|
Listen to
this story segment in Western Mountain Lalo (yet to be uploaded)
 |
| 1. A long time ago, in a village, a snake with a
pearl in its mouth would come to the village temple every New Year’s
Day. The families in the village took turns to sacrifice one person
each year to the snake or it would destroy them all.
|
 |
| 2. One New Year’s Eve, a couple, their old
father, and their young son prepared a New Year’s feast. In spite of
the delicious food, they were too sad to eat. It was their turn to
sacrifice someone to the snake. They could not bear the thought of any
one of them being sacrificed, so they were all crying in their home.
|
 |
| 3. At that time, there was a vagabond who begged
food from village to village. That night, he came to the family’s home.
To his surprise, although the table was spread with a great feast, the
family was mourning. When he understood the family’s situation, he
replied, “Don’t worry, let’s feast now, then I will be the sacrifice
instead of one of you.” When they heard this, they cried, “Thank you!
You are our savior!” Then they dried their tears and shared their New
Year’s feast with the vagabond.
|
Next
Based on a traditional folk tale told by Cha
Shicheng in the Western Mountain Lalo dialect (Western Yi), Dali
Prefecture,
Yunnan Province, illustrated by Lu Zhaolin.
|
