+------------------------------------+----------------------------------+ | THE ASIATIC STORY. | THE AMERICAN STORY. | | | | | In Hindoo mythology Urvasi came | Wampee, a great hunter, once | | down from heaven and became the | came to a strange prairie, | | wife of the son of Buddha only on | where he heard faint sounds of | | condition that two pet rams | music, and looking up saw a | | should never be taken from her | speck in the sky, which proved | | bedside, and that she should | itself to be a basket | | never behold her lord undressed. | containing twelve most | | The immortals, however, wishing | beautiful maidens, who, on | | Urvasi back in heaven, contrived | reaching the earth, forthwith | | to steal the rams; and, as the | set themselves to dance. He | | king pursued the robbers with his | tried to catch the youngest, | | sword in the dark, the lightning | but in vain; ultimately he | | revealed his person, the compact | succeeded by assuming the | | was broken, and Urvasi | disguise of a mouse. He was | | disappeared. This same story is | very attentive to his new wife, | | found in different forms among | who was really a daughter of | | many people of Aryan and Turanian | one of the stars, but she | | descent, the central idea being | wished to return home, so she | | that of a man marrying some one | made a wicker basket secretly, | | of an aerial or aquatic origin, | and, by help of a charm she | | and living happily with her till | remembered, ascended to her | | he breaks the condition on which | father. | | her residence with him depends, | | | stories exactly parallel to that | | | of Raymond of Toulouse, who | | | chances in the hunt upon the | | | beautiful Melusina at a fountain, | | | and lives with her happily until | | | he discovers her fish-nature and | | | she vanishes. | | +------------------------------------+----------------------------------+