Laos Folk-Lore of Farther India Part 10

"For two puns of gold I will sell them," answered the widow's son.

"Two puns of gold will I give thee," said the judge.

"'If you wish to know others, sleep. If you wish to see, go and look,'"

said the widow's son, when he had in his possession the two puns of gold.

The judge, desiring to test the truth of the words, as he understood them, called unto him his four wives, and said, "I am not well. Give me water to drink, and fan me." Soon he seemed to be asleep, and his wives talked thus together in low voices:

"It is not pleasant to be the wife of this foolish man," said the first.

"I like another man better," said the second.

"I wish I could steal his goods and flee while he sleeps," said the third.

"I would like to make him a savory dish with poison in it to kill him,"

said the fourth.

Then the judge sprang up and cruelly punished his wives and put them in chains.

And upon another day, the judge arose early and went out to see how his slaves worked. Under the house, hunting for something, he saw a man.

"What do you seek?" asked the judge.

"I have just stolen from the judge all of his silver, and, in trying to get it through a small opening, I broke my finger-nail. If I do not find it, the judge will die and all his possessions will be destroyed, for, as thou knowest, ever is it thus, if a finger-nail falls near a house."

When the man had found the broken nail, the judge said, "I, who stand here, am the judge. I will but take from you the silver which you have stolen and no punishment shall be yours, because of the truth which you have told." Then the judge said to himself, "The two puns of gold was a small price to pay for the wisdom which I have obtained."

20: A fabulous "City of Wisdom."

21: A pun--about 3 lbs. avoir.

A Wise Philosopher

As a rich trader journeyed to another province, he rested by the road under a tree, and, as he sat there, a poor young man approached and asked that he might accompany him.

"Come," said the trader, and, as they journeyed, they came to a place where there were many stones, indeed there was naught else to be seen.

"Here are there no stones," said the poor young man.

"You are right, here are no stones," replied the trader.

Soon they reached the shade of a large forest, and the young man said,

"Here are no trees."

"You are right, here are no trees," the trader a.s.sented.

When they reached a large village, the poor young man said,

"Here are no people."

"You are right," spake the trader, but he wondered what manner of man might he be who knows nothing and has neither eyes nor ears. However, as he returned home and the poor young man begged to accompany him, he agreed and took him with him.

And, as they approached the trader's home his daughter called, "O father, what have you brought?"

"Nothing but this foolish young man," answered the trader.

"Why do you call him a fool?" asked the daughter. "By his appearance and manner I would judge he were the G.o.d of wisdom come down in man's form."

"I can see no wisdom in one who, when he can see but stones, says, 'There are no stones here,' or, when he is in the forest, says, 'Here are no trees,' or, when in the midst of a populous village, says, 'There is no man here,'" replied the trader.

"He meant, where the stones were all about, that none were precious; where the forest was, that there was no teak, no wood good for man's use; and, where the village was, there were no people, as the people had all fallen away from the religion of Buddha, living but as beasts and making no merit for the future life," argued the daughter.

"If you esteem him so highly, take him for your husband," said the trader.

"If your daughter will have me as her husband, ever will I endeavor to make the path on which she treads smooth and beautiful for her feet,"

cried the poor young man.

They were married and lived happily, and, upon a time, the head chow summoned the trader to come watch his house during the night. Greatly was the trader troubled. "I shall die this night," cried the trader.

"Why shall you die, my father?" asked the son-in-law, in great concern.

"The chow has called me to watch this night and for some time past he has killed all who have watched for him; an evil spirit has possessed him and he loves to punish with death the watchmen, for, he falsely says they sleep and he has them killed but to satisfy the spirit in him,"

answered the trader.

"I will watch in thy stead," said the son-in-law. And fearlessly did he go to the chow's, and, when midnight was come and the chow descended secretly to see if the watchman slept, lo, the young man prayed aloud for the G.o.d of wisdom to come teach him what to do. The chow, hearing the sound of voices, listened, and heard one voice say, "The brave and the strong govern themselves, then have they the power to govern others.

The wise make themselves loved because they are good and true, and are served by others through love and not through fear," and another voice steadily repeated the words. Three times during the night came the chow.

Each time the voice was speaking and being answered, and, lo, when the eye of day opened in the East, the chow was found possessed of a kind and loving spirit and no longer desired to destroy his people. The young son-in-law of the trader was made a leader of the people, for the chow declared unto all that the spirit of the G.o.d of wisdom dwelt in the young man's heart, and, it came to pa.s.s that the whole land was blessed because one young man had learned of the G.o.d of wisdom.

The Boys Who Were Not Appreciated

Once there were two brothers. The elder watched and tended the younger during the day, while their mother went to labor for food. It had happened that the father had died, and the mother had taken another husband who ever sought to teach the mother to dislike and neglect the brothers.

And it fell upon a day that the children waited and watched for their mother's return until they were hungry, for all day had they had no food. When the eye of day closed, they sought food and found some green fruit. This they ate and then lay down to sleep.

Long after darkness had settled, came the mother and her husband home, and the mother cooked rice which they sat down to eat.

Awakened by the odor of the rice, the children heard the talking, and the elder led his younger brother to his mother and begged food, but the husband said, "Do not give them of our food," and the mother beat them and drove them from home. The elder brother carried his little brother back to sleep under the house, but even thence were they driven. At last they sought and found shelter with a neighboring widow, who gave them mats to sleep on. As the eye of day opened, the two children set out to find a new home. For many days did they walk, and upon an evening they found a _sala_ near the chief city of another province. There they slept. In the morning the elder boy sought food, and behold, he saw two snakes wrestling under the _sala_. Both were wounded. One, however, killed the other and then left it and ate some gra.s.s growing near, and, lo, immediately the snake was whole as before. Waiting only until the restored snake had gone, the boy gathered some of the gra.s.s, and put it in the mouth of the dead snake, and forthwith it came to life and blessed the boy. Gathering more of the gra.s.s, the boy returned to his brother and they both ate of it and were strengthened.

Not long after, a servant of the chow of the neighboring province came to the _sala_, and the boys asked, "For whom is the mourning in the city?" The servant replied, "The young daughter of the chow; and the chow mourns. If any one will restore her unto life, the chow declares, unto him will he give half of his province and goods."

Eager to try the wonderful gra.s.s, the boy carried his young brother and some of the gra.s.s even unto the chow's house, where he sought permission to restore the child with the gra.s.s. Gladly the chow consented. The boy placed the magic gra.s.s in the maiden's mouth, and immediately she came to life. Full of joy, the chow shared his province and goods with him and even gave his daughter in marriage, as promised.

And upon a day after they had lived happily a long time in that province and had grown wise and strong, the two young men thought of their mother, and said, "We will go and visit her and her husband."

They made ready joints of bamboo and closed them, after having filled them with gold, in such a way that no one could see the gold. When all was ready, with a great number of elephants and servants, they returned to their native province.