Appearances are Sometimes Deceptive

“Appearances are Sometimes Deceptive.”

“Once upon a time a girl was betrothed by her parents to a Mr. Hawk, and for a time she was satisfied with her sweetheart; but by and by she complained that his face was too black. Her parents tried to teach her that a man was not to be accepted simply because he had a beautiful face, nor rejected for only possessing a very plain, black one; but she would not listen to them.

“One day she put on her ornaments and best cloths, and went to the market, where she met a young man whose name was Oily-face,[53] because it was polished so brightly with palm-oil.

Footnote 53:

See note 42, p. 354.

“Mr. Oily-face’s country was a long way off, and when he left home he had a nasty body covered with pimples and scabs, and his eyes bulged out. As he passed through the towns he borrowed a face, some hair, new teeth and a nice skin; consequently when he reached the market he looked a very pleasant young man.

“This Mr. Oily-face saw the girl standing in the market, and said to her: ‘I would like to marry you.’ She looked at him, and seeing he had a beautiful light skin, well-plaited hair, and nice white teeth, she said: ‘All right, come and see my parents.’

“When they reached her town she said to her family: ‘Here is a young man who wants to marry me.’ Oily-face looked so bashful, and showed such respect to the girl’s mother, that they were all pleased with him. Very soon they were married, and shortly after started for Oily-face’s country.

“They had not gone very far on the road when some one called out: ‘Oily-face, return my hair.’ Another shouted: ‘Give me back my teeth.’ In another town a man requested Oily-face to return the face that he had lent him; and another said: ‘Give me back my stomach and take your own; it eats too much.’ Thus at last he was reduced to his own nasty body, pimply skin and bulging, ugly eyes.

“After walking many days they reached their town, and the people came round asking Oily-face where he had procured his wife. He told them that she had come from a far country which was ten days’ journey away. They welcomed her, but next morning they surrounded the house wishing to eat her.

“She came outside and said: ‘Wait, don’t eat me yet; but beat your drums and I will dance.’

“So she danced all day to amuse them, and sang a song about a Mr. Hawk being very good, with beautiful, curving feathers; and how sorry she was for not accepting him as her husband. Every morning they wanted to kill and eat her; but she danced and sang to please them.

“One day Mr. Hawk passed that way, and, looking down, saw the woman, heard her song, and felt full of pity for her. He told her parents of their daughter’s danger, and promised to save her. Next day, therefore, he flew off, swooped down, and carried her back to her own family, who were glad to receive her amongst them again. After a time she married Mr. Hawk, and never any more found fault with the colour of his face.”