Evening star., 1927-11-22
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE FALCON
BY B0CCACCIO

| with a napkin of snowy whiteness,
| faint reminder OF his former splendor
| and they all sat down to a delicious
meal OF roast fowl. After the meal
it seemed TO the lady that the time
had come to make known the object
of her visit
IF YOU recall my former coldness. "
she said. II don't doubt that you Will
think me presumptuous in the request
| am about to make. But If you
knew the strength of n parent S
affection. YOU could not blame me.
Nv son has seen your favorite falcon.
which is now your only bird, and he
languishes in sickness out of his great
desire for II. / came today to ask
that bird as gift to my son, which
| verify believe will save his life"
FEDERICO, being an emotional and
tender hearted man, began to weep
and lament pitifully a these words.
Monna Giovanna thought that this
must mean unwillingness To part
with the falcon, and prepared 10
make the best Of her disappointment.
Since the hour. most honored lady,
when | first fixed by affection on
you" said FEDERICO, Il have always
found Fortune most cruel 10 me. But
all her blows ] consider light in COM
dealt me. seeing that you have con
descended to visit my house, which
when | was rich YOU would not deign
TO enter, and entreat me for so small
cift. For Fortune has contrived
so that it is not in my power to grant
your request, as | shall explain to
YOU briefly.
when YOU informed me that YOU
meant to honor me with your COM
pany at dinner, considering your
rank, and that it was only proper
that I should pay YOU due honor by
procuring every delicacy in my power,
as is becoming on such occasions, and
recollecting the falcon which you now
request Of me. and its many excel
lent qualities, including being fat and
likely to be tender. | considered it
dish not unworthy to be placed be-
fore YOU. I, therefore, this morning
served up that falcon, roasted at din
ner. a thing which Al the time |
considered most fortunate, but, find
ing now that you wish 10 possess the
falcon alive for your sick son. my
inability to crafty you erieves me so
far that l think l shall never know
happiness more
In confirmation of his words. Fed
erieo produced the feathers and beak
and talons of the poor bird. Monna
Giovanna rebuked him for killing so
fine a falcon for lady's dinner. and
at the same time she commended him
in he" own heart for his generosity.
Having lost all chance Of getting
the falcon, and despairing of her son $
recovery, she thanked FEDERICO and
departed. Her son. either through
pining for the falcon. or because his
sickness was made critical by his dis
appointment, soon afterward died, to
the great grief of his mother. For
some time she lived in sorrow and
mourning, until her brothers, hoping
to revive her spirits, suggested that
she marry again.
This Monna Giovanna did not want
to do, but her brothers prevailed
upon her. until finally she said: "Ill
marry willingly if you wish it. but
as she remembered Federigo's gen.
erosity with his only falcon-"the
only man I could marry is FEDERICO" "
Her brothers. smiling, replied:
what folly is this? Would you
marry a beggar?"
Brothers" she answered ''I choose
rather a man that hath need of
wealth, than wealth that hath need
of a man."
The brothers, seeing her determina-
ton, and knowing the real worth Of
FEDERICO, bestowed their sister on him
with all her fortune. FEDERICO thus
found himself united to the beauti-
full lady whom he had long dearly
loved, and passed the remainder Of
| his days in peace and happiness.