ST. PETER'S LODGE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14325, 15 October 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

ST. PETER'S LODGE.

(.By AnUmio dc.> Triloba).

A STORY FROM THU SPANISH.

[Antonio do Triloba, was one of tho most popular short story writers iu 'Spain during the latter part of tho nineteenth century, ami Jus tales axe still much read in that country, Ho was horn in ISl'I in Biscay, and from Ins native village he was sent to work in a. hardware shop belonging to a. relative in Madrid. Then lie became a journalist that lio might afterwards beconio a. man' of letters. His skill in giving expression to those experiences which transcend class distinctions not only gave liini great popularity, but endeared liiin to ilis peoplo, and gained him a lame ofton denied to greater writers.] I. XJncle Paci'.Hiuia was a poor old cobbler, who made an living by industriously plying, his uivl and pulling his hemp, day ajter day, iu u gateway of iUitirid. His nicKuaruo, "Uncle l'atieiice,' 1 had been bestowed upon him by his friends and neighbours Oecauao or the cheerful resiguation with which, during his whole lile, ho had endured the trials and the hard work assigned liim by his Maker. At the time when Absolutism ivas reestablished in Spain the reign of Ferdinand YHO ho was a youth of sixteen, but as innocent and inexperienced as a lad of eight; and having heard some one say that all men were born equal, he one day asked his master if this were true. "Nothing of the kind," answered the master, laughing heartily; "in Heaven only are all men equal; oil earth it is ditlerent." Tho boy accepted this as hual, and when somo well-to-do customer of the eobblery invited liis master to the neighbouring inn to take a. glass with him, the poor little apprentice said to himself: "It is a pity that all men are not equal 011 earth as they are in Heaven, for then this rich customer would make 110 distinction between 1110 and my master, and, like my master, I should bo invited to take a glass with him. But one must be patient; in Heaven all will share alike."

Two years later lie was conscripted; and, as a soldier in the ranks, he found more proof than ever before that all men were not equal on earth. Returning from the service of the King, and utilising the little he had learned of cobblery during his apprenticeship, he established himself in a corner of one • of the prominent gateways oi .Madrid. The gateway, whero he worked in his corner day after day, led to a building, on the first floor of which lived a Marquis, who would have caused him many a bitter quarter of an hour hecause of tho difference in their lots, if the Marquis had not been such a. genial, kindly, generous man, for the patient resigna~ tion in which he hud schooled himself; and, above all, because of the hope in his heart of some day meeting the Marquis in Heaven, and being" able to clap him on the shoulder and say: ''Friend Marquis, now* we are equals." But it was not the Marquis alone on the first floor who made him feel that all men were not equal on earth as they would be in Heaven; for even his most intimate friends claimed superiority over him. These friends were Mamcrto and Macario, men of good, honest character, without whom Paciencia felt that life would not be worth while. Mamerto was possessed with an all-consuming passion for the bull-ring, ami was, indeed, a great authority on all matters relating to it, so much so that when, during the reign of irfcrdmand VII., a school was established to teach the science of tho bull-ring (for it is indeed a science), he came very near being appointed as the chief instructor, which made him assume additional airs of superiority when with his old friend. Paciencia submitted to this, consoling himself with the thought that, even if -he and his beloved friends were not equals on earth, they would bo so in Heaven.

