The Batcher and the Friars.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3102, 26 September 1899, Page 6

The Batcher and the Friars.

There is a village between Niort and Rochefort, named Grip, belonging to the Count de Fols. One day two cordeliers earning from Niort arrived late at this place ; they obtained hospitality from a ■worthy butcher and his wife, who, having given them supper, put them to sleep In a chamber next their own. As the partition was cracked, the two friars put their ears to a chink ln order to know -what the butcher and his wife talked about in bed. It so happened that the butcher began to talk about business, and said, "My dear, I must get up to-morrow very early to look after our cordeliers ; one of them is so very fat that it Is time he should be killed and salted, for pork bears a bigh price in the market." The listeners, not aware that cordelier was in this part of (the co-_fetry a rant name for pigs, were terribly frightened. The elder of the two began to confess his sins to his companion ; but the younger proposed that they should make their escape by the window, and, opening it, sprang lightly to the ground. The fat monk attempted to follow, slipped, and so injured his leg that he could not stand, and, deserted by his friend, he sought some hiding place, but could find no shelter except in the pigsty, where he lay groaning the rest of the night. In the morning, the bu«*h«r, having sharpened his knife, went to the sty, accompanied by his wife and servants, and, opening the door, he exclaimed, " Come out, come out, my cordeliers, I must have black puddings for dinner to-day." The terrified monk jumped out, roaring for mercy, and the . no less terrified butcher threw himself upon his knees, demanding absolutionfor the sacrilege of mistaking for a, pig a follower of St. Francis. This scene of cross purposes lasted more than a quarter of an hour, but at length mutual explanations turned their fear into merriment. A troop of horses sent to the rescue by the fugitive brother came juat In time to share the joke, which fur- i nished laugh*tec^ fee ftU the qouatri J round. - — ■ — ~~r_ ~~~^ yA-yc- - :.. ;. -;. .y-y >\ —„-;■:??■-■■ -:,'>.- e>e..-^--;%&w^^^* t -^?i&?g___l