul.
Almost instantly, also. a terrible
thirst fell upon him which nothing
could assuage. In vain he drank
wines, sherbets. draughts of all pleas
ing kinds. Nothing could slake his
thirst, The sweet water of the spring
was salter to him than the sea. He
who never in his life had known an
unqualified desire, now experienced
the torture of an ever unsatistisd
longing; but through this misery he
began to understand what he had
done. He repented his cruelty to
the poor. Aims were given daily at
his gate. Charity was the business
of his life. The fountain was no
longer guarded, and near it hung
ever a cup ready for any one who
chose to use it. But the curse-if
curse it were-was never lifted.
The rich man-young when the
angel visited him grew middle.
aged, elderly. old. still tortured by
this awful thirst, despite his prayers
and repentance, He had given away
his substance; he had himself broken
bread for the most miserable beggars
who came to his door.
And at eighty years of age, bowed
with inf1rmity and weary of his life,
he sat one day beside the fountain
weeping. And 10 along the road he
saw approaching a beggar woman
hooded in black, wearing sordid rags.
walking over the stones with her Dare
feet. Slowly she came on and paused
beside the fountain.
"May I drink ?" she asked.
"There are none to forbid thee"
said the old man, trembling, Drink,
poor woman. Once an angel was
forbidden here, but that time has
passed. Drink, and pray for one
athirst. Here is the cup"