The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-17

When the king heard that BaleSa was
sick he did not seek her outright, be-
cause he loved her little, but he sent
for me, commanding me to attend her,
and when the child was born to cause
its body to be brought before him, &C
cordlng to custom, SO that he might be
sure that it was dead | bent to the
earth before him, and went to do his
bidding with heavy heart, for was not
Baleka my sister, and would not her
child be of my own blood? Still, it
must be so for Chaka's whisper was as
the shout of other kings, and if we
dared to disobey then our blood and the
blood OF all in our kraal must answer
for it. Better that babe should die
than that we should become food for
jacllals. Presently came to the En-
poseni, the place of the kings wives,
and declared the kings word to the
soldiers on guard, They lowered their
assegais and let me pass, and | entered
the hut of Baleka. In it We're other of
the kings wives, but when they saw me
they rose and went away, for it was not
lawful that they should stay where |
was Thus | was left alone with nv
sister
For awhile she lay silent and said
no word, though | saw by the heaving
OF her breast that she was weeping.
"Hush, little one!' | said at length
your sorrow will soon be done"
"Nay, she answered, lifting her
head, lit will be but begun Oh, cruel
man! know the reason of your com
ing You come to slay the babe that
shall be born of me-"
sit is the kings word, woman"
ut is the kings word, and what is the
kings word? Have |, then, naught to
say in this matter?'
at is the kings child, woman!"
ut is the kings child, and is it not
also my child2 Must my babe be
dragged from my breast and be- dashed
against stone, and by you, Mopo:
Have not loved you, Mopo? Did not
fee with you from our people and the
vengeance of our father? Do you know
that not two moons gone the king was
wroth with you because he fell sick
and would have caused you to be slain
had not pleaded for you and called his
oath to mind. And thus you pay me
you come to slay my child, my firstborn
child"
| sit is the kings word, woman" an
swered sternly, but my heart was split
In two within me.
Then the light in the doorway was
darkened. A woman entered alone.
looked around to see who it was, ther
fell upon the ground in salutation, fol
before me was Unandi, mother of the
king, who was named "Mother of the
Heavens, the same lady whom m,
mother had refused the milk.
"Hail, Mother of the Heavens!'' said
Greeting, Mopo!" she answered
Say, why does Baleka weep? Is it be
cause the sorrow Of women is upon herr
ASK of her. great chieftaiuess,"
said
Then Baleka spoke 81 weep, mother
OF KING, because this man, who is IN,
brother, has come from him who is m,
lord and thy son, to Stay that which
shall be born Of me. 0 thou who's,
breasts have given suck, plead for me
my son was not slain at birth"
"Perchance it were well if he hat
been SO slam, Baleka," said Unandi
then had many another man lived +,
look upon the sun who now is dead"
AT the least. as an infant he wa
good and gentle, and thou mghtest low
him, mother Of the Zulu
"Never, Baleka! AS babe he bit m,
! breast and tore my hair; as the man is
SO was the babe.