rey to the wolves." The man pointed to a
sty. "That," said he, "has pigs in it; if it please you to lie there you
may, but to no other place will I admit you." "If we can do no better,"
said the angel, "we must accept your ungracious offer." They did so; and
next morning the angel calling their host, said, "My friend, I give you
this cup;" and he gave him the gold cup he had stolen. The hermit, more
and more amazed at what he saw, said to himself, "Now I am sure this is
the devil. The good man who received us with all kindness he despoiled,
and now he gives the plunder to this fellow who refused us a lodging."

Turning therefore to the angel, he cried, "I will travel with you no
more. I commend you to God." "Dear friend," the angel said, "first hear
me, and then go thy way."

THE EXPLANATION.

"When thou wert in thy hermitage, the owner of the flock unjustly put to
death his servant. True it is he died innocently, and therefore was
in a fit state to enter another world. God permitted him to be slain,
foreseeing, that if he lived he would commit a sin, and die before
repentance followed. But the guilty man who stole the sheep will suffer
eternally; while the owner of the flock will repair, by alms and good
works, that which he ignorantly committed. As for the son of the
hospitable soldier whom I strangled in the cradle, know, that before the
boy was born he performed numerous works of charity and mercy; but
afterwards grew parsimonious and covetous in order to enrich the child,
of which he was inordinately fond. This was the cause of its death; and
now its distressed parent is again become a devout Christian. Then for
the cup which I purloined from him who received us so kindly, know, that
before the cup was made, there was not a more abstemious person in the
world; but afterwards he took such pleasure in it, and drank from it so
often, that he was intoxicated twice or thrice during the day. I took
away the cup, and he has returned to his former sobriety. Again I cast
the pilgrim into the river; and know that he whom I drowned was a good
Christian, but had he proceeded much further, he would have fallen into
a mortal sin. Now he is saved, and reigns in celestial glory. Then, that
I bestowed the cup upon the inhospitable citizen, know nothing is done
without reason. He suffered us to occupy the swine-house and I gave him
a valuable consideration. But _he_ will hereafter reign in hell. Put a
guard, therefore, on thy li