268 TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. [June, 



and two very lively daughters. Our conversation turned upon 

 the shortness and uncertainty of life ; which the old woman 

 illustrated by a tale, which seemed to be another version of 

 the "three warnings." 



" A man and his wife were conversing together, and remark- 

 ing on the unpleasantness of being subject to death. * I should 

 like to make friends with Death, some way,' said the man ; 

 * then perhaps he will not trouble me.' * That you can easily 

 do,' said his wife ; ' invite him to be padrinho (godfather) to 

 our little boy, who is to be baptized next week ; you will then 

 be able to talk to him on the subject, and he will surely not 

 be able to refuse a slight favour to his " compadre." So he was 

 invited accordingly, and came ; and after the ceremony and 

 the feast were over, as he was going away, the man said to 

 him, ' Compadre Death, as there are plenty of people in the 

 world for you to take, I hope yon will never come for me.' 

 ' Really, Compadre,' replied Death, ' I cannot promise you 

 that, for when God sends me for anybody I must go. How- 

 ever, I will do all I can, and I will at all events promise you a 

 week's notice, that you may have time to prepare yourself.' 

 Several years passed on, and Death at last came to pay them a 

 visit. ' Good-evening, Compadre,' says he, ' I'm come on a 

 disagreeable business : I have received orders to fetch you 

 this day week, so I'm come to give you the notice I promised 

 you.' ' Oh ! Compadre,' said the man, ' you're come very 

 soon ; it's exceedingly inconvenient for me to go just now, I'm 

 getting on very nicely, and shall be a rich man in a few years, 

 if you will but let me alone : it's very unkind of you, Com- 

 padre ; I'm sure you can arrange it if you like, and take some 

 one else instead of me.' ' Very sorry,' said Death, ' but it 

 can't be done, nohow : I've got my orders, and I must obey 

 them. Nobody ever gets off when the order's once given, and 

 very few get so long a notice as I've been able to give you. 

 However, I'll try all I can, and if I succeed, you won't see me 

 this day week ; but I don't think there's any hope, so good- 

 bye.' 



" When the day came, the man was in a great fright, for he 

 did not expect to escape ; his wife, however, hit upon a plan, 

 which they resolved to try. They had an old Negro man in 

 the house, who used to be generally employed in the kitchen. 

 They made him exchange clothes with his master, and sent 



