Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/113

Rh So when the cattle, sheep, and goats had gone out to pasture, he made water warm in the pot. He himself began the play by going into the water.

He said, "Grandmother, pull me out!"

She pulled him out.

Then the old woman entered the water.

She cried, "My child, pull me out!"

But the traveller waited, and the water became so hot as to burn. The old woman continued to cry, "My child, pull me out."

He said, "Nay, grandmother; it is broth."

She said, "Oh, dear! you might pull me out."

He again said, "It is broth; I do not want to pull you out."

So he did, and killed the grandmother.

Then he took the flesh and cooked porridge. He cooked much porridge, and took it upon his head to the children.

The children returned, and he brought them the flesh and porridge. They ate of it.

There was there a young child, who spoke out, saying, "I have eaten the big toe of our mother."

But the elder children rebuked him, saying, "It is not that of our mother. Do you want another [toe]?"

Thereupon the young child affirmed strongly, saying, "Indeed, it is."

They ate and finished the food.

The young child re-affirmed, "I have eaten the big toe of our mother."

Now the traveller rose up, and said, "My child, I am going into the forest, but I will return again."

When he had gone some distance, he turned round, and said, "I have killed your grandmother; ye have eaten her flesh."

Then the young boy said, "Did I not tell you, but ye listened not, but rebuked me for saying it?"

They all cried, and lamented sorely.