beggar came to the house of the rich farmer. She begged him to let her
rest for a little while under his roof, for she had been travelling in
many countries, she said. When she asked for some remnants of rice to
eat, the ungrateful farmer said to her, "Get off my grounds! don't come
here to bother me! If you don't leave at once, I shall let this dog
loose, and you will be its food." The poor beggar went away without
a word, but she begged almighty God to give her the power to change
anything to any form or creature she wished. As she was God's favorite,
her request was granted. So she assumed her own form, and went again
to the farmer's house. To him she said, "You who became rich by my aid,
and have denied food and shelter to a beggar, shall be punished. Since
you have neglected your duty both to the poor and to me, I therefore,
with the consent of the almighty God, punish you thus: your rice
shall turn to a swarm of locusts, which will destroy all the crops
of the farmers of your own race and those of other countries."

The punishment was carried out, and the farmer was left destitute.

This story is also known in the Tagalog province of Batangas.

In a Rumanian saga (Daehnhardt, 3 : 250) a swarm of locusts is sent
by God to punish an emperor who would not invite any priests or nuns
to his wedding-banquet. When the guests were about to eat the feast
prepared, the insects appeared and devoured everything. Since that
time locusts have appeared whenever mankind has forgotten God.

TALE 67

HOW LANSONES BECAME EDIBLE.

Narrated by Francisco M. Africa.

Once upon a time the fruit of the lansone-tree was very poisonous. Its
very juice could make a man sick with leprosy. One day a very
religious old man was passing through a forest to attend the fiesta
of the neighboring town. When he reached the middle of the thick
wood, he became very hungry and tired, and he felt that he could go
no farther. No matter where he looked, he could see nothing but the
poisonous lansone-trees. So he lay down on the soft grass. Hardly a
moment had passed, when a winged being from heaven approached him, and
said, "My good Christian pilgrim, take some of these lansone-fruits,
eat them, and you will be much relieved." At first the old man would
not do it, but the angel picked some of the fruits and handed them
to the pilgrim. He then ate, and soon his hunger was removed. After
thanking Heaven, he continued on his journey. Ever sin