Evening star., 1928-02-22
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
PERU'S SOLUTION
BY ANTONIO DE TRUEBA.

Spauish novelist and story writer. He pub
lshed number Of collections OF shorter
tales which delighted his readers every
where
Once upon a time in the village of
Abadiano. in Spain. there was farmer
whose name was Chomin. This man
had made great fortune because Of his
devotion to a great number Of both
male and female saints.
When Choulin was first married all
he had was a wife and his dog. Then
he had the happy thought of making
everlasting family saints out of st.
ISidro. patron saint of farmers: St.
Antonio. patron saint OF animals: St.
Lucia. protector of good eyesight: st.
Barbara. who would keep away tflun-
derbolts and the terrible swift light
ming. and other saints too numerous to
mention. Every night he offered up
20 each Of these saints his or her proper
Pater NoSter and Ave Maria.
This must have accounted for 1t all,
for soon after this it seems as though
Chom!n struck mine of wealth. From
that moment, indeed. he began 10
prosper. so that in a few years his was
the best house and the best farm IN
all the district OF Gaztelua.
Not even a headache was ever found
in the house Of Chorin. Wheat round
about usually produced sixteen bushels
for every bushel sown-Choniin'S wheat
produced twenty-four TO the bushei.
Corn, which IS usually in the ratio OF
thirty to one. produced forty for
Chomin. No. a single one Of Chomin's
cattle ever died or was sick. though he
had many. And II there came a severe
thunderstorm it always seemed as
though the lightning was careful never
~
Chomin.
Chomin had servant whose name
was Peru. In fact. Chomin had PROM
!Sed Peru the hand OF his daughter.
Mari-Pepa, whom Peru loved very
much. Nor was Peru to be blamed. for
this was the prettiest girl tina. came
to dance every Sunday in the Market
place Of Abadiano.
Never was there man more honest
or u worker more industrious than Peru
but his memory was not good and he
was not so very intelligent. Stories
were told about him. and one tale had
1t that when Chomin ordered Peru to 60
10 San Antonio de UrQuiola and kiss
the saint for him. Peru made the mis-
take-through bad memory, no doubt
OF kissing the saints pig, which IS al
ways with him
Even so, If Peru was IN love with
Mari-Pera, she was Still more III love
with him That IS very like woman.
though. She may dislike a man for
being poor. ugly. or wicked-but she will
never care how stupid he Is Il he loves
her.
One night-it was the eve Of St
JameS-after the whole family had paid
their respects TO their saints. Chomin
said 10 Peru:
Listen, Tomorrow the fair Of
BaSurto begins. and I must so 20 buy
pair OF hullocks. SO that when YOU
and Mari-Pepa set married YOU will
nave y good yoke Of oxen. II Is al
ready time 10 think Of setting you two
properly for marriage
Peru and Maripera biuShed as red
as cherries. and looked at each other
with happiness dancing i'll their eyes.
Il shall be gone at least two days"
Shomin went On. for won't come
back Till secure n pair tha, will be
the pride OF the countryside. Mean
while. Peru. you must take my place
at evening prayers. and b. careful
not 10 forget All extra pater NoS:e-
ana Ave Maria for each cf the saints
who protect uS"
Don't worry about II at ALL" said
Peru Il shall no; forget single one"
I hope, said Cisomin. that you
wont forget, Peru. because We owe then,
all great deal Let ME hear II YOU
know them all by heart. though. rirSt."
So Peru reeited the names quite
to Chonin'S satisfaction. The farmer
assured Peru that II he forgot one, he
would never marry Mari-pepa. and he
warned him, Furthermore. that II he
forgot any his neglect would Mmn,ed,-
ately be discovered by some disaster
happening within ChoninS domains.
The next morning Chomin departed
Tor the fair. satisfied that rSru would
keep his trust we'll and iorget none cs
the required devetionS. Hadn't Peru
reeited them all correctlys And he
knew he could depend upon the ioyalty
OF Peru. especially since the hand ct
Mari-Pepa hung IN the balance.
Poor Peru took the burden uyson
himself with the best Intentions in the
World, but he VAS man that knew
his own ShostcoM,nsS, He Mas much
frightened by the possibility of kS>ins
Mari-pepa, and he raeked his brain
~ find some certain way " rcnetater~
ing all the saints without even the
tinieSt omission. lie ceuld think pt
nothing after all his efforts. And the
matter was really SeNouS, AS Peru rN~
plasned to hinSell;
II know all their names as wei, as
"N kSttNN Wv tIiStN IN Stk4i u cslAllf&
that might forget AN Ave Maria
Without intenams 10 do >N 1T all
There are twenty-five saints besides
the Virgin. and hew can help IL
Ii ! fun an Ave Maria Shorts And thsre
will he the end ct my marrying Mari |
fspa, That woald hardly do. ter IL
would not he easy to md another eirl
like her~~and besides We woult.nt seg
ChvmsnS house and the yoke ct cNea
and all the furniture and ATTY dueatS /.
tar the eoWyy"
As evening came cn every one WAS
dancing In the village to the music
M the tanholrine everyone e>repg I
trrn and Masisrel@, kSru MAS sitting !
Ia the midst W S>>ne hrainele h,lSheS !
that oee,t,s,kea the village trelu 4 gentle !
slope, Mari-tepa. e. hs sure, VAS in !
the market place teeAtns a. rgetty a. .
ever, but SHE refused tc dance t<N'auSe |
She knew the deNrairsns state es n,lnd /
fetu Mas In
Suddenly ser0 ieaiseA w With great |
Gay " lW, lie taigS IteW down the /