SHORT STORY

Short Story

The Mysterious Beggar

By Damiana L. Eugenio

         

           In the later part of the nineteenth century, the small barrio of Carlota was inhabited by rich people who were proud and vain of their wealth derived from the rich soil of the place. There was plenty of everything and most of the people’s needs were imported from Spain or China. The people’s wealth, however affected their way of life: they became snobbish and haughty especially towards poor people. However, inspite of the people’s snobbish attitude and their vanity, no calamity or dire event visited the rich barrio.

 One day, they appeared in the place an unknown beggar whose body was covered with sores and whose clothes were tattered. He seemed hungry and in need of rest for he appeared very tired. He went from house to house asking for food and shelter for the night, but the people seeing the dirty and tattered beggar, covered their noses and drove him away from their doors. The beggar had approached almost all the houses whose owners refused to give him both food and shelter. Later, in the poorest part of the town, he was given food and shelter, by a poor blacksmith and his wife.

The poor couple gladly shared with the beggar the food in the house and gave him the best mat to sleep on.

Before sunrise, the beggar woke up and then went on his way. But before he left the house he told the couple not to go out of their house for two days and nights as something was going to break out in the barrio. Then he left for unknown place. The couple promised the beggar they would obey his instructions.

The next morning the people of the barrio fell ill one by one, of an unknown disease. By nightfall and the next day, almost everyone with the exception of the blacksmith and his wife, had contracted the mysterious disease. It was a dreadful disease, for the bodies of those ill were covered with sores from head to foot. Hundreds died of the malady, for which there seemed to be no cure. Those who survived were badly disfigured. Only the kind couple did not catch the disease.

Later it was found out that the dreaded disease was smallpox. Many people claimed that was the curse of the beggar who was snubbed by the barrio people.

Characters:           People of small barrio

                   Unknown beggar

                    Poor blacksmith

                    Poor blacksmith’s wife

Point of view:      Narrator

Theme:                  Be Generous

Settings: In the later part of the nineteenth century, in small barrio of Carlota

Plot:  The story begins in a small barrio of Carlota where the people who lived there was rich but they’re snobbish and naughty one day an unknown beggar came to their place begging for food and shelter but unfortunately, no one help him except to the poor blacksmith and his wife. After two days, many people died and this is cause of the disease called smallpox. Blacksmith and his wife who helped the beggar didn’t catch any sickness.

Conflict:      The small barrio was infected by the dreaded disease many people died without knowing what the cure is.

Denouement:        Those who survived were disfigured and they claimed that it           was the curse of the beggar who was snubbed by the people of the barrio.

Topic Outline

I.             Nineteenth Century

1.                   Plenty

2.                   Unknown Beggar

3.                   Tired

II.          House to house

1.             Food and Shelter

2.            Poor Couple

3.            Share

III.        Sunrise

1.              Unknown Disease

2.             Sores

3.             Curse

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