Latest / Sandman Stories Presents / EP 303: Azores- The Friend of the Devil; The Miller's Cloak; The Magic Mouthful; The Messengers (Eells)

Transcript

EP 303: Azores- The Friend of the Devil; The Miller's Cloak; The Magic Mouthful; The Messengers (Eells) · Sandman Stories Presents

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  Music Welcome back listeners to Sandman Stories Presents, a
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  folklore podcast where I read you to sleep or until the next
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  story. I'm your host, Dustin.
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  If you want more Sandman, I have extra stories that are too spicy
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  for the main feed available on my Patreon.
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  You can join at the free tier and get everything.
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  Today we are back for the last time in the Book of the Azorian
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  Folklore written down by Elsie Spicer Eels.
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  In the first story, we find out the devil can't give you
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  everything. In the second, we learn about
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  how the church can keep you dry. In the third story, we get some
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  terrible advice straight out of my grandmother's generation.
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  And in the final story of this book, we learn why it's
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  important not to leave death on Red.
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  OK, let's begin. The friend of the Devil A story
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  of the islands in the Bay of Angra.
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  Once Upon a time there was a handsome Flemish youth who came
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  to the island of Fayal. His name was Fernow Dehutra.
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  He fell in love with a beautiful nun in the convent of Gloria and
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  the city of Horta. One day the devil appeared to
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  him. Since you fell in love with this
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  fair nun, I see you are a friend of mine, said the devil.
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  The young man had not known this, but he replied, Say rather
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  that I will be your friend if you help me get possession of
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  this nun I love. Very well, said the devil.
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  But you will have to make a bargain with me.
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  What is it asked for? Now?
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  Rather anxiously give me your solemn pledge that you'll give
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  me all of your children, Responded the devil agreed, Said
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  Fernand. After that he saw the devil
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  often. The nun, however, was as devout
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  as she was beautiful. She refused to break the vows
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  she had made and run away with the Flemish youth.
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  She firmly resisted both him and the devil.
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  You are not a true friend of me after all, said for now to the
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  devil sadly. But you are my friend, said the
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  devil in reply soon after. For now Dehutra left the city of
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  Horta and the island of Fayal and went to join his kinsman who
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  had settled in Angra in the island of Tertiera.
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  Here his handsome face won many friends for him among the youth
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  of the city. To some of these he confided the
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  story of the relations with the devil.
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  Now it happened that in the year 1666 the first bull fight was
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  held in Angra. To this very day the island of
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  Tricera is the only one in the Azores which has bull fights.
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  For now took part in this. He was one of the chief
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  organizers of the bull fight held on St.
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  John's day of the following year.
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  That day all the men and women and children of the city of
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  Angra assembled in the public square before the Fort.
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  The bull fighters, richly clad, rode forth upon prancing steeds,
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  decked in costly velvets with streamers and ribbons of gold
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  and silver, which sparkled in the bright sunlight.
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  The youths were resplendent in their garments of Crimson
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  velvet, richly embroidered, for now the hutra was radiant in his
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  jacket of blue, decked with pearls, with a plumed hat.
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  Upon his handsome head he carried a yellow banner
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  embroidered with the arms of his family.
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  Gay music sounded, the bulls were brought into the ring, the
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  bull fighters saluted, and the fight began.
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  In the windows of the castle the daughters of the chief
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  magistrate of the city of Angra were seated among their friends.
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  Their eldest daughter, Sophia, was the most beautiful maid of
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  the whole city. The magistrate watched her
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  anxiously as her fair cheek alternately paled and flushed as
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  the struggle went on. There could be no doubt about
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  the fact that there was love in her eyes as they rested upon the
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  handsome young Flemish cavalier. For now the hutra she was
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  wearing his colors, and in her hand she carefully held his
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  bouquet of flowers. The ribbon which tied them
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  secured also a piece of paper, upon which were written these
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  words. O beautiful, made of my heart's
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  desire. For your dear sake I go through
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  fire. The magistrate withdrew from the
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  gay scene into the silence of the Great Hall of the castle.
