Poison-mouth
:
The Gods Know and the Gods Reward
:
Laos Folk-lore Of Farther India
There was once a poor father and mother who had a little daughter,
called "Poison-Mouth."
And it happened on a day that a great number of cows came into the
garden, and when the mother saw them she cried angrily, "You but destroy
our garden. I would you were all dead."
"Poison-Mouth" hearing her mother's angry words, called out, "Die, all
of you, for you are destroying our garden." And immed
ately all the
cattle dropped dead.
Upon another day, the bees were swarming and great companies flew over
the house, and the mother said complainingly, "Why do you never come to
us that we may have honey?"
Little "Poison-Mouth" called: "Come to us that we may have honey." And,
lo, before the eye of day had closed, the house was filled with bees and
the poor people had more honey than they could use.
Word of "Poison-Mouth" reached a great chow, and, prompted by the god of
love to sweeten the poisoned mouth, he sent ten men with this message to
the child's parents: "Take good care of your child; let her hear no
evil, and when she is old enough, I will take her to wife."
When the men approached the home of "Poison-Mouth" they said, "O, poor
people," but the mother would not permit them to finish, as their words
angered her, and she exclaimed, "You are bad dogs!" And the men were no
longer men, but dogs, snapping and snarling, for little "Poison-Mouth"
had also cried, "Bad dogs are you."
Though greatly distressed, the chow sent yet again twenty men with his
message. And again, when the mother beheld these men, she exclaimed,
"See, the dogs coming yonder!" "Poison-Mouth" echoed, "Yes, twenty dogs
are coming now," and they also changed into dogs, fighting on the
streets.
"Who can help me?" cried the chow, distressed though not despairing.
An old man answered, "I will help you. I will go to the child." And,
while the mother was absent, he sought the little one, and thus softly
said, "My child, thy tongue is given thee to bless with, and not to
curse. Come with me, and learn only that which is good." The little one
answered, "I will come," and the old man took her to the chow, who, from
that time forth, spoke no evil, and, little "Poison-Mouth," hearing none
but beautiful and good words, grew beautiful and good, and her words
brought blessings ever.