Filipino Popular Tales, by Dean S. Fansler

An Act of Kindness

Narrated by Pacita Cordero, a Tagalog from Pagsanjan, La Laguna.

Early one morning Andres went out to buy five cents' worth of

rice. On his way he came across a man who was about to kill a small

snake. "Please don't kill the poor creature!" said Andres. "Did it

harm you?"

"No," answered the man, "but it may bite us or some other passer-by,"

and he again drew out his bolo; but Andres restrained him. "What do

you want this snake for?" said the merciless man.

"Leave it alone, for pity's sake!" cried Andres. "Here are five

cents! Don't injure the harmless creature!"

The man, very glad to get the money, did not say a word, and went

away. After the man was gone, the snake said to Andres, "Kind friend,

come home with me. There you will find our huge chief snake, and

many others like myself. But don't fear anything! Trust me, for I

will never lead you into danger. When we reach out dwelling, I will

recommend you to our chief. He will be harsh to you at first, since

you are a stranger; but never mind that! When he asks you what you

want, ask him to give you his red cloth. This enchanted cloth can

supply you with whatever you want." So the two friends started for

the horrible snake-cave.

"Who is that stranger with you,--a murderer, or a robber?" hissed

the chief as soon as the snake and Andres entered.

"He is neither of the two," replied the snake. "Please don't do a

bit of harm to him! Had it not been for him, my life would have been

lost. He rescued me from the hands of a cruel person who found me

creeping through the grass."

"Well," said the chief to Andres, "what reward do you want me to

give you?"

"Only your red cloth, and nothing else," answered Andres. The chief

hesitated for a moment. Then he went into a very dark cell, and got

out the red cloth. He returned with it, and said to Andres, "Since

you have saved the life of one of our number, I give you this cloth

as a reward. You can ask of it anything you want."

Andres thanked the chief, and went away. It was now ten o'clock, and

he had not yet bought rice for breakfast. "Poor mother! she must be

very hungry." Andres himself felt hungry, so he asked the red cloth

to bring him food. Soon a breakfast, richer than the ordinary ones

he was accustomed to, was spread before him. Having eaten his hearty

meal under the shade of a tree, he resumed his journey homeward. He

had yet several miles to go.

After a few hours' walk he again became hungry. He went to a hut

and asked the old woman there if he might eat in her house. He said

that he had brought his own food with him. The old woman invited

him in, and Andres asked his red cloth for food. In an instant a

fine luncheon was before them. Andres invited the old woman to eat

with him, which she willingly did. She liked the food so very much,

that she asked Andres to let her have his wonderful red cloth. She

said, "Give me this cloth, and I will let you have my two stones in

exchange. When you want to get rid of persons who annoy you, just

tell these two stones where to go, and they will inflict heavy blows

on the evil-doers." Andres agreed to the exchange.

He proceeded on his way, taking with him the two stones. Tired and

exhausted from his long journey, Andres again began to feel hungry. Now

what would become of him? His red cloth was gone, and he had nothing

to eat. Fortunately he saw another hut by the roadside. He went to

it, and easily gained admittance. The witch, the only person in the

cottage, had just finished her dinner. She had nothing left to give

the starving boy. Andres then said to his stones, "Go to your former

mistress, the old woman, and tell her that I take back my red cloth. If

she refuses to give it to you, do what you think it best to do."

The two stones went back to the hut. There they found the old woman

eating. "We have come here," they said, "to take the red cloth away

from you. Our master, the boy who was here this afternoon, wants

it back again." The old woman refused to give up the cloth, so the

stones struck her with heavy blows until she fell down senseless on

the floor. Then the stones rolled themselves in the red cloth and

hastened back to their master with it. Andres spread it out and ate

his dinner. He asked for an extraordinary breakfast besides. Then he

said to the witch, "You need not prepare anything for your breakfast

to-morrow. Here is a good meal that I have asked my red cloth to give

to you, you have been so kind in letting me come to your hut." The

witch was very glad, and thanked the boy. She said to him, "Boy, I

have here two magic canes which I want to dispose of. I am very old

now, and don't need them any more. They have served me well. These

canes can kill your enemies, or any bad persons whom you want to be

put to death. Just give them directions, and they will obey you."

Andres now had three enchanted possessions. It was very late when he

reached home, and his mother was very hungry and very angry. He had

no more than reached the foot of the stairs when she met him with

a loud scolding. But Andres just laughed. He asked his red cloth to

bring his mother a good dinner; and while she was eating, he related

to her the occurrences of the day.

Andres and his mother were not rich, and their wealthy neighbors were

greatly surprised to see them become rich so soon. One particularly

selfish neighbor, already rich, who was eager to deprive Andres and

his mother of their wealth, sent a band of robbers to the cottage one

night. At midnight Andres heard his dogs barking, and he knew that

there was some one lurking about. When he saw the robbers coming,

he took out his magic stones and canes, and commanded them to get

rid of the thieves. In a few minutes all the robbers lay dead.

Andres and his mother remained rich.