CHAPTER 15

The Priest, the Servant Boy, and the Child Jesus.

There was once a priest who had for his servant a very good boy.  One day the padre wanted the boy, and, after looking everywhere for him, went to church.  Opening the door quietly, he looked in and there he saw that the statue of the child Jesus had left its shrine and was down on the floor talking and playing with the boy.  The priest slipped softly away and ordered a very fine dinner cooked for the lad.  When the boy returned to the convent, the padre asked him where he had been.  “I have been down to the church playing with a friend.”  “Very well, there is your dinner.  If you play with your friend again, ask him if I shall go to glory in heaven when I am dead.”  The boy took his dinner to the church and ate, sharing it With the child Jesus.

“Tell me, friend,” said he to his heavenly companion, “will my master, the priest, go to glory in heaven?”

“No,” said the child Jesus, “because he has neglected his father and mother.”  When the boy carried these words to the priest he became very sad, and asked the lad to inquire whether he might atone for his wrong by doing good to other old people.  “No,” came the answer.  “It must be his father and mother who shall receive their dues, and it may be that he shall enter heaven alive.”

So the priest sent for his poor old father and mother, and lavished on them every care, suffering no one else to do the least thing for them.  At last the old people died, and the priest was very sad.  Then one night, as he slept, came soft and very beautiful music around about and within the convent, and the boy awoke the priest to listen.  “Oh,” said the padre, “it is perhaps the angels come to carry us alive to heaven.”  And it was so.  The angels carried the boy and the priest, his master, to be in glory in heaven.

CHAPTER 16

The Story of Juan del Mundo de Austria and the Princess Maria.

There was once a king who had three very beautiful daughters, Princess Clara, Princess Catalina, and Princess Maria.

This king was sick for a long time with a dreadful disease, and although he spent much money on medicines and doctors he was only worse instead of better.

At last he sent word to all his people proclaiming that whoever would cure him might have one of the princesses to marry.

After several days one of the heralds returned, saying he had met a snake who inquired if the king would give his daughter to a snake to wife if he were cured.  The king called his daughters and asked if they would be willing to marry a snake.

Said Princess Clara, “I will be stung by a snake till I am dead before I give my virginity to a snake.”  Said Princess Catalina, “I may be beaten to death with sticks, but I will not give my virginity to a snake.”  Said Princess Maria, “Father, so you be but well, I care not what becomes of me.  If a snake can cure you, I am willing to marry him.”