Rambles in sunny Spain . on of spinsters, for whom he kindly procures hus-bands when they desire a woman wishes hisaid, she throws an image ofthe saint to the bottom of awell, and tells him to staythere till he has got her ahusband. Many of the people have great faith in the storiesof the saints, and in theirability to help them. Many,again, live in poverty to pur-chase masses for their souls inpurgatory. Philip IV. orderedthat one hundred thousandmasses should be offered forhim after death, to take himthrough purgatory; if heceased to require them, thenfor his parents, and after the
Rambles in sunny Spain . on of spinsters, for whom he kindly procures hus-bands when they desire a woman wishes hisaid, she throws an image ofthe saint to the bottom of awell, and tells him to staythere till he has got her ahusband. Many of the people have great faith in the storiesof the saints, and in theirability to help them. Many,again, live in poverty to pur-chase masses for their souls inpurgatory. Philip IV. orderedthat one hundred thousandmasses should be offered forhim after death, to take himthrough purgatory; if heceased to require them, thenfor his parents, and after theyhad ascended into heaven, forthose who had been slain inthe wars of Spain. It is related that the Countde Villa Medina once gave a piece of gold valued at four dollars toa monk who, when he received it, exclaimed, Ah ! that releases asoul from purgatory. He gave him another piece of gold, andanother, and another, every one of which, the monk declared, re-leased a soul from purgatory. Where are they now ? said the O-^ !3 H R. P1SAM. 64 RAMBLES IN SUNNY SPAIN. Safe inheaven, every one. Are you sure ? Yes; quite sure. Then, said the count, give me back my money, for once safein heaven they can never return. But the monk kept the money. Next to the priest, the escribano (or public letter-writer) is held inhigh estimation by many of the ignorant. This man can sometimesbe seen on the corners of the streets or beneath a corridor with atable and inkhorn, ready to write letters for any one needing hisservices. It is said that his chief employment is in writing love-letters for senoritas as well as men; and about him the followinglines are written, referring especially to his goose-quill pen : — Pajaros con muchas plumas,No se pueden mantener;Los escribanos con unaMantienen mozo y muger. Birds with many feathersHardly keep alive;With one plume the writerMaintains cook and wife. These specimens of Spanish doggerel are given in their own lan-guage, because they teach us so much
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Keywords: ., bookauthoroberfred, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookyear1889
