Page:Meda - a tale of the future.djvu/284

280 I said that in the times in which I had lived a man who was continually speaking of himself and his doings was called an egotist, and was despised. We used in those days to make it a rule therefore, to keep silence as to our own doings, allowing others to speak for us.

"But," she said, "you are here alone, we can get none other to speak and tell us about your actions, so you must speak for yourself." All the rest joined with her, and as Meda added her request to that of the others, I consented. Had I but known the result that my simple narrative brought about, I would rather a hundred times have had my tongue cut out and thrown to the dogs (had there been any,) than have uttered a word.

I told them where I was born. I told them about my much beloved father and mother, and I moved them almost to tears when I described with all the fervour of my gratitude my mother's loving care for me; I told them how she gave up every pleasure to gratify mine; I told them how she had laboured and toiled after my