The Press., 1898-06-16
MATANZA'S LEGEND.

MATANZA'S LEGEND.
 There was once upon a time man who led a very merry life, taking no thought of the morrow, and since to run in debt without having the means to pay is the sure road to the penthouse in a very short time our hero was left with nothing he could call his own but 30 days in the month, and with nothing to exercise his teeth upon but his nails. So that little by little he fell into such a state of dejectioD that he would allow his wife to beat him and his children to abuse him when he returned home at night empty handed without utter ing word in protest. Finally he grew tired of his life, and borrowing a rope from one of his cronies he went into 8 field to hang himself.
 !. Having fastened one end of the rope to an olive tree, he was about to put the other around his neck when there ap- peared before him dwarf. attired in friar's robe and cowl, who said to him quietly:
 "What is that you are going to do, my good man?"
 "Cannot your worship see what am going to do? To hang myself" he an swered.
 "So you, a Christian, are going to do what Judas did? Stop, that isn't right. Take this purse. which is never empty, and relieve your necessities. ''
 Taking the purse from the dwarf's hand, Uncle Curro, for such was our hero's name, took a dollar out of it, and then another and another, until he .saw that, like the words coming out of I&a woman's mouth, there seemed to be Vno end to them, seeing which he un- tied the rope from the tree, rolled 1t up and started for home. On the road there was a tavern, which he entered, and calling for the best the house could af- ford in meat and drink he paid the score on the spot, for the tavern keeper, know ing him of old, would not trust him to so large an amount, and he ate and ate and drank and drank until finally he fell off his chair and rolled under the table dead drunk.
 The tavern keeper, who had seen that the purse from which Uncle Curro had taken the money remained as full as before, told his wife to make another purse like it, and when this was done he took Uncle Curro's purse from his pocket and put in its place the one his | wife had made.
 When Uncle Curro awoke, he set out again for home, where he arrived as merry as cricket.
 "Rejoicer' he cried to his wife and children. "Here is money in plenty. Our days of poverty are over."
 He put his hand into his pocket, and took it out again-empty. He put it in l again and again he took it out empty. When his wife saw this she was so en- ragged that she gave him a blow that esent Slsn spinning.
 More dejected now than ever, Uncle Curro again took the rope, and went 1 once more into the field to hang him. self. Arrived at the same spot as be- fore, he was proceeding to tie the rope to branch of the same tree when he heard voice nearby saying, "What is that you are going to do, good man?'' and lifting up his eyes he saw before him the dwarf, seated astride a branch of the clive tree.
 "To hang myself, like string of garlic from a kitchen rafter," answered Uncle Curro very coolly.
 "So you have lost your patience again?" said the dwarf.
 "And no wonder,'' replied Uncle Curro, "when have nothing to eat ''
 "That is your own fault, entirely your own fault. But never mind. Come here. Take this tablecloth, and so long as you keep it in your possession you shall never want for something to eat. ''
 So saying, the dwarf handed Uncle Curro a tablecloth and then disappear. ed among the branches of the olive trees. Uncle Curro spread the table. cloth on the ground, which he had nc sooner done than it was covered with the richest viands so exquisitely pre- pared that not the kings cook himself could have surpassed them. Of course Uncle Curro ate until he could eat nc longer, and then folding his tableclott he put it ill his pocket and set out fol home.
 Stopping to rest at the same inn as before he was overcome with sleep an6 lay down to take nap. The innkeeper who recognized him at once, suspected that he had something of value witt him, and cautiously taking the table cloth out of his pocket he put in it! stead the soiled cloth from the table O. the inn.
 When Uncle Curro reached home, he cried out to his wife and children:
 "Come, come and eat and this time take my word for it there shall be nc disappointment" Then he unfolded th' tablecloth, which, instead of viands was seen to be covered with stains O. all sizes and of every color. At this tn, storm broke loose. Wife and childrer fell upon him and beat him until they