558 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. Ann. 82 



of my people. But with it all, I think that when I have returned 

 home I shall not relate what has befallen me on this trip. Moreover, 

 in case some shall say to me, ' Let us marry,' I will consent at once." 

 Of course he did not fall asleep during the entire night. Very early 

 in the morning he ate some cold meat, and then taking up his pack, 

 he started for home. Having arrived there, he hung his pack on 

 the wall of the lodge. His mother said : " I am thankful for this." 

 Noticing a changed expression on his face, she said to him: "Lo, 

 pray what has befallen you, since you have returned so soon after 

 your departure? " The son replied: " Something unusual happened, 

 it would seem. I became homesick; this is the reason that I returned 

 home at once." 



During the time that the son was away hunting many women 

 visited the mother, who were continually asking her consent to a 

 marriage with him. So now the mother said to him: "I will tell 

 you that three maidens paid me visits, who proposed marriage with 

 you; these maidens you know well, as they are the three who have 

 been the most insistent on marrying you. So now it is for you to 

 choose which of these three, or if not one of these, then whom are 

 you willing to marry? I do not know what may happen should 

 you again find it impossible to consent to marry one of the.se 

 maidens." At once the son replied : " I will consent to taking one 

 of these maidens in marriage. I will marry without further ado." 

 He then informed his mother which of the maidens he would marry, 

 for he well knew the names of all those who had come to his mother's 

 lodge with their baskets of marriage bread. This answer greatly 

 pleased his mother, who said to him : " It is indeed the right thing 

 for you to do, for many women have come here to ask you to marry 

 them. Now I will bring here the chosen one." So saying, she went 

 at once to the lodge of the maiden of his choice. 



On entering the lodge of the maiden she greeted her and her 

 mother, and, after informing them of the purpose of the visit, .said 

 to the former : " I have come after you to bring you to our lodge 

 and fii'e. My son has consented to marry you ; so you will accompany 

 me home, and you it will be who will dwell with her spouse's 

 people." The maiden, agreeing to the proposition, said : " So let it 

 be; I am willing to marry him." Thereupon the two returned to 

 the lodge of the mother of the young man, the misogamist. They 

 reached the lodge, and, on entering it, the mother said to her son : " I 

 have brought with me her who is my daughter-in-law. Now I will 

 speak a few words: Oh, my child! you must continue to love her; 

 you must have compassion for her; never vex her in mind or body; 

 never let it be said that you are one of those who kill their spouses. 

 Some grasp them by the hair of the head to abuse them; never do 

 you thus. I am through." This speech she addressed to her son. 



