_Item Seventh_
MY father’s voice was of such sweetness and strength when he would form
his hands into a sort of trumpet and sing into them the very mountains
were overcome and cast at his feet their treasures. It was by this means
he saved his country from ruination at a time when a frightful panic
shriveled all its industries.
The king was in sore distress when one day my father stood before him
and asked what he would give to have sufficient gold and precious stones
to tide him over his present difficulties. The king looked upon him with
amazement, for he was but a peasant and poorly clad. But my father was
not abashed, and stood his ground under the gaze, waiting for his
answer.
Somehow the king did not desire to wound his feelings by a positive
rejection of him, and therefore asked him by what means he expected to
supply him the necessary funds. My father did not deign to answer him,
but repeated his question.
At this the king became quite wroth, and my father seeing this began to
sing a little song which so thrilled the king he was soon in tears. He
thereupon answered my father sensibly, saying he could have whatever he
asked if he would only relieve his people.
Then my father requested of him as many wagons and oxen as he could
spare, which the king sent with him as he went toward a certain mountain
and arrived in due time.
When he was at its foot, he commanded the wagoners to stop and he stood
on a log, beginning to sing softly to himself.
The birds ceased their warbling; the wild beasts of the forests came in
herds and stood about him.
He grew more earnest and the leaves of the trees paused in their
fluttering; the winds sunk into silence; the blades of grass stretched
their necks; the flowers quit distilling perfume, and the bees were
mute.
[Illustration]
Then it was that my father formed his hands into a horn and sang into
this with such sweetness and power of tone the mountain began to tremble
in ecstasy; its sides opened and streams of molten gold and silver,
carrying a covering of all manner of precious gems, flowed to his feet,
and the jewels formed themselves into piles at his side, and the gold
and silver became blocks and arranged themselves into pyramids several
feet high. Thereupon the gems filled up the triangle of each step of
each pyramid in this order, diamonds first, emeralds next, then pearls,
then rubies, then sapphires, and so on until every precious stone was
represented by a band, and upon the apex there was fitted in a diamond
of such rarity it vied with the sun in luster.
Then a very strange thing happened. The wagons were silently arranged in
such manner the pyramids were made to rest upon them so they might be
hauled away, which my father then commanded be done.
When this gorgeous display was brought before the king he was so filled
with joy he drew my father to his breast, saying he would share his
kingdom with him. To which my ancestor would not consent until the king
had promised to banish all lenders of money from the kingdom and to
behead whoever should thereafter lend money at usury or whoever should
refuse to lend money at a reasonable interest.
And thus it was that that kingdom never more knew troublous times.
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