The Gifts of Different Nations.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 59, 19 July 1884, Page 5

The Gifts of Different Nations.

One day the bon Dieu, as the French say, rose in a good humour as to creation in general, and especially so as to this earthly planet. So He called together the patron saint of each country, in order to confer some favour upon each. First appeared St. George, glistening in silver armour, feathers, helmet, dragon, and lance complete, and stands before Him. 11 What do you desire for your lands ?" asks le bon Dieu. " Speak !it is possible I may grant it." " I want," replied St. George, reverently, uncovering and displaying a mane of golden hair, amazing to behold, " the finest navy in the world." "Granted," says the bon Dieu; upon which St. George, replacing his helmet, collects his mise- en-scene and retires. Next comes St. Louis, eldest son of the Church, and of undoubted sanctity. "What do you ask tot la belle France?" is the question ; upon which St. Louis, kneeling— which fiery St. George forgot to do— answers : " The bravest army that ever marched to battle." •' Granted, ' is the reply ; upon which exit St. Louid, to make way for St. Joseph, patron of Italy, who, in reply to the same question, expresses— with the courtesy proper to his nation— his wish to possess the "Empire of Art." St. Andrew asks for Scotland corn, being a cold poor country ; St. Patrick for Ireland, that no poisonous serpent or reptile should ever trouble the soil. "Granted, granted," cries the bon Dieu, dismissing the whole army of martyrs with a nod. But suddenly looking round and observing that one guardian saint is missing, " Where," he demands," is that lazy Spaniard, St. James ? What a fellow is that ! always putting off everything to mamma (to-morrow). Where is Santiago ?" Suddonly a great noise is heard of horses' hoofs clattering through the courts of heaven— for St. James, being always late, invariably travels on horseback — and the patron of Spain gallops in. " What does 'my good St. James want?" asks the bon Dieu, smiling at the haste with which the saint precipitates himself from his saddle, and hastens toward the throne. "I desire," cries St. James, prostrating himself on the clouds (for, of course, all this takes place in heaven, and St. James is the most devoted of all the patron saints which rule over Europe), " for my beloved Spain that we should be the wittiest of nations." "Granted." " And," adds St. James, seeing that the bon Dieu is in the best of tempers, "that our women should be the most beautiful." "Hum, hum ! Too much for one nation; nevertheless, for your sake, Santiago, who are such a good and pious knight, I will say granted for wit and beanty." Upon which St. Jame^, rising, and making a series o the mostprofound obeisances, was just about to depart, when he suddenly stopped and turned round : "I forgot to say I also wanted to ask for the best Government. " " Now, this is too much !" exclaimed the bon ZU'cM.exaspprated at his urgency. "To all the other saints I have only granted one wish ; you have already two. To punish you, I declare that Spain shall never have any Government at all." — "Diary of an Idle Woman in Spain," by Frances Elliot.