The Faithful Husband

: Romance and Tragedy
: Laos Folk-lore Of Farther India

Upon a day in years long since gone by, Chow[10] Soo Tome, wearied of

the talking of his slaves, wandered into the forest. As he walked in an

unfrequented path, he came to a lake where seven beautiful winged nymphs

were disporting themselves in the water. One, Chow Soo Tome readily saw

was more beautiful than the others, and he loved her and desired her for

his wife. On seeing the Chow, however, they all fled, but the most
/> beautiful one permitted herself to be overtaken.



"When I saw thee, my heart was filled with love for thee. If thou dost

not consent to be my wife, of sorrow will I die," cried Chow Soo Tome.



"Easily could I have escaped, had not love for thee made me loath to

leave thee," replied the nymph. And in great joy they returned to the

Chow's home.



"My son, let me take the wings of thy wife, lest she fly and leave thee

in sorrow," urged the Chow's mother, and, readily did the nymph wife lay

aside her wings.



But it happened that the head chow heard of the beauty of the wife of

Chow Soo Tome, and he coveted her, and seeking to do away with Chow Soo

Tome, he sent him to war, and commanded that he lead the battle.



The young nymph wife knew the design of the head chow, and, as soon as

her husband had gone, she sought her mother-in-law and begged that she

give her back her wings.



"I am filled with sorrow. Without Soo Tome I cannot remain in the house.

Give me my wings that I may fly in the air and be comforted," pled the

wife.



"Consent that I tie a rope to thy feet. Then, I will give thee the

wings," answered Soo Tome's mother.



The young wife consented, but, having donned her wings and flown up in

the air, she cut the rope fastened to her feet and was safe from the

head chow's pursuit. Her freedom made her think of the home of her

father in the kingdom of Chom Kow Kilat,[11] and thither she flew.



Chow Soo Tome, unhurt and victorious, returned from the war and found

his home desolate without his nymph wife, and would not be comforted but

determined to seek her. "Now, I will go seek her in her father's

kingdom, Chom Kow Kilat, though seven years, seven months and seven days

be required for the journey."



Through forest, over mountains and across plains toiled Chow Soo Tome

patiently. And, as he journeyed, upon a day, he met an ape.



"My friend, where do you go?" asked the ape.



"To a land far away, where the love of my heart abides, in the kingdom

of Chom Kow Kilat. The way I do not know, but my heart guides me,"

answered Chow Soo Tome.



The ape pitied him and sought to aid him, and what food he had or found

he shared with Chow Soo Tome gladly. Together they travelled many days

until they reached the sea. They had no means of crossing, and when the

ape realized he could no longer aid Chow Soo Tome, he cried bitterly,

saying, "No longer can I aid thee, now; therefore is my sorrow greater

than I can bear," and, lo, he died! For three days did Chow Soo Tome

mourn this kind friend, and, as he mourned, a fly came to eat of the

ape.



"I am but alive and fear I will die if I do not have food at once," said

the fly. "The ape is dead and can feel no pain. I am alive and hunger,

thou art in trouble and need aid. If thou wilt give me to eat of the

flesh of the dead ape, whenever thou needst me, think on me and I will

come to thee," added the fly.



"Eat," said Chow Soo Tome, and then he went on his way, but shortly

after, sat down under a tree. While there, he saw two eagles alight on

the tree.



"When we are rested, we will fly across the sea and eat of the feast

which the king of Chom Kow Kilat gives in honor of the return of his

beautiful daughter," said one of the eagles to its mate.



Hearing these words, Chow Soo Tome cautiously climbed into the tree and

crept under the wing of the larger eagle, who shortly after said to its

mate: "Before we fly hence, I must rid myself of an insect which is

under my wing and annoys me."



"This is a sacred day, and, for some punishment has the insect come

under your wing; let it remain," counselled the other eagle, and then

they flew over the sea. When they rested in a tree on the other shore,

Chow Soo Tome crept from under the wing and climbed down the tree. After

a time he reached a sala[12] near a large city. Near the sala was a

well, and, as Chow Soo Tome rested, seven slaves of the king of Chom Kow

Kilat came from the city for water.



"Why dost thou draw of the water?" asked Chow Soo Tome of a slave.



"We are this day glad, for the most beautiful daughter of the king of

Chom Kow Kilat hath returned from the land of men and the water will be

poured over her head," said the slave addressed.



Approaching the seventh slave, Chow Soo Tome asked that he might place a

ring in her water jar. Now, the ring was one which he had received from

his nymph wife, and he sought thus to turn her thoughts to him again.



"Pour your water in such a manner that, when it falls, the ring will

fall upon the hands of the princess," directed Chow Soo Tome.



The slave did as directed, and, as the ring fell on the hands of the

young princess, she knew her husband was near, and she asked the slave

who was at the well when she drew the water.



"A chow of a far country," said the slave, "who rests in the sala by the

sacred well outside the city gate."



In great haste and joy, did the young princess seek her father. "Outside

the city gate, in the sala by the sacred well, doth my husband await me.

Let me go to him, father," she pleaded.



"I must first prove that he be thy husband. Let all my daughters make

ready a table spread with the best of the feast, and hide themselves.

The man shall be called, and, if he selects thy table, he is thy

husband, but, if he knows not thy table, he shall die," replied the

king.



The tables were made ready, Chow Soo Tome was summoned and commanded to

select the table prepared by the princess whom he claimed as his wife.

Sore perplexed, Chow Soo Tome bethought himself of the fly's promise,

and he called it to his aid. Immediately the fly appeared and sat on the

table prepared by the wife of Chow Soo Tome, and there Chow Soo Tome sat

down.



"Yet another test," said the king. "Make ready seven curtains and place

my daughters behind the seven curtains, allowing but one finger of each

princess to be seen. Then, from among the fingers, select that of thy

wife."



Immediately did the grateful fly rest upon the curtain where lay the

finger of the young wife, and unhesitatingly Chow Soo Tome walked up to

the curtain and clasped the right finger.



"It is enough. She is thy wife," declared the king, and so pleased was

he that he made Chow Soo Tome second in power in the kingdom of Chom Kow

Kilat.



9: This represents a very well-known maerrchen.



10: Chow--a prince or high official.



11: A fabulous city.



12: A rest-house for guests.



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