A TALE FOR THE TINIES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20510, 28 May 1938, Page 25 (Supplement)

A TALE FOR THE TINIES

PERO’S THREE WIBHEB

Every country has its own folklore tales —stories that for generation after generation are told by fathers and mothers to their little ones. With the passing of the years the stories change in minor details, but the main part of the tale remains the sameOften we find the same story-idea in all countries of the world, each country having its own version. There is no doubt that the story has spread from one nation lo another, the various changes being made to adapt it to local conditions. One of the most world-wide storyideas is that of the man wh-o had IhrcQ magic wishes. Perhaps you have heard many of them, but here is that of Sicily, the island in the .Mediterranean. There was once an orphan named Peru, who set out at the age of 14 to make his fortune. On his way he met a poor man, who begged him for money to buy food. Pero was a kindhearted lad, and he readily gave the starving man all 1 lie money he had. The beggar was really a magician in disguise, and upon seeing what a good, kind-hearted lad Pero was he told him that lie could have three magic wishes. Pero thought hard for a moment, then wished for a violin that would make everyone dance, a gun that could never miss, and the gift of speech so that no one could refuse him anything. The Magician granted Pero his wishes, and off he went. Soon he came to a farm, and seeing a pheasant flying over head he tested his magic gun. but before Pero could pick it up the farmer appeared on the scene and claimed the bird. "You can have it It you like to

dance for it,” said Pero, striking up a merry tune on his violin. To and fro capered the fat farmer, till ho was quite out of breath. He wanted lo stop, but Pero, with a smile, fiddled on, and for the life of him the poor man eould do nought but dance. “Stop, stop,” lie begged, “and I’ll give you a thousand crowns.” Pero took the money, but as soon as his back was turned the farmer ran to the magistrate and denounced Pero a 6 a thief. Pero was arrested, tried, and found guilty. There was little mercy shown to thieves in Sicily in those days, as the hills contained whole bands of brigands, and tiie police were at their wits’ end. Pero was condemned to be hung, but as the hangman placed the rope around his neck Pero asked, as a last favour to he allowed to play one tune on his violin. “Don’t let him have the violin,” screamed the farmer, who was present. But Pero’s gift of magic speech had done its work, and the magistrate found himself granting his wish- Pero played on his violin, and soon the magistrate, the farmer, the police, and all the onlookers were dancing like dervishes. They danced till they were red in the face, till their boots were worn out and the soles flew off. Still Pero played on. At last the magistrate promised Pero he could go free if he would only stop playing. Our hero then came down from the scaffold, picked up his gun. his thousand crowns, and his violin, and returned to his native village. There, having the gift of *peech. he won the hand of the prlettiest girl in marriage, and lived happily eve* ait as.