ould go. Then Letiko came down
from the tree, and they went on their way.
The lamia ran as fast as she could after them, to catch them up, and
when she came to a field where people were working she asked them: 'Have
you seen any one pass this way?'
They answered: 'We are planting beans.'
'Oh! I did not ask about that; but if any one had passed this way.'
But the people only answered the louder: 'Are you deaf? It is beans,
beans, beans we are planting.'
When Letiko had nearly reached her home the dog knew her, and called
out, 'Bow wow! see here comes Letiko!'
And the mother said, 'Hush! thou beast of ill-omen! wilt thou make me
burst with misery?'
Next the cat on the roof saw her, and called out 'Miaouw! miaouw! see
here comes Letiko!'
And the mother said, 'Keep silence! thou beast of ill-omen! wilt thou
make me burst with misery?'
Then the cock spied, and called out: 'Cock-a-doodle-do! see here comes
Letiko!'
And the mother said again: 'Be quiet! thou bird of ill-omen! wilt thou
make me burst with misery?'
The nearer Letiko and the two hares came to the house the nearer also
came the lamia, and when the hare was about to slip in by the house door
she caught it by its little tail and tore it out.
[Illustration: Letiko GETS HOME SAFE AFTER ALL]
When the hare came in the mother stood up and said to it: 'Welcome, dear
little hare; because you have brought me back Letiko I will silver your
little tail.'
And she did so; and lived ever after with her daughter in happiness and
content.
_THE DAUGHTER OF BUK ETTEMSUCH_
Once upon a time there lived a man who had seven daughters. For a long
time they dwelt quite happily at home together, then one morning the
father called them all before him and said:
'Your mother and I are going on a journey, and as we do not know how
long we may be away, you will find enough provisions in the house to
last you three years. But see you do not open the door to any one till
we come home again.'
'Very well, dear father,' replied the girls.
For two years they never left the house or unlocked the door; but one
day, when they had washed their clothes, and were spreading them out on
the roof to dry, the girls looked down into the street where people were
walking to and fro, and across to the market, with its stalls of fresh
meat, vegetable, and other nice things.
'Come here,' cried one. 'It makes me quite hungry! Why should not we
have our share?
|