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Reading Notes: Folklore of Laos, Part B

 The Boys Who Were Not Appreciated

This title of this story caught my attention because it seems as if it is a mystery to what the boys will do. I initially guessed that the boys would be taken for granted and treated wrongly, and they would come back to get revenge on those who wronged them. However, it turns out I was wrong. 

The story begins with introducing the two brothers. The elder one tended to the younger one when the mom was working for food. The boy's father had died, and the mother married another man who was very cruel. Over time, he turned her against her sons and began to neglect them. After a long day of waiting for their mother to return with food, the boys were extremely hungry. When the mother and her husband finally returned with rice, the husband refused to let the mother share any with her children. In fact, she kicked them out of the house altogether. The boys ventured until they found a widow who let them sleep, but they were quickly on the move looking for a permanent place. The elder boy saw a dead snake one day and gave it some grass- to his surprise that grass had revived it they ate it. One day word spread that the daughter of the chow had died, and anyone that could restore her back to life would be rewarded greatly. The elder brother took some of the same grass and gave it to her. She came back to life, and the brothers were rewarded as promised. After growing older and wiser, the boys decided to visit their mother and her husband. They stuffed bamboo wood with gold pieces and loaded up elephants for the journey home. They handed out these bamboo pieces to their neighbors, the widow, and their mother. However, the mother was offended that all she got was bamboo- not knowing what was inside of them. The boys left and eventually the widow urged the family to cut it open. When they did, the boys were already gone and ti was too late of her to thank them. They eventually died due to their inability to endure their remorse. 

[Gold. Image information.]


Bibliography

Fleeson, Katherine.  The Boys Who Were Not Appreciated. Laos Folklore. 1899. Link.

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