Page:A narrative of travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro.djvu/300

 268 TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. [June,

and two very lively daughters. Our conversation turned upon the shortness and uncertainty of life ; which the old woman illustrated by a tale, which seemed to be another version of the "three warnings."

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" A man and his wife were conversing together, and remark- ing on the unpleasantness of being subject to death. • I should like to make friends with Death, some way,' said the man ; ' then perhaps he will not trouble me.' ' That you can easily do,' said his wife ; ' invite him to be padrinho (godfather) to our little boy, who is to be baptized next week ; you will then be able to talk to him on the subject, and he will surely not be able to refuse a slight favour to his " compadre." So he was invited accordingly, and came ; and after the ceremony and the feast were over, as he was going away, the man said to him, ' Compadre Death, as there are plenty of people in the world for you to take, I hope you will never come for me.' ' Really, Compadre,' replied Death, ' I cannot promise you that, for when God sends me for anybody I must go. How- ever, I will do all I can, and I will at all events promise you a week's notice, that you may have time to prepare yourself.' Several years passed on, and Death at last came to pay them a visit. ' Good-evening, Compadre,' says he, ' I'm come on a disagreeable business : I have received orders to fetch you this day week, so I'm come to give you the notice I promised you.' ' Oh ! Compadre,' said the man, ' you're come very soon ; it's exceedingly inconvenient for me to go just now, I'm getting on very nicely, and shall be a rich man in a few years, if you will but let me alone : it's very unkind of you, Com- padre ; I'm sure you can arrange it if you like, and take some one else instead of me.' ' Very sorry,' said Death, ' but it can't be done, nohow : I've got my orders, and I must obey them. Nobody ever gets off when the order's once given, and very few get so long a notice as I've been able to give you. However, I'll try all I can, and if I succeed, you won't see me this day week; but I don't think there's any hope, — so good- bye.'

" When the day came, the man was in a great fright, for he did not expect to escape ; his wife, however, hit upon a plan, which they resolved to try. They had an old Negro man in the house, who used to be generally employed in the kitchen. They made him exchange clothes with his master, and sent