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  He bowed his head upon his hands.
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  This youth is a friend of the Devil.
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  He groaned. I cannot consent to my
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  daughter's marriage to him. He has promised to give all his
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  children to the devil. They say I cannot allow my own
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  grandchildren to be given to the devil.
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  That very day he began a plot how to get rid of the handsome
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  young For now. Now in the Bay before the city
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  of Angra there are two rocky islands called today, just as
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  they were back then, the Ilios de Cabras, the islands of goats.
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  The brother-in-law of the magistrate was the owner of
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  these barren islands. There were few goats there, a
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  few Mulberry bushes and a tiny spring of fresh water.
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  The magistrate called his brother-in-law to him as soon as
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  the bull fight was over. He told him all his fears and
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  asked him if he might use the islands as a place of banishment
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  for the young Flemish cavalier who was the friend of the devil.
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  You are quite welcome to use these islands for such a worthy
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  purpose, replied his brother-in-law.
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  Indeed, I have often thought that the deep cave on the island
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  led to an inferno. It is the most fitting spot for
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  the habitation of the Devil's friend.
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  Thus it happened that the handsome young Flemish cavalier
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  was seized and borne away to the barren, rocky islands in the Bay
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  of Angra. When he was received there, a
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  great earthquake shook the whole island of Terciera.
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  When at last the people of the city of Angra were through
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  contemplating all the destruction which had been
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  wrought, somebody looked in the direction of the Island of the
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  Goats. They saw that a great peace had
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  broken away from one of the islands.
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  Thus it was that the devil received his friend.
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  The end. OK and story #2 The Miller's
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  cloak, The story of a man who tried to stay home from church.
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  Once there was a pious Miller. He was always found in the
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  church praying. He prayed for the dead.
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  He prayed for those who were alive.
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  He prayed for all those who suffered, for the homeless ones,
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  for the hungry ones. He prayed for those upon the sea
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  and those upon the land. Now it happened that a terrible
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  storm smote the island. The sea beat.
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  High against the rocky coast, lightning flash, Thunder roared,
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  the wind howled, the rain fell in Torrance as if it were a
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  flood. Don't go out into the storm
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  tonight, counseled his wife. It is not a suitable night for
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  one to go to church. I agree with you, replied the
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  Miller. I do not need to go to the
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  church in this fierce storm. Surely my days and nights of
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  praying have been so many that tonight I have earned a rest in
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  my own dry house. The good God will pardon me.
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  The Miller dropped his heavy brown cloak about him and lay
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  down in his bed. The wind shrieked.
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  Thunder shook the earth. Unseen hands pulled the Miller's
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  cloak off his bed. The wind has blown out the
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  candle light. Another cried the Miller to his
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  wife. By the dim light of the candle,
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  the good Miller again arranged his bed.
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  He wrapped his heavy mantle about him and once more tried to
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  sleep. Again his cloak was pulled off
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  from his bed as if by unseen hands.
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  There was no rest for the Miller that night.
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  His cloak could not be made to cover him as he lay upon his
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  bed. I might as well go to church and
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  pray, he told his wife. I can't rest here.
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  He wrapped himself in the brown cloak and went to the church
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  through the fierce, blinding storm.
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  He prayed for the dead. He prayed for those who were
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  alive. He prayed for all those who
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  suffered, for the homeless ones, the hungry ones.
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  He prayed for those upon the sea and for those upon the land.
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  Surely the prayers of the pious are needed to night, said the
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  Miller to his wife. When he came out from the fierce
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  storm, lightning flashed, Thunder roared, rain fell in
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  torrents, the wind howled and drove the pouring rain against
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  the windows. It blew in sheets through the
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  door before the Miller had time to close it.
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  Behind him the storm beat upon the thatched roof as if it would
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  carry it away quick. Your cloak, cried the Miller's
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  wife. Take it off so that I may drive
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  by the fire. The good man started to obey.
