CINDERELLA – The Story of TAM and CAM – Section 1
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LAN BACH LE THAI 1
Long, long ago there was a man who lost his wife and lived with his little girl named TAM. Then he married again a wicked woman. The little girl found this out on the first day after the wedding. There was a big banquet in the hous but TAM was shut up in a room all by herself instead being allowed to welcome the guests and attend the feast.
Moreover, she had to go to bed without any supper.
Things grew worse when a new baby girl was bom in the house. The step-mother adored CAM – for CAM was the name of the baby girl – and she told her husband so man lies about the poor TAM that he would not have anythin more to do with the latter.
«Go and stay away in the kitchen and take care yourself, you naughty child”, said the wicked woman to TAM.
And she gave the little girl a dirty wretched place in the kitchen, and it was there that TAM was to live and work. A night, she was given a tom mat and a ragged sheet as be and coverlet. She had to rub the floors, cut the wood, feed the animals, do all the cooking, the washing up and many other things. Her poor little soft hands had large blisters, but she bore the pain without complaint. Her step-mother also sent her to deep forests to gather wood with the secret hop that the wild beasts might carry her off. She asked TAM draw water from dangerously deep wells so that she migh get drowned one day. The poor little TAM worked and work all day till her skin became swarthy and her hair entangled. But sometimes, she went to the well to draw water, looked at herself in it, and was frightened to realize how dark and ugly she was. She then got some water in the hollow of her hand, washed her face and combed her long smooth hair with her fingers, and the soft white skin appeared again, and she looked very pretty indeed.
When the step-mother realized how pretty TAM could look, she hated her more than ever, and wished to do her more harm.
One day, she asked TAM and her own daughter CAM to go fishing in the village pond.
« Try to get as many as you can », she said. « If you come back with only a few of them, you will get flogged and will be sent to bed without supper.»
TAM knew that these words were meant for her because the step-mother would never beat CAM, who was the apple of her eyes, while she always flogged TAM as hard as she could.
TAM tried to fish hard and by the end of the day, got a basket full of fish. In the meantime, CAM spent her time rolling herself in the tender grass, basking in the war sunshine, picking up wild flowers, dancing and singing.
The sun set before CAM had even started her fishing. She looked at her empty basket and had a bright idea:
« Sister, sister », she said to TAM, « Your hair is full mud. Why don’t you step into the fresh water and get a goc wash to get rid of it ? Otherwise mother is going to scold you. »
TAM listened to the advice, and had a good wash. But in the meantime, CAM poured sister’s fish into her own bask and went home as quickly as she could.
When TAM realized that her fish were stolen away, her heart sank and she began to cry bitterly. Certainly, her step-mother would punish her severely to-night!
Suddenly, a fresh and balmy wind blew, the sky looked purer and the clouds whiter and in front of her stood th smiling blue-robed Goddess of Mercy, carrying a lovel green willow branch with her.
« What is the matter, dear child ? » asked the Goddes in a sweet voice.
TAM gave her an account of her misfortune and added « Most Noble Lady, what am I to do to-night when I go home? I am frightened to death, for my step-mother will not believe me, and will flog me very, very hard.»
The Goddess of Mercy consoled her.
« Your misfortune will be over soon. Have confidence in me and cheer up. Now, look at your basket to see whether there is anything left there ? »
TAM looked and saw a lovely small fish with red fins and golden eyes, and a uttered a little cry of surprise.
The Goddess told her to take the fish home, put it in the well at the back of the house, and feed it three times a day with what she could save from her own food.
TAM thanked the Goddess most gratefully and did exactly as she was told. Whenever she went to the well the fish would appear on the surface to greet her. But should anyone else come, the fish would never show itself.
TAM’s strange behaviour was noticed by her step-mother who spied on her, and went to the well to look for the fish which hid itself in the deep water.
She decided to ask TAM to go to a far away spring to fetch some water, and taking advantage of the absence, she put on the latter’s ragged clothes, went to call the fish, killed it and cooked it.
When TAM came back, she went to the well, called and called, but there was no fish to be seen except the surface of the water stained with blood. She leaned her head against the well and wept in the most miserable way.
The Goddess of Mercy appeared again, with a face as sweet as a loving mother, and comforted her :
« Do not cry, my child. Your step-mother had killed the fish, but you must try to find its bones and bury them in the ground under your mat. Whatever you may wish to possess, pray to them, and your wish will be granted. »
TAM followed the advice and looked for the fish bones everywhere but could find none.
« Cluck ! cluck! » said a hen, « Give me some paddy and I will show you the bones. »
TAM gave her a handful of paddy and the hen said:
« Cluck! cluck! follow me and I will take you to the place.»
When they came to the poultry-yard, the hen scratched a heap of young leaves, uncovered the fish bones which TAM gladly gathered and buried accordingly. It was not long before she got gold and jewelry and dresses of such wonderful materials that they would have rejoiced the heart of any young girl.
When the Autumn Festival came, TAM was told to stay home and sort out the two big baskets of black and green beans that her wicked step-mother had mixed up.
« Try to get the work done », she was told, « before you can go to attend the Festival.»
Then the step-mother and CAM put on their most beautiful dresses and went out by themselves.
After they had gone a long way, TAM lifted her tearful face and prayed :
« O, Benevolent Goddess of Mercy, please help me. »
At once, the soft-eyed Goddess appeared, and with her magic green willow branch, turned little flies into sparrows which sorted the beans out for the young girl. In a short time, the work was done. TAM dried up her tears, arrayed herself in a glittering blue and silver dress. She now looked as beautiful as a Princess, and went to the Festival.
CAM was very surprised to see her, and whispered to her mother:
« Is that rich lady not strangely like my sister Tam? »
When TAM realized that her step-mother and CAM were staring curiously at her, she ran away, but in such a hurry that she dropped one of her fine slippers which the soldiers picked up and took to the King.
The King examined it carefully and declared he had never seen such a work of art before. He made the ladies of the Palace try it on, but the slipper was too small even for those who had the smallest feet. Then he ordered all the noble women of the kingdom to try it but the slipper would fit none of them. In the end, word was sent that the woman who could wear the slipper would become Queen, that is, the King’s First Wife.
Finally, TAM had a try and the slipper fitted her perfectly. She then wore both slippers, and appeared in her glittering blue and silver-dress, looking extremely beautiful. She was then taken to Court with a big escort, became Queen and had an unbelievably brilliant and happy life.
NOTES:
1 : R.W. PARKES’ Foreword introduces LE THAI BACH LAN and her short-stories books: “Mrs. Bach Lan has assembled an interesting selection of Vietnamese legends for which I am glad to write a brief foreword. These tales, well and simply translated by the author, have considerable charm, derived in no small part from the sense they convey of familiar human situations clothed in exotic dress. Here, in tropical settings, we have faithful lovers, jealous wives, unkind stepmothers, the stuff of which so many Western folk stories are made. One story indeed is Cinderella over again. I trust that this little book will find many readers and stimulate friendly interest in a country whose present-day problems are regrettably better known than her past culture. Saigon, 26th February 1958.”
2 : … updating…
BAN TU THU
07 /2020
NOTES:
◊ Contents and images – Source: Vietnamese Legends – Mrs. LT. BACH LAN. Kim Lai An Quan Publishers, Saigon 1958.
◊ Featured sepiaized images has been set by Ban Tu Thu – thanhdiavietnamhoc.com.
SEE ALSO:
◊ Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice: DO QUYEN – Câu chuyen ve TINH BAN.
◊ Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice: Câu chuyen ve TAM CAM – Phan 1.
◊ Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice: Câu chuyen ve TAM CAM – Phan 2.