Year: 1870

queen was kuoWu do OnoHo" VI WV
Snake. This monster still continued to
be the only child of the Queen, and with
her became the object of the Kings fond
est care, having servants to attend upon
him, and house built for As exclusive
use i; while Unsimba, like his mother, was
treated with distrust, and received no spe-
cial token of his fathers favor.


At length Unsimba reached manhood,
and, as is the custom, two damsels. Sis
ters, and daughters of the king of a dis
tant nation, came to look at the young
men belonging to the country. with the
intention of choosing husbands from a.
mong them. The eldest Of the two wan
dering princesses selected Uusimba. and
they were betrotbed amid much rejoicing


A great feast was made in honor Of the
event, and all the young men and women
were invited. The King presided as host,
and brought with him his favorite Imam
ba, whom be placed beside him in the seat
of honor; but the damselA ran away
shrieking with terror at his appearance,
and could only be pacifed by the repeated
assurances of the King that the Snake was
his own and only son.


The feast was followed by dance,
where, according to custom, each damsel
was asked in turn to name the youth
whom she preferred before all others
One after another they proclaimed their
choice but when the younger princess
was also asked to select one of the youths
present, all were amazed and confounded
to hear her utter the name of Umamba.


The young men whispered to each other
that the princess. being stranger, had
forgotten the names of the guests, and
that she had chosen the Snake=by mistake,
and they secretly warned sher,of her blum
der; but to their amazement the young
girl repeated her choice even more firmly
than before Even the respect due to the
King could not prevent the guests from
exhibiting their surprise at her choice
but Unsimba listened With jealous rage,
for he despised his unfortunate brother,
and burned with anger at the thought that
the wretched Snake should be chosen by
the princess, who, more beautiful and
graceful than his own betrothed, he had
also hoped to wed.


When the dance was over, the younges
princess went straightway to the house o.
Umamba; and the Queen was there with
her son the mother saluted the stranger
kindly. and then said to her, ut is true
that you have chosen my son at the dance
but you would not also choose him fol
your husband %


"And why not" exclaimed the beauti
! full damsel; ''if love him, may not take
him for my husband ?" Then she smiled
gaily and continued, ''Need fear him
You do not think that he will eat me up!
l have no dread of your Snake son, for ]
love him.


Then the mother left the house, rejoic-
ing greatly; and Umamba in gentle
voice. asked the damsel to close the door,
and spread his sleeping mat upon the
floor.


But the young girl merrily objected
"Why must I obey you? You ought to
wait upon yourself! 1t is not my duty tc
serve you'll


But the Snakes voice was.SuA Of tender
sadness and entrcaty as it continued tc
plead-"Nay, but do as desire you. il
you love me. Will you not help me p
| Then the princess fastened to do as he
required, and as she performed the task,
the Snake groaned as if in great anguish
The young girl was moved with compass
sion, and gently urged upon him any SER
vice that might diminish his pain.


"Can not help you-save you from
this misery % she asked in tones of low
ing sympathy.


AYE" moaned the Snake, as if in
great torment; "hold fast to the pole Of
the tent, and with the other hand grasp
me firmly. SO that I may straighten my
self, and be freed from this agony"
Bravely the girl did as she was desir-
ed; she caught the pole firmly, and then
grasped the reptile. The smooth skin
slipped between her fingers, and she shud.
dered with dread and horror at the touch;
but her hand claspcd fast over the SER
pent, and she closed her eyes in fear while
she struggled to prevent the snake from
escaping from her hold But in mo-
ment voice at her side bade her to look
up, and she raised her eyes to behold a
youth of surprising beauty standing neal