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  As he touched his cloak, however, his eyes open wide in
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  amazement. It was entirely dry.
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  Feel it yourself, he said to his wife.
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  There's not a drop of rain upon it.
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  The Miller's wife discovered that his words were true.
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  It is a miracle of God, she cried as she crossed herself.
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  The end. OK and story #3 The magic
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  Mouthful, The story of a woman who quarreled.
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  Once Upon a time there was a woman who lived a most unhappy
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  life. She and her husband were always
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  quarreling. Every day when he came home from
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  work he was cross and he spoke harshly to her.
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  She would respond with bitter words and things would go from
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  bad to worse until at last they would fight.
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  One day the woman took her water jar and went to the fountain to
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  fill it. As usual.
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  She was so unhappy the great tears were rolling down her
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  cheeks. There was a little old woman
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  standing by the fountain. What is the matter, my daughter?
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  She asked as she saw the tears upon the poor woman's cheeks.
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  When she had heard all the story, the little old woman took
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  the water jar and filled it at the fountain.
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  Go home, my daughter, she said. Keep this water in a jar.
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  The moment your husband says a crossword to you, fill your
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  mouth with the water. The sad woman thanked her and
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  went to her own house. The next day when her husband
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  came home, he began to scold her as usual.
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  She was about to reply when she suddenly remembered the old
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  woman's advice. She ran to the water jar and
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  filled her mouth with water. To her great amazement, her
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  husband soon stopped scolding. That night, for the first time
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  in many weeks, they went to sleep without a fight.
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  Things kept on going well for several days.
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  Just as soon as her husband came home Cross and said unpleasant
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  things, she would fill her mouth with water from the jar.
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  Then he would get over being Cross.
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  Now there were smiles instead of tears on the woman's face.
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  At last, however, the water jar grew empty once more.
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  The woman went up the fountain, hoping she would again find the
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  little woman who had given her the magic water.
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  She found her waiting at the fountain.
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  How did my prescription succeed, dear daughter?
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  She asked as soon as she saw her.
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  How can I ever thank you for all you have done for me?
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  Cried the woman. Now I am happy once more.
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  My husband no longer fights me. I did not dream of my life could
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  ever be so full of joy. Give me, I pray, some more of
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  that magic water. The little old woman smiled
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  gently. Dear daughter, she said, the
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  water which I put in your jar is nothing but water from this
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  fountain. It is the very same which you
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  always carry home. This is the secret.
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  When your mouth is full of water, you cannot reply.
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  When your husband says crosswords to you, if you do not
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  keep up the quarrel, it soon ends.
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  That is why your life is happy now instead of sad.
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  Go home and whenever your husband says an unkind word,
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  pretend that your mouth is full of water and do not reply.
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  Go in peace, my child. The woman always remembered this
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  good advice and never again quarrelled with her husband.
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  When she had children of her own, she passed on to them the
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  secret. Now it is generally known in the
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  Azores that if one does not want to keep up a quarrel, it is best
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  to pretend that his mouth is full of water.
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  This is the reason why the people of the islands are so
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  peaceful and happy. The End.
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  OK, And the final story, the messengers, the story of a youth
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  who met death. Once Upon a time, on the island
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  of Tersiara, there lived a youth whose name was Vladimiro.
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  He had come from Flanders, a cavalier of the Order of St.
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  John's. He was betrothed to the fair
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  maiden on the island. One day he was hunting in the
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  forest of Cedars when he suddenly saw Death standing
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  before him. He fell upon his knees and sent
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  up a fervent prayer to the Holy Virgin.
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  Then he said to Death, Oh, Death, why is it that you have
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  come in search of me so soon? I am young, rich and happy.
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  I am betrothed to a maid who loves me.
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  Life looks very bright and fair. Death step back apace.
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  Your prayer to the Holy Mother has saved you.
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  He said I had indeed come in search of you.
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  You were about to die from an accident with your hunting arms.
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  See, I've already retreated apace.
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  I've decided not to take you with me this time.
