e story (without the coarseness of the
Italian version) is related of Buddha, who tells the hospitable woman
that "what she begins shall not end until sunset." She begins to measure
linen and it lengthens in her hands so that she continues to measure it
all day. The envious neighbor receives the same gift, but before she
begins to measure the linen, she thinks she will water the swine; the
bucket does not become empty until evening, and the whole neighborhood
is inundated. See Benfey's parallels, _ut. sup._ pp. 497-98, and Grimm,
No. 87, notes.

[4] These four legends are in Pitre, _Cinque Novelline popolari
siciliane_, Palermo, 1878. In the third story, "_San Pietru e so
cumpari_," St. Peter gets something to eat from a stingy man by a play
on the word _mussu_, "snout," and _cu lu mussu_, "to be angry." For a
similar story see Pitre, III. 312. A parallel to the first of the above
legends may be found in Finamore, No. 34, IV., where are also some other
legends of St. Peter.

Since the above note was written, some similar legends have been
published by Salomone Marino in the _Archivio per lo Studio delle
Tradizioni popolari_, vol. II. p. 553. One "The Just suffers for the
Sinner" ("_Chianci lu giustu pri lu piccaturi_") relates how St. Peter
complained to our Lord that the innocent were punished with the guilty.
Our Lord made no answer, but shortly after commanded St. Peter to pick
up a piece of honey-comb filled with bees, and put it in the bosom of
his dress. One of the bees stung him, and St. Peter in his anger killed
them all, and when the Lord rebuked him, excused himself by saying: "How
could I tell among so many bees which one stung me?" The Lord answered:
"Am I wrong then, when I punish men likewise? _Chianci lu giustu pri lu
piccaturi._"

Another legend relates the eagerness of St. Peter's sister to marry.
Thrice she sent her brother to our Lord to ask his consent, and thrice
the Lord, with characteristic patience, answered: "Tell her to do what
she wishes."

A third legend explains why some are rich and some are poor in this
world. Adam and Eve had twenty-four children, and one day the Lord
passed by the house, and the parents concealed twelve of their children
under a tub. The Lord, at the parents' request, blessed the twelve with
riches and happiness. After he had departed, the parents realized what
they had done, and called the Master back. When he heard that they had
told him a falsehood about the numb