Maeario. tho other friend, was plain even to ugliness. In due course he married a very pretty girl, but she turned out to lie such a. vixen that it would have taken the Devil hhnaoJf to subdue her. Finally, alter twenty yearo of bickering, his wife was laid to rest, to the ill-concealed satisfaction of the rascal Macario, who soon became infatuated with another girl, as and rosy-cheeked as the first one had been, and shortly after married her, notwithstanding tho pleas and remonstrances of l'acicncia, who did his utmost to save his friend from this act of foolishness. As Paeieneia had never succeeded in winning the love of any woman, llacario, after his second conquest, felt himself vastly superior to his friend, and woidd have caused poor old Paeieneia much uulnippiness if lie had not continually kept before his mind that in Heaven they would be equal, even ;f they were not on earth. One day, so soorchingly hot that the birds drooped in their shaded nests, news came that there was to be a bullfight in' Getafe, a small town about eight miles .from. Madrid; and without a "moment's delay Mamecto set out on foot in tho heat of the diiy for the bulllight. Hut on the way home he was overcome with dizziness and fever, and in a few hours he had taken up his journey to the other world. The same day had been an cspccially trying one for old JMaeario because of his wife's ill-temper; for, though the lirst one had caused him much discomfort, the second one proved to be the worse. As for her, she was only too anxious to get him out of the way as soon as possible; and no sooner did she hear the news of Mamerto's death than she hurried with it to her husband ; and poor old Macario, overcome with terror at the suddenness of the news, and worn out with the constant discord and daily strife, stretched himself out on his bed and gave up the ghost. I have said that Paeieneia felt that ho could not live without his friends; for on them he lavished all his love and affection. The terrible news of the death of both of them struck him like a mortal blow at the heart; and that same night he joined his friends on the road to Heaven.

On the morning following the death of old Uncle Pacicncia and his two friends, the servant of the Marquis, in bringing Ins master his customary cup of chocolate, imprudently blurted out the news of the death of the old cobbler of the gateway and of his two friends, the day before. The Marquis was of a. timid and sympathetic nature, and the news struck him, too, as with a blow; moreover, there had boon Tumours of a cholera-plague in Madrid for some time past: and the fear of this and the shock of the news-so upset the Marquis that in a few hours lie, too, had closed his eyes in his last sleep.

11. Old Uncle Pacicncia set out on his journey to Heaven, sustained by the hope of eternal glory, and the sweeter hope of at last lmr.g in a world where all men were otrual, and of meeting there his friends Mii.merto mid'JJiicnrio] As to the hist ho had some doubts. To gob rid of this depression he hailed a, ixilestrian, and asked whether he had seen two men, of such and su.ch manner ami bearing, journeying towards 1| 1( . Hate ol Heaven. The man nodded affirmatively, and J'aciencia. continued along the road, contentedly liiiminiii" snatches of an old hymn, file mad to 1 leaven was very rough a.nd yerv du.sfy and journeying thither were only the poor, and those accustomed to' P>..,ir fatigue and overcome obstacles.

(lis reflections were suddenly interrupted by Ibe sight of a man rapidly approaching him, bellowing like a calf, tearing hi. s hair wildly, and giving other i s'Kiis of tho utmost desperation. Thus wan wau none other than JmA friend lUamorlo. Old Pacicncia's heart gave a great bound as ho hurried, forward to moot his friend. "Hut, man, wliut has ©oino to theo?" ho cried. "All, Paciencia, couldst but know what insult T. have endured I Tho old bruio of a gatekeeper h.-ks locked mo cut forever from Paradise." "Alamerto, friend, tell mo quickly; it must have been beeauso of thy ungodly passion for tho hull-light." And Mamorto spoke: "When J readied tho gates of Heaven 1 found a crowd of people waiting to laud over their passports to the other world. .1 he gatekeeper, a bald-headed >ld man with a. bunch of keys in on,, hand, looked thorn over very leisurely JiKl worried every one completely out of patience with a lot of foolish quosllllil3 - '• " s was • quite- natural, was anxious to got inside as soon a.s possible •uul . sokl to myself, ~f I wait on Rodman with his endless catechism, I.ace ~,,<! w-heu his back was turned, sf 1,,fill P by Inm. But on the insUnt he caught me hy the loft ear, and thought at liist he was about to give mo a prool oi hi.s affection a.s he Vid once given old .Alalchus, theser-int' [he High Pnest. Hut ] got loose from *»o the old iellow picked a quarrel iug'outT'' <leV !' Wh<m I,e ™ rond'o! Ihe IndWnV" J '''' d *°° . ."Quite right quite rbdit ' f ..,;,| ""to this man » W ™ - s I*> do''S-S"l^r cloffcfo r" et « gatekeeper turned fT " S tLo old «Kpi>«l throng t m ° J P ' ff! - l *'>.««ika to G«xl that r f fi S ' Vnig ■mttted to manage tso ,° C " Per«f luck would rave ft the old man t„/ , t ', lt oc< -'iirred to mg ° ' " a ot co "«o one was miss- ,,&'' Jl ° cried eerily, "and V 1 Ser ™ ° p ur >* is «'e ma. ones come from -> iff, ,fc , ls tho *« «l -veral musicians h ° BumnK *- tnd strong the'rnuJe And they"did TnTl th ° getting orervthim? h ; ii JOr iool > foi '- ti lf e migl^^"* buttto perchance solemnity : U to mo great "ever bo pardoneVby t C^ C on <J hearingT' a the° ke t0 bitte tlioJr wav P.,-' 0 " S01 " Bot!l ''on Heavr , 'T' l auen cia continuing toward to - ards hteadily on, his attention wis -rrowfully, his whole"deSour noting the most profound dejection Lpon my sou !" exclaimed Pacien<ia, ma j be doomed forever if this is not my old friend Macario " -\ud in truth it was he dee,'lv n'lovecl' 01 "' 5 Cmhra «* «'ently, , Z ncier " i *" jracario ■ Vvi'-fi "v 7 :lrt S«i»g, man?" to 1 leaven-' friend ' "- llere b^ MaS^st^f^* 0^" "Why SO?"