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  Let Amira return the prayer of Thanksgiving.
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  Then he said, Oh, death, I'm going to make a request of you.
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  Please do not come up to me so suddenly again.
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  It gives me a fright. Next time you come for me, will
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  you please be so kind as to send messengers in advance to give me
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  a little warning? Yes, young Cavalier, responded
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  Death, I will gladly do what you ask.
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  I give you my promise that the next time I will send my
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  messengers ahead of me to warn you that I am approaching.
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  With these words, Death withdrew and went on alone through the
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  forest of Cedars. The spring of that very year,
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  the young Cavalier married the fair maid who loved him.
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  Life was full of joy. Many children were born to the
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  worthy couple. Riches and honors came too.
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  The years speed by as if they flew on wings.
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  At last 1/2 century had passed. Vladimiro held his grandchildren
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  upon his knees and told them the story of the day he met Death in
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  the forest of Cedars. We are glad that Death passed on
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  and left you, said the children. If he hadn't, we couldn't have
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  had you for our grandfather, said the namesake grandson of
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  Vladimiro, snuggling closer in his arms.
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  You do not have to fear death now, grandfather, do you?
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  Asked little Maria. He will keep his promise and
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  send his messengers, don't you think so?
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  Yes, Death is a good Christian and will keep his word, replied
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  the aged cavalier. The next morning he set sail for
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  the island of Phial, where there were other grandchildren to
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  visit in the home of his married daughter Francesca.
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  On the voyage A fierce storm arose.
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  The small boat was buffeted about by the gales.
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  Suddenly Vladimira was startled to see Death standing beside
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  him, just as in the forest years ago, when he had been young.
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  Why have you come today? He cried an alarm.
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  Why is it that you have not kept your word?
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  You gave me your promises that you would send your messengers
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  next time you came to warn me of your approach.
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  I have kept my word, said Death. I have sent my messengers.
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  Where are they? Asked the old man in amazement.
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  Death pointed to Vladimiro's snowy hair.
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  I've sent my messengers in your white locks, your failing
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  eyesight and hearing the wrinkles on your cheeks.
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  Can it be that you have failed to recognize them?
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  Vladimiro bowed his head in silence and without a murmur
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  went with Death and Truth. Death had been a good Christian,
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  and then kept his word. The end.
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  I really like that first one, the dude tried to get the devil
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  on his side but everyone else is like eh no thank you devil
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  friend. And the second story was nice.
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  I thought that the Miller had earned staying at home in the
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  bad storm but the dry cloak at the end was a good ending.
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  I didn't like the third story as it was the husband always coming
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  home and starting things. This one has the flavour of
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  don't talk back and you won't get beat, you just.
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  You and the final story was a good look at death.
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  As my own parents get older I can see little parts of them
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  aging and it breaks my heart. Please love on your family and
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  friends as we don't always know when death will come and that is
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  the end of this book. I will look for a new book to
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  fill this space. Please write a comment below if
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  you have a country's folklore that you want me to cover.
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  And the podcast shout out is to talk to me in Korean podcast.
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  If you, like me, are learning Korean, then this is an awesome
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  podcast for you. They have good short.
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  Episodes so that you don't get overwhelmed also.
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  They have a list of vocab. Covered in each episode and if
• 20:51
  you like learning Korean like I do, go and give them a like a
• 20:55
  rating and a review. And the listener shout out is to
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  Sana, Yemen, first mentioned in the 5th century.
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  The city's name comes from the Sabian language, meaning
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  something like fortified. The country's capital moved to
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  Aden during the civil war, but Sana is still considered the du
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  jour capital with over 3 million people there.
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  I had the. Pleasure of eating some really
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  good Yemeni food in Jeju in Korea, where there's some Yemeni
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  refugees from the civil war and I hope to visit there someday
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  when the fighting goes down. My friend's younger brother
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  Devin got to visit there and. It looks beautiful.
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  And so I say to my listener in Sana.
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  Aleph Shukran What this? Thank you.
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  And good night.