Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/178

152 and I'll be off." So she gave him some money, and sent him away to keep him out of mischief.

So off he went; and on the way what should he meet but a huge snake. The boy was scared out of his wits. Says the snake: "Play to me! and I'll dance." So terrified was the boy, that he did as he was bid; and the snake danced to him. He danced till he had enough, and then says he: "Thank you," says he, "and now come along with with me." So the lad went with him to his cave, and there showed him heaps upon heaps of treasures. What pearls! what gold pieces! what diamonds! Says he to the lad: "Take your choice, whatever you like." So the lad did. "Now," quoth the snake, "you must swear that when you are married, you will invite me to the feast, and call me your brother. If you don't, I shall die; and if I die, this is what you must do. You must take my bones and bury them in the earth, outside your house; from that spot a cypress will grow up, all in one night. And in the evening when you sit under it with your bride, to drink coffee, you must have three cups of coffee made; one cup leave behind, and the cypress tree will come down and drink it. And if anybody asks you what this cup means, you must propound this riddle; they are to stake their fortunes on it, and shall have three guesses. What tree is this? The answer is, a Snake-cypress. As long as none guess it, I am safe; but once guessed, the tree will fall to the ground and die."

So the boy returned home, and a wife was found for him. Says he to his mother: "Mother, I want to bring a guest to the betrothal feast." "Who is it?" she asked. Says he: "My brother." "Brother indeed!" says she, "are you mad? you are my only child, as you know well enough, and brother you have none!" So he did not invite his friend the snake to the betrothal. The snake met him, and reproached him, saying again: "If you don't have me at your wedding, I shall die." But he was persuaded not to invite him to the wedding, and the snake died.