IN THE LIBRARY

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1933, Page 7

IN THE LIBRARY

MEDIAEVAL STORY-TELLERS. It is not good, in tire multitude of new —over-new, one sometimes thinks —books of every kind which pour from the presses, to forget some of the gems of the middle ages which have escaped the fate of so many and come down to us. There were wonderfully clever story-tellers among the old minstrels, jongleurs and wandering amusers of ages which, if often hard and callous, were certainly less hurried than these. It is true these narrators tended at times to coarseness, and that has turned some readers away from them wholly, which assuredly is a pity, for their wittihess, often real cleverness, their keen and barbed shrewdness, their geniality and kindliness, as well as a not infrequent rugged poetry—not necessarily the rhyme and the lilt of graceful words, but th» poetry of unapt and gracious thought, well decked and nobly presented—all these are attributes which deserve to make them welcome.

Those centuries, known to us as the “dark ages,” had not a superabundance of pleasures, but such as were available were properly enjoyed, just as children rejoice in their gaieties, taking them as they come, and by their means forgetting both past and future in the present. The village dance, the travelling minstrel, the juggler at the fair, the pilgrim journeying to and from some distant sacred shrine, with storiwj, not always too true to actual happenings, opened the eyes and tickled the ears alike of townsman and rustic. Such wanderers were almost always sur(e of a ready welcome and good entertainment for the body, and especially if they wended along by-ways and among villages and hamlets distant, more or less, from the great roads from one large city to another. '

These rolling stones, if they gathered no moss, stored up a wealth of merry conversation, and polished their anecdotes and stories as they related them again and again to audiences so far scattered one frdm another that there was little risk that any would complain that they were hearing an oft told tale. Story or song, poem or jest, they ever strove—having both time and opportunity to do so—to make them clearer, more arresting, andmore capable of arousing the quick, spontaneous and hearty laugh. Possessing no money, or at least but little, their wealth was stored in the mind, and they saw to it that this mental coin was as bright and fresh as it was within their power to make it. Not only did payment but seldomtake the form of minted bronze or silver, but they were well content to find full satisfaction in the n'oisy and hearty applause that a pleasing effort was sure to evoke, and in the snug corner by the fire, the warm, sweet hay of a dry loft, and the full tankard and trencher on • the board before them.

They had no subtle audience to win, but, for the most partj ; one not lacking in a certain shrewdness, and quick to note effective tiltings at well-ap-preciated ills, or the evil traits of greedy selfish or tyrannous men in jjower or place. Much they loved to see the biter bit, or the over-clever caught by one more shrewd than himself. It may well be that they seemed to perceive in this the return they would have liked to make to some untouchable, some brutal bully who had ridden over them rough-shod, and yet whom they could not with safety retaliate upon. Perhaps there was never a better or a neater story told to illustrate to what degree covetousness . and envy may lead, than this, no doubt familiar to many readers, yet, - may be, forgot--ten until recalled, which is generally known as

The Covetous Man and the Envious , Man. Once upon a time, more than one hundred years ago, there lived two companions, who spent their days together very evilly. The one of these comrades was so brimmed with envy, that you might find no heart so rank with the gall of bitterness. The other was so filled with covetousness, that nothing sufficed of all that 5 Could be given to him. Now covetousness is so foul a vice, that often she bringeth many men to shame. Covetousness lendeth out her money 14)011 usury, and deceiveth with her balances, so that he who lendeth may have the greater gain. But envy is the worser sin, since she grudges joy to others, and is desirous of all the wealth of all the world. On a day the envious man and the covetous man were about their business together, and they came upon St. Martin walking in the fields. But the saint had been but a little space in their company when he perceived very clearly the evil desires that were rooted in the hidden places of their hearts. Thus they fared till they lighted on two beaten paths, one going this way, and the other that, and a chapel stood between the way 4. There &t. Martin stayed bis steps, and beckoned to these evil minded men, “Lords,’ * said he, “I take this path to the right that I may enter within the church. I am St. Martin, who bestowed his cloak on the beggar, and that you may always keep, in mind this meeting I will give, in turn, to each of you a gift. He who makes known to me his prayer shall have his desire granted forthwith. But to him

[BY “THE BOOK-MAN’.' 1 ]

who refrains from words, straightway shall be given twice as much as is bestowed upon his fellow.’' So when St. Martin was gone,’the covetous man considered within himself that if he left his companion to require a gift, he would receive twice as much as him, and sweetly enjoy a double gain. “Make your prayer, fair fellow, to the holy saint,” said he, “for very surely you will receive of him all that you may - ask,' Ask largely of him, for he will largely give. If you go prudently . about the matter you will be wealthy all your life." But ho whose,heart, was Atith venom ’and envy dared -ndt fto ask according to his desire, for reason that he feared to die of. grief and malice that his comrade’s portion should be larger than his. TJhua for a great while they kept their ; tongue* from speech, turning the business over, this way and that. ' ' i'; *

“Wait no longer, lest a mischief ..befall you,” cried at last the covetous man. “Yea you or nay you, I must have the double of your share, for all your cunning and caution. Ask, or I will beat you more grievously than ever was beaten donkey at . ‘ ‘ Sire, t ' answered the envious'man, "‘pray I will, since it is better jfcjo-re-ceive a gift than stripes.’ If I of the saint, money or houses or very surely'will you receive 6i " fair bounty twice that he giveth to me. But, so I am able, of all these shall you get nothing. Holy St. Martin, I pray and require of yourT clemency that I may lose, one of rao that my fellow may lose both e£ his,thus shall he bo pained : atfd -grieved in double measure?' •' . ' a,' :

Very careful was the saint to bbserve his covenant, and pf four ey;eß these comrades lost three, since, the W' envious man became one-eyed, antt .'the ( covetous man a poor blind ’j'beggja.r. h Thus these fair friends were their gain. But sorrow m^y. he ;hbls who lets his heart be troubled by t,hb& ‘vfy wretched plight, for these men were not of sterling gold, but of false alloy. '

NOT OF GENNBSAHETH.

A very interesting-book has come to hand from Mr A. K. Heed, publisher, of Dunedin and Wellington. ■ It is entitled “Not of Gennesareth ” and is written by Miss A, M. D. Dinneen, 8.A., who was for some years a C,H& missionary in China. " Apart from the light it throws upofi missionary work, the book supplies much reliable information relative- to the life; and social customs/of-the higher grades;of Chinese society; this; "constitutes its chief charm und interest story also serves to provide muehi in,v formation about the internal heavals which have, r’ent brought misery .and ruin' ’ to . homes where previously, peace r ,i£nd;, plenty were the order. ‘.‘Not of Gen* nesaretiif’ is assured of a' Wide public, especially among those'who are inter> estod in the missionary societies which, have done so much for the Chinese people. Archbishop Averill,. in a ,fere ; word, says: “I have ornuch pleasure in commending the book to the Christian public generally, and to all who value the first-handi experience of one ;WhO for many years shared the joys and; the sorrows of the Chinese in their own. land.”. . . - : ,;-r