Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/63



A peasant proprietor  had  lost  all  that  he  possessed through a fire. Hayricks and  barns  were  burned down, and  as  nothing  was  insured,  the  man  was  reduced to  beggary. One day  by  his  wife’s  advice  he went  to  ask  help  from  a nobleman  who  had  a mansion in  the  vicinity  and  who  was  known  to  be  very liberal toward  the  poor. The man  intended  to  tell him of  the  misfortune  that  had  befallen  him,  and  ask for an  alms. But when  he  got  near  the  house,  an  unaccountable timidity  took  possession  of  him. He felt shy of  entering  the  prince’s  presence,  not  knowing by what  title  to  address  him. Was he  to  say,  “Your Grace,” or  “ Your  Excellency,”  or  “ My  Lord  ”? He went over  all  the  titles  he  could  think  of,  but  could not decide  which  was  the  correct  one. At last  he was  so  afraid  of  offending  the  nobleman  by  addressing him  by  the  wrong  title,  that  he  turned  away from the  door  and  went  back  home. On his  way  he passed  a church  and  went  in. Kneeling down  he devoutly  said  an  Our  Father,  entreating  God  to  assist him in  his  distress. As he  prayed,  the  thought  came into his  mind: how  simple  is  the  title  we  give  almighty God. When one  speaks  to  Him  one  does  not feel shy  or  embarrassed. And again,  as  he  walked home, he  repeated  the  Our  Father. On reaching his own  house  he  found  to  his  delight  that  the  assistance he  had  implored  of  God  had  already  been granted to  him. His wife  handed  him  a considerable sum of  money,  a collection  to  which  the  nobleman had largely  contributed.