Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 1, 1890.djvu/577

 TABULATION OF FOLKTALES. 129

[No. 48.]

Title of Story. A Yard of Nose.

Dramatis Persons Orphan. Host. Host's wife and daughter. Doctor (orphan disguised). Druggist. Pretty peasant igirl. Turk (orphan disguised). Servants.

Abstract Of Story. (1 Orphan alone; no means, no shelter ; wanders over Campagna ; comes to fig-tree covered with ripe figs. Eats figs ; feels his nose queer ; before he has done it is a yard long. (2) Wanders away from old habitations ; comes to another fig-tree ; thinks things can't be worse ; eats more figs ; nose gets better and better ; dances with delight. "Now I know how to make my fortune," says he. (3) Goes to town with basketful of figs from first tree ; they are so tempting that many buy them; among foremost, host of inn with wife and daughter ; all their noses grow a yard long. Hue and cry through town; everyone, with nose waggling, comes running, calling out, " Ho ! Here ! Wretch of a fruit seller," but he is far out of the way. (4) Next day disguises himself like doctor, in black, with long false beard; comes into druggist's shop ; gives himself out as great doctor ; druggist tells him about noses ; he says it's just what he is good at. Pretty girl comes in ; he gives her some paste made of figs of other tree ; her nose grows right ; druggist publishes cure. (5) Innkeeper secures him first ; false doctor asks four thousand scudi apiece ; cures host, then daughter ; says he will take her hand instead of price ; mother won't allow it ; father says it shall be ; but he has to go and attend on customer ; wife calls servants, tells them to turn out doctor and give him a good beating ; he goes on curing noses all day till he has a lot of money. (6) Next day he comes back disguised as Turk, saying he too can cure noses ; mistress of inn welcomes him ; Turk says his treatment is effectual but rude ; she is ready to submit to anything ; tells her she must be alone with him, and must give strict orders to servants not to come in whatever they hear ; this done, he gives her a beating that she feels effects of all her life. (7) He marries pretty peasant girl who is his first cure.

Alphabetical List of Incidents.

Doctor (orphan disguised) brings paste made of figs from second fig-tree

to cure noses ( 4). Fig-trees in Campagna ; orphan eats fruit of first ; nose grows a yard long

(1). Eats of second; nose cured (2). Figs sold in the town (3).

Innkeeper's daughter's nose cured ; doctor asks her hand (5). Innkeeper's nose cured, price four thousand scudi (5).