Narrative Story (Folktale) : The Widow And Her Son'
The following story is entitled Narrative Story (Folktale) : The Widow And Her Son'. From the story we can pick a lesson needed in life. It gives us a message to do and act the best in life although it is hard to do and needs longtime to wait and see the result.
You may use this Narrative Story (Folktale) : The Widow And Her Son' for a reading text when you teach reading in the English Class. Or it will be useful as a referral to complete your thesis. Whatever! I just hope it's gonna be useful. Have fun!
A WIDOW had two sons, Yao-Pao, a lad yet in school, and Yao-Moi who
tilled the soil.
Yao-Moi, the elder, was a good man; he had worked hard for thirty
years, but he had not gained riches. He sent Yao-Pao to school and served his
mother well.
One year there were great rains. The grain all died in the ground and
the people of that country had nothing to eat. Yao-Moi had debts which he could
not pay, and when his harvest failed he became poorer than ever before. Then
there came a great famine and twenty thousand people died in that land. Yao-Moi
killed his oxen to keep his mother and brother from starving. Last of all he
killed the horses and mules, for it was yet six months before the time of
harvest. Each time when he would kill for meat, the neighbors would come and
beg food, and because he was sorry for them, he could not refuse.
One widow came many times until she was ashamed to beg longer from the
little that he had. Finally she brought a girl child to him and said, "We
are again starving. I will give you this girl for some meat. She is strong and
can serve your mother^" But Yao-Moi said, "No, I will give you the
meat. I can not take
your girl from you."
So he gave her meat once more, and she took the meat home to her son.
But when it was gone and they were weak and fierce again with the death hunger, the widow said,
"We shall all die, unless one dies to save the others. My son cannot
longer walk. I will kill the girl child and save his life. He can then
eat." Her son said, "No, do not kill the girl, trade her to Yao-Moi
for meat." And the mother said, "Yao-Moi will soon starve, too, and
then he will kill her. It is better that I do it;" and she took the big
sharp knife to make it sharper.
She laid the girl child down on a bench and prepared to kill; but
Yao-Moi passed by the house just then, and hearing the moans and screams he
stopped to ask the reason. And the widow said, "We are starving. We will
have a funeral to-day. We will now kill and eat each other that the last one
may live until the time of the harvest." But Yao-Moi said, "Oh, no,
do not kill the girl, I will take her home with me, and you can have meat in
exchange for her;" and he took her to his home and gave the widow many
pounds of meat for herself and her dying son.
Four months passed by. Yao-Moi had nothing in his own house to eat, and
they were all starving Yao-Moi, his mother, his little brother, and the girl.
When the death hunger came, and the mother saw that her sons must die,
she said, "I will kill the girl." But Yao-Moi said, "No, I think
we shall not die. Let us sleep to-night and see. I think something surely will
come. Better kill me than the girl child."
So they went to bed that night. It was winter and the house was cold
and dark. There was no wood, no light, no food; and they were starving.
Now, as the house grew more cold and dark, there came to them the quiet of a great despair and they all slept.
Now, as the house grew more cold and dark, there came to them the quiet of a great despair and they all slept.
And Yao-Moi had a dream, and he saw an old man in flowing white
garments, with a belt of gold around his waist. His hair was long and white,
and his face was gentle and kind. And he called, "Yao-Moi! Yao-Moi! Yao-Moi!
Hearken unto my words. Do you know how many people are dead in this land?"
Yao-Moi answered, "No, but I do know they are many, for only
three among a hundred of all that were are now left."
And the old man said, "In every house but yours some have died,
but those of your household are all alive: you have also saved the girl child.
I know you are a good man. You have plowed the soil for thirty years, and have
never complained about the heaven or the earth. The thunder and waters come,
the winds blow and the earth quakes, and still you are patient and kind. You
are good to your mother. You support your brother, send him to school, and are
as a father to him. You have a kind heart for your neighbors' troubles. You
live a good life and, because of this, you shall not starve. To-morrow morning
you must arise early and go to the East Mountain by the wilderness. There you
will find many meats and nuts and seeds. Bring them home to your family. I am a
spirit sent from the Greatest One to earth."
After saying these things the man went out and Yao- Moi arose with
great joy and told his family. Then he went to the East Mountain by the
wilderness, where he found corn and peanuts and the meat of two hundred foxes
already prepared to eat. And he was very glad, and brought home much food and
saved many lives.
*******
EE-SZE (Meaning): If people do good they will have reward.
I hope you like this Narrative Story (Folktale) : The Widow And Her Son' and enjoy the other stories provided in this blog! :)
No comments for "Narrative Story (Folktale) : The Widow And Her Son'"
Post a Comment