and Sunday, and
Monday!" several times, he added: "And Tuesday!" "Where," they
exclaimed, "is he who has spoiled our chorus? If we find him, we will
tear him in pieces." Just think! they struck and beat this poor humpback
until they were tired; then they put him on the same table on which they
had placed his companion, and said: "Take that hump and put it on him in
front." So they took the other's hump and fastened it to his breast, and
then drove him away with blows. He went home and found his friend, who
cried: "Mercy! is not that my friend? but it cannot be, for this one is
humpbacked in front. Listen," he said, "are you not my friend?" "The
same," he answered, weeping. "I did not want to bear my own hump, and
now I have to carry mine and yours! and so beaten and reduced, you see!"
"Come," said his friend, "come home with me, and we will eat a mouthful
together; and don't be disheartened." And so, every day, he dined with
his friend, and afterward they died, I imagine.[3]

* * * * *

There are a number of Sicilian stories in which one's fate is
personified and appears in the role of a guardian angel, or good and bad
fairy. In the same way fortune is personified in several stories. The
best example of the former class, which has also a point of contact with
the latter, is found in Gonzenbach, No. 21, and is entitled:

XXVIII. THE STORY OF CATHERINE AND HER FATE.

There was once a merchant who was very rich and had greater treasures
than the king. In his reception room stood three wonderfully beautiful
seats. One was of silver, the second of gold, and the third of diamonds.
This merchant had an only daughter, whose name was Catherine, and who
was fairer than the sun.

One day as Catherine was sitting in her chamber, the door suddenly
opened of itself, and there entered a tall, beautiful lady, who held in
her hand a wheel. "Catherine," said she, "when would you rather enjoy
your life, in youth or in old age?" Catherine gazed at her in amazement,
and could make no answer. The beautiful lady again asked: "Catherine,
when would you rather enjoy your life, in youth or in old age?" Then
thought Catherine: "If I say in youth, I must suffer for it in old age;
wherefore I will rather enjoy my life in old age, and in youth God's
will be done." So she answered: "In old age." "Be it as you have
wished," said the beautiful woman, turned her wheel once, and
disappeared. Now this beautiful tall