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ADVENTURES Of A NEW-YEAR'S EVE…… BY HEINRICH ZSCHOKKE
From "Tales from the German of Paul Heyse"
The day had scarcely dawned. Over Vesuvius hung one broad gray stripeof mist, stretching across as far as Naples, and darkening all thesmall towns along the coast. The sea lay calm. Along the shore of thenarrow creek that lies beneath the Sorrento cliffs, fishermen and theirwives were at work already, some with giant cables drawing their boatsto land, with the nets that had been cast the night before, whileothers were rigging their craft, trimming the sails, or fetching outoars and masts from the great grated vaults that have been built deepinto the rocks for shelter to the tackle overnight. Nowhere an idlehand; even the very aged, who had long given up going to sea, fell intothe long chain of those who were hauling in the nets. Here and there,on some flat housetop, an old woman stood and spun, or busied herselfabout her grandchildren, whom their mother had left to help her husband.
"Do you see, Rachela? yonder is our padre curato," said one to a littlething of ten, who brandished a small spindle by her side; "Antonio isto row him over to Capri. Madre Santissima! but the reverend signore'seyes are dull with sleep!" and she waved her hand to abenevolent-looking little priest, who was settling himself in the boat,and spreading out upon the bench his carefully tucked-up skirts.
The men upon the quay had dropped their work to see their pastor off,who bowed and nodded kindly, right and left.
"What for must he go to Capri, granny?" asked the child. "Have thepeople there no priest of their own, that they must borrow ours?"
"Silly thing!" returned the granny. "Priests they have in plenty—andthe most beautiful of churches, and a hermit too, which is more than wehave. But there lives a great signora, who once lived here; she was sovery ill! Many's the time our padre had to go and take the Most Holy toher, when they thought she could not live the night. But with theBlessed Virgin's help she got strong and well, and was able to batheevery day in the sea. When she went away, she left a fine heap ofducats behind her for our church, and for the poor; and she would notgo, they say, until our padre promised to go and see her over there,that she might confess to him as before. It is quite wonderful, thestore she lays by him! Indeed, and we have cause to bless ourselves forhaving a curato who has gifts enough for an archbishop, and is in suchrequest with all the great folks. The Madonna be with him!" she cried,and waved her hand again, as the boat was about to put from shore.
"Are we to have fair weather, my son?" inquired the little priest, withan anxious look toward Naples.
"The sun is not yet up," the young man answered; "when he comes, hewill easily do for that small trifle of mist."
"Off with you,