Philippine Folk-Tales — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Philippine Folk-Tales
John Stuart Mill · en
"Well," said East Wind, "I do not know the way, but my brother,
South Wind, may be able to show it to you. Good-by."
Magbolotó went on, and at last met South Wind.
"Magbolotó, Magbolotó, why are you weeping?" asked South Wind.
"Ask me nothing, if you cannot help me in any way," said Magbolotó.
"Tell me your trouble and I will help you," answered South Wind.
Then Magbolotó told him his story, just as he had done to North Wind
and East Wind.
"Well," said South Wind, "I do not know the way to heaven, but
my brother, West Wind, can tell you the course to be taken to get
there. Good-by."
Magbolotó went on and on, and at last met West Wind. "Magbolotó,
Magbolotó, why are you weeping?" asked West Wind.
"Ask me nothing, if you cannot help me in any way," answered Magbolotó.
"Tell me your trouble and I will help you," answered West Wind,
and Magbolotó did as he was bidden.
"Magbolotó," said West Wind, "I don't know the way to heaven, but my
friend, Mr. Eagle, does. Good-by."
Magbolotó went on until he met Mr. Eagle.
"Magbolotó, Magbolotó, why are you weeping?" asked Mr. Eagle.
"Ask me nothing, if you cannot help me in any way," answered Magbolotó.
"Tell me your trouble and I will help you," replied Mr. Eagle. Then
Magbolotó told Mr. Eagle his trouble.
"Magbolotó," said Mr. Eagle, "get upon my back and I will carry you
to your wife's home."
Magbolotó climbed upon Mr. Eagle's back and they flew up until they
reached Macaya's house. Then Magbolotó requested Macaya's grandmother,
with whom she lived, to let her granddaughter return to earth with him.
"By no means," said the grandmother, "unless you will spread ten
jars of luñga (a certain very small grain) out to dry and gather them
again in the evening."
So Magbolotó spread the jars of luñga on the sand, and at noon began
to gather them up; but sunset had come before he had gathered more
than five handfuls, so he sat down and began to cry like a little boy.
The king of the ants heard him, and wishing to help him,
asked:--"Magbolotó, Magbolotó, why are you weeping?"
"Ask me nothing, if you cannot help me."
"Tell me about it and I will help you."
So Magbolotó told the king of the ants all his history, and the
condition imposed by the grandmother before he could have his wife,
and how impossible it was to fulfil it.
"Well, Magbolotó, you shall be helped," said the king of the ants. Then
he blew his horn, and in a little while all his subjects came, and
began picking up the grain and putting it into the jars. In a few
moments all the grain was in the jars.
The next morning Magbolotó went to get his wife, but the grandmother
stopped him, saying:--
"You shall not take my granddaughter away until you have first hulled
a hundred bushels of rice."