MONKISH CUPIDITY FRUSTRATED.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1524, 26 March 1886, Page 4

MONKISH CUPIDITY FRUSTRATED.

A certain Franciscan Monk, a passionate gambler, lived at Huancayo. By his friendly offices he had become a favourite among the Indians, to whom he often applied when in want of money. One day, when be had suffered losses at the hazard-table, he begged of an Indian who was his relative, to help him out of his poverty. The Indian promised astistance to him on the following evening, and arrived punctually at the appointed time with a bagful of silver ore for the monk. The process waa repeated several times, until the still needy monk earnestly prayed that he might be favoured with a view of the source from which his wants had been so often supplied. This request also was granted by the friendly relative; and accordingly, on the appointed night, three Indians came to the house of the Franciscan, desired that he would allow them to bandage his eyes, and he, assenting, carried him away on their shoulders, some miles among tho mountains.

There they lifted him down, conducted him down a shaft of little depth, and displsyed to him a rich and shilling vein of silver. When he had amply feasted bis sight, and had taken ore enough for his present necessities, bis eyes were again bandaged, and he was carried home on the shoulders of his guides. On the road he slowly untied his rosary, and dropped a bead here and there, that he might have a clue to the mine. Arrived at home, he lay down to rest, in the comfortable hope of exploring the path to wealth on the following day; but in the course of about two hours the Indian, his relative, came to the door, with bis hand full of beads. 11 Father," said he, as he gave them to the monk, "you lost your rosary on the road."