The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-05-31
MATANZA'S LEGEND.

dG ulBnb empty nanQ6Q 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 a
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 a
friar robe and oowl, 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.
$50 you, Christian, are going to
do what Judas did? Stop, that ism t
right Take this purse, which is never
empty, and relieve your necessities. !"
Taking the purse from the dwarf 8
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
a woman's mouth, there seemed to be
no end to them, seeing which he IN
tied the rope from the tree, rolled it 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.
"RejoioeP' 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
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
sent him spinning.
More detected now than ever, Uncle
Curro again took the rope, and went
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 mann"
and lifting up his eyes he saw before
him the dwarf, seated astride branch
of the olive tree.
TO hang myself, like a string of
garlic from kitchen rafter, answered
Uncle Curro very coolly.
$50 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
Ourro tablecloth and then disappear
ed among the branches of the olive
trees. Uncle Curro spread the table
cloth on the ground, which he had no
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 Ourro ate until he could eat no
longer, and then folding his tableoloth
he put it in his pocket and set out for
home.
Stopping to rest at the same inn as
before he was overcome with sleep and
lay down to take nap. The innkeeper,
who recognized him at once, suspected
that he had something of value with
him, and cautiously taking the table
cloth out of his pocket he put in its
stead the soiled cloth from the table of
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 no
disappointment Then he unfolded the
tablecloth, which, instead Of viands,
was seen to be covered with stains Of
all sizes and Of every color. At this the
storm broke loose Wife and children
fell upon him and beat him until they
left him fit subject for the hospital.
md
again into the field to hang himself
This time he persisted in his purpose of
hanging himself, and the dwarf persist
ed in his that he should not. At last
the little friar ended the discussion by
giving Uncle Curro oudgel, telling
him that with that in his hands he
need never be troubled by any one
again, and that all he had to do was to
say, "Cudgel, lay about you, for every
one to run away from him and leave
him in peace and quiet.
Uncle Curro took the road home with
his cudgel, as proud as an alcalde with
his wand Of Office, and the moment he
saw his children coming toward him,
insulting and abusive words, as they
were accustomed to see their mother do,
he said to his cudgel, "Cudgel lay about
youp' No sooner had he pronounced the
words than the cudgel began to shower
blows to right and left among the chill
dren until they had scarcely whole
bone left in their bodies, His wife ran
to her children's assistance. SAT her,
cudgel," said Uncle Curro; sat her,
and with willr' And the cudgel be-
labored the wife SO numerically that
she died of her injuries
The authorities being notified, the
aloalde, accompanied by his officers,
presented himself upon the scene.
"Cudgel, lay about you'll said Uncle
Curro, as soon as they appeared, and
the cudgel proceeded to deal such lusty
blows among them that every blow was
worth a dollar, so that the alcalde was
killed and the officers took to their
heels and were out of sight in a trioe.
A messenger was sent to the king to
inform him of what was going on, and
the king sent a regiment of grenadiers
to seize Uncle Curro and his cudgel.
No sooner did Uncle Curro see them
approach than. throwing the oudgel
among their ranks, he cried, "Cudgel,
lay about you'll" And the cudgel straight
way began to dance upon the ribs Of
the grenadiers, making noise like the
clapper of mill. One it left lame,
another with disabled arm, and the
captain it left blind of an eye. To make