Week 6 Storytelling: The Stones and the Ring

Author's Note: This story is a continuation of the story titled Three Brother's of Fortune, which is about three brothers who all are gifted items that have supernatural powers. Suan, the brother who eventually ends up with a wife when the other brothers do not, has two stones which will reunite what is of similar kind. Suan uses this to restore his wife together again, and will use them in the story that follows.

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After Suan and his wife had been happy together for many years, Suan still had the stones that he had used to restore life to his wife. Their life had been hard since bringing his wife back to life, for they were very poor. Suan worked very hard each day, as did his wife to provide for themselves, but they were both struggling to makes ends meet. The only hope that Suan had was his stones. If he could find a way to profit off of their usefulness, surely he and his wife would be happy for he was sure that the potential for a large profit margin was there. He had hung onto them, but they really had not been much use. He had used them on occasion, for very minor things such as fixing broken pots, and repairing other things around the house. But, it seemed that their defining moment had already happened. 

Suan spent many years thinking on this, pondering on what to do with them, even considering selling them. He could make a lot of money off of them, money that he could use to buy him and his wife a new house or more livestock. But just as he got to seriously considering this, the opportunity to use them again presented itself! The head of his village had been recently married to a gorgeous woman, and had given her a beautiful ring. However, the ring had already been broken! The stone had been separated from the ring, and no jeweler within one hundred kilometers had been successful in repairing it. Suan saw this as an opportunity to both earn favor with the head of the village, and prove the usefulness of his stones!

So Suan brought his stones to the head of the village, and offered his services. The head of the village was very suspicious at first, but then eventually submitted for there was nothing to lose. To his amazement, Suan fixed the ring right in front of him! The head of the village was amazed, and began to send out letters, telling all the surrounding villages about these wondrous stones and their powers. 

Suan soon had a huge clientele, who would bring him items each week to have him repair them. He earned a living for himself and his wife through this, and again the stones secured his livelihood. He and his wife were both happy and wealthy, with their future secured. 

Stones

Source: Pixabay

Bibliography: This story is based on The Three Brother's of Fortune out of Filipino Tales written by Dean Fansler, published in 1921.

Week 6 Reading Diary: Filipino Popular Tales Continued

Filipino Tales by Dean Fansler

Iguana and turtle are friends, iguana tricks turtle into taking his place several times. Sherrif wonders why people are laughing outside of his house at night. Do not be greedy, crow loses his meat whenever trying to chase a small bird that he cannot catch. Hummingbird tricks water buffalo into thinking that he can drink more water than him. God makes the ants bite not as poisonous as snake as punishment for disobedience. God makes two jewels in the sky. The reason hens peck at the ground is searching for the cows necklace that the other hens lost. The ocean is salty because of the broken salt blocks.

Land crab from "Why the Mosquitos Hum"

Source: UnTextbook

Week 6 Reading Diary: Filipino Popular Tales

Filipino Tales by Dean Fansler

Monkey tricks man into getting bees to attack him, and wearing a boa constrictor as a belt. Suan unites the women who has been split into three and makes her his wife moving forward. Chonguita transforms into a women after Don Juan throws her into a wall, which does not make sense. Chochinango marries the kings daughter after being tested by god and passing. God tested his character, and gave him rewards each time he passed. He ended up needed all of the rewards in order to convince the kings daughter to marry him. Man is turned into a monkey in punishment, has to find lover. He does after five centuries, then marries her. Brothers select right place to trade, all make good fortunes. Dragon flies trick monkeys into hitting themselves on the head, beating them in a battle.

Carabao in the Philippines

Source: UnTextbook