Show OLD TIME mie EASTERS festivals and tales from the pulpit were looked forward to by the people TN N OLDEN days religious and becu j lar amusements joined the churche churchs festivals were the peoples only holl klays days the church itself the only theater and the monks the actors throughout ghost the year they gave miracle plays suited to the iemon season illustrating some bible story and at eastertide a rialla tic representation of the resurrection was performed when the play was over lover the monks watched all night beside the tomb for there was a widespread belief that christs second coming would take place on easter morning in fact this practice was continued until the reformation it was also the custom up 11 p to the eighteenth century tor for the priest to tell ha an easter tale from the pulpit to enliven the people after the gloom of lent here is an example A blacksmith and his wife who had offered hospitality to a stranger found that they had entertained an angel unawares on leaving he offered to grant any request they might make the wife asked to be made sure of heaven whereupon the guest replied that she had but to look into her mouth to be certain of that since it was clear that ehe abe could not go to the place alacci e where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth the smith more worldly minded asked first that whoever climbed into his pear tree would not be able to get down without his bis consent secondly that whoever sat down on his anvil or got into his flue should be unable to move without his permission and thirdly that he might never be parted from his bis old green cap the angel rebuked him for such requests but promised to grant them and de pat pai ted twenty years later death came knocking at the door william the smith received him politely and begged him to climb into the pear tree trea and wait while he made ready to accompany him the grim guest complied and once there the old roan man would not lot let him down till he had bad bargained with hini him for another awen ty years of life at the conclusion of oe this period the unwelcome visitor appeared again and the smith asked ulm him to sit down on his anvil fr a few moments while he settled his affa affairs irs he did so and once again found himself at williams mercy who would not let him go till he be had been granted a further lease of life when this last term was up the devil himself came for his victim but the wily smith worked on his vanity said he be had bad heard of his power as a worker of miracles and asked if he could for instance make himself small AV enough to creep into the flu flue e anxious to show off the enemy of mankind did so and once there the smith took him to the fire and hammered him till he be was glad clad to sue tor for mercy on any terms and willingly granted him another twenty years of life at the end of these the smiths guardian angel came cama tor fo r him and took J him to the gate of heaven but peter refused him admittance lie he then threw his green cap in over aver the wicket and in accordance with the angels vf promise was allowed to enter and remain with it |