I "Jjccause the gatekeeper is the been T t: , Ol ?l CUI ' nUKlgeoll !t llas i be ™ I); f »"'d lucu to meet." And what has befallen thee? speak "Listen, and I'll tell thee. In company witn u number of others, I reached the Gates of Heaven, and we called 01 the gatekeeper to open. He appeared, bald-headed, with a bunch ofkevs m one hand, and asked ; " 'What do ye wish!-" /•'A nice question!' I answered; 'and wiia,.could we wish other than to enter elm Gates of Heaven?' '"Art married or single?' he then asked the man standing next to me " ■-Married,' he replied. " -Then enter and be at peace,' the old man said; -thou hast already done penance enough to gain the Kingdom ot Heaven;' and m walked my neighbour. " '• 'Good!' I said to myself; 'if having been but once married, he so richly deserves the Kingdom of Heaven, how much more do I, having been twice married deserve it I' aiK l made ready to sip through the gates after my neighbour. But quick as a flash the old gatekeper had me by the ear, saying: " '"Where goest thou?' " 'Man,' I cried, 'l'll make the a present ot my oar if thou desirest it; 1 nm about to enter the Gates of Heaven.' " 'Art married or single?' " -Twice married instead of once.' I replied impatiently. " 'Twice married?' he repeated. " 'Yes, twice.' "'Then off with thee into Limbo; there is no place in Heaven 'for such as thee.' ' 'And now thou findest me, dear Paciencia, on the road to Limbo." And the friends parted, each going his way. As ho neared the Gates of Heaven, old Paeieneia determined to keep all his wits about him: for the things he had heard made him feel that thequerulous old gatekeeper was enough to intimidate the bravest. Step by step lie covered the distance. At last he reached the. gates, and found no one. He knocked timidly. An old man without a single hair on his head opened a little window to one side and asked : "What wouldst thou?"

"Good day, senor," answered old 1 aciencia humbly. "How is your most honourable health?" "Good—very good," answered the old man, "but what desirest thou?' 1 "And your children, and all your honourable relations, they too are well" went on Paciencia. "Man art bereft of thy wits? What desirest thou?" "Pardon, senor, I beg permission to enter the gates."" "Sit down on yonder bench until moro shall join thee. I cannot bo bothered unlocking this heavy gate for every separate one who conies along " "Very good, senor; thy pardon for disturbing thee," said Pacicncia. "Thou art pardoned," said the'gatekeeper, withdrawing his head and shutaing the window. "Tie certainly is a. crotchety old gentleman," said Paciencia to himself seating as directed. "He calls it to bo bothered, when one conies to him as wo have been commanded by God himself! Hut, with all his grufTness, he is a. saint and one must be patient." ' To pass the time more pleasantly Paciencia commenced to roll himself'a' c'garette, when he was startled by a terrific knocking, and. raising his head whom should he se? but his old neigh- I

buur ui' the lirsf floor, tJiu Marquis. "What mow?" said tliu voice oi ; the old man within iho gates. "What barbarian thus announces himself?" "llw Excellency tlio Marquis of I'clusilla-, Grandee of Spain, and a Gentleman of tho Court, of Her Gracious jMajcsty tlio Queen!" At once tlio gatekeeper threw tho gates uuli) open, at tlio .same timo bending so low that ho was in danger of breaking his spine, exclaiming: "A thousand pardons; Your JCxcclloncy, that 1 have Jiept you waiting. I had no knowledge that so great an honour was to lie bestowed upon ua here Enter, Your Kxcelioney, Sonor do Marquis, that tho danco may begin, and the sweet voices join in salutation to welcome tho richest, the most worthy and tlio most illustrious gentleman 0 f Spaml" And in truth, the whole heavens were .ablaze with light. '.Rockets whizzed through the air in every direction, banners iloated in tho breeze, hundred* ol voices were raised in songs of welcome, while virgins in snow-white, raiment scattered tlowcrs in his pathway. Kven the crotchety old gatekeeper, hopped and skipped as gaily as hia rheumatic joints would permit, and cried: "Now, blessed ho His Holiness the Pope: to-day is the day u.f days I" Again old Paciencia was left alone, and right bitterly ho spoke: "To what end have 1 slaved all my life; to what end have i. cheerfully endured injustice, slight and insult, when, now that I have reached the Gate of Heaven, a greater insult than any 1 endured on earth is put upon me!" Tho noise of an opening windowbroke in upon Pareunia's mournful soliloquy, and the head of the gatekeeper was thrust through it. "Hello!" exclaimed he, on seeing Paciencia, "what now, my good man, what wouldst thou ?" "Sonor," answered Paciencia, "I wait—" "Yes, yes, to be sure, 1 had quite forgotten thee. But, man, why didst hot call upon me?" "Oh," answered Paciencia, "I am nothing but a poor cobbler." ".Eh I what of that? In heaveo all men aro equal." "Is that indeed true?" asked Paciencia, his heart giving a great throb. "True indeed. Come in, my good man."

The gate opened, not wide, as when the Marquis had entered, but just enough to permit a man to slip in. Onco within, Paciencia glanced about him, not able to conceal his disappointment : no rockets blazed in the sky, no sweet voices were lifted in salutation, no maidens threw flowers at hia feet. Tho gatekeeper, seeing that something was wrong, said: "Como man, what aileth. Thee? Thou art as gloomy aa all the monks of Franco." "Didst not tell me that in Heaven all men are equal? asked Paciencia, scornfully. "Aye, that I did." "But when the Marquis entered, the bells rang out, the^—" "Man, man!" interrupted the gatekeeper, "what nonsense is this?" Hast not read in tho Holy Scripture that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?" "Nay, Senor, for I know not how to read." "Then know now that so reads tho Gospel. Cobblers, tinsmiths, blacksmiths, labourers, of all kinds, and beggars galore, come to us at all times and at all seasons: but centuries pass before a Grand Seigneur such as he who to-day entered tlio Gate of Heaven knocks for admittance. And when such a one comes, we are ready to stand on our heads for joy." Paciencia now pushed aside the little wooden gate before which he stood, and. overcome with joy. bent his kneej stretching out his arms towards the Almighty on hi.s throne, erring: "Blessed be the Lo-d of Hosts, who Eivpth peace everlasting to those who have suffered on earth!"