A pretty dress for Ang-Ang [short story]

Title

Creator

L.V.R.

Language

English

Source

The Young Citizen. 2 (3) April 1936

Year

1936

Subject

Children's stories

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

8-l THE YOUNG CITIZEN A Pretty Dress For Ang-Ang By L. V. R. ANG-ANG was a poor gil'l who lived i,1 the mountains. She was very fond of the creatures of the woods. They came to the door of he1· hut every day. She loved the butterflies and the bees. She fed the birds with bananas and sweet potatoes that she had raised. When night came, she bade her little friends good night and lay on the warm blanket which her mother had s'p1·ead inside their little cogon hut. One night, while Ang-ang \ms on the blanket and was getting ready to sleep, she heard her mother and her father talking. "There is a big cafiao tomorrow night," she heard her father say. "Will it be held in the town center?" he1· mother asked. "Yes," answe1·ed the fathe1" "and we must have om· clothes ready to take part in the dances." "I have finished weaving- your clothes and mine," said the mother, "but Angang's are not yet done. I wonder what she will wear to her first big celebration." Both parents sighed and were silent afterwards. Ang-ang was troubled. She knew that the caiiao was a very big celebration. She needed beautiful clothes to enjoy the festival. Eve1·ybody would be there in his festive clothes, and poor Ang-ang would look very poor indeed in her 01·dina1·y working dress. The next morning, Ang-ang was very sad. A small deer which had strayed early near her hut, noticed her sadness. "Why are you sad, Ang-ang?" the Deer asked. "I am sad," answered Ang-ang, "because tonight is the night of the grand caiiao and I have no pretty dress to wea1·." "I shall help you," said the Deer. "Come with me and let us ask all the animals that we can find to help you get a pretty dress." Ang-ang and the Deer walked slowly tnrough the woods. They first saw a spide1· weaving busily on the branch of a ti·ee. "Spider, Spider," said the Deer. "Will you weave a pretty dress for Ang-ang?" The Spider looked kindly down at Angang, then she shook he1· head. "! would gladly do so,'' said the Spide'" but mv threads are very fine. They break so ca;ily. A breath of wind can cany them away." Ang-ang and the Deer thought the spide" was i·ight, so they moved away. They came upon a butterfly idly playing among the flowers. "Butterfly, ·Butterfly,'' said the Deer, "can you help us make a dress for Ang-ang? She is going to the cafiao tonight and her Ap1il, 1.'M6 THl' YOUNG CITIZEN 85 ·clothes are old." The Butterfly fluttered softly upon Angang's hand and said sadly: "I would gladly give Ang-ang my wings, but they are so small and delicate that they would be of no use to her." Ang-ang thanked the generous Butterfly kindly, then she went on with the Deer. They found a Wild Fowl feeding on the seeds that the birds had dropped. "Oh Wild Fowl," said the Deer, "Will you help us get a pretty dress for Ang-ang? The Wild Fowl looked up and eyed Angang. "Can you use my feathers, Ang-ang?" the Wild Fowl asked, "If you can, here, take as many as you need." Ang-ang stooped down and plucked a feather. The Wild Fowl bravely stood still, but a tear of pain droppHi soit;y down its round eye. "No, no," said Ang-ang, "I'd rather go in my old dress than hurt you like this." "Ang-ang, Ang-ang," a sweet voice called from above. The three friends looked up and saw a Singing Bird perched on the low branch of the tamarind tree. ·'Ang-ang," sang the Bird," you are a good child, and I shall help you get a pretty dress. But you must follow my instructions, or you will find yourself in shame at the grand caiiao." 'l'he Girl, tne Deer and the Wild Fowl looked happily up at the bird. The bird tmttered aown tne bough and perched on Ang-ang's shoulde1· . .. You shall have tne most beaut11u1 dress that a g1r1 ever wore. r ou are a good gin, amt we are au eager to he1p you. Come with me to tne honey bee. · ·1 he Veer, tne ;:,mgmg riird and the g1r1 went to tne hive or tne rtoney !:lee. Tney found the tloney tiee ous11y lJuzzmg aoout . . when the Bee saw wem, she stopped .ana greeted Ang-ang. "We have come to seek aid," began the .l:l!l'a. ·· 1 have thougnt or a very mce dress for Ang-ang to wear, and you can help us make it. As soon as the sun goes down," contmuetl the l:lird," 1 want you to call au your triends together. '!'hen gather all the honey you can get. Smear Ang-ang's body with the honey, and go back to your hives:· Ang-ang wondered what sort of a dress she would get. Surely, she thought, honey is not enough. At sun down, the bees fluttei·ed around Ang-ang. Very gently, they left honey on her neck, upon her arms and all over her body. Ang-ang smelled as sweet as a bee hive, and she felt very gay. When the last spot of honey was laid upon her, the Singing Bird came and took her near a large flame tree. The tree was lit by thousands of fireflies which clustered like tiny stars close to the leaves. "Come, little friends," sang the Bird, "come and help make a pretty dress for Ang-ang." (Contir1u<~d 011 page .9.9) April, 1996 THE YOUNG CITIZEN COME INTO MY GARDEN ---------- - - - - - - - - - Tl-IE TOMATO C:JME into my garden. Th!s month. I have a wellknown plant to show you. 1 his plant is the tomato---a popular salad crop that can be found rnriching every meal in so manv homes in the world. Vitamins that make you g~·ow can be found in the tomato. The tomato is also an appetizer. It is something that makes your appetite more keen. Would you like to have tomato plants in your garden? This is how this vegetable can be grown: Plant the seeds thinly in seedflats or seedbeds. When the seed· ings are about 8 or 12 centimeters high. transplant them outside at 60 to 80 centimeters apart. They should be shaded for at least four days if they are transplanted during the hot sunny days. If 'the plants tend to grow tall. the principal growing point may be cut ofi'. This will induce branching. Whm the fruits are matured and ripe, they may be harvested. If you intend to raise good seeds. ask for these varieties: Native. EarliJna. Bonny Best, Beauty. June Pink. Everlarge, and Ten Ton. These bear beautiful fruits. BE OUR GUEST GARDENER Why don "t you he our, guest gardener? If you have raised some vegetables or flower:; which make your school or your home beautiful and attractive. write us about them. Tell u:s: how you did it. Then we can tell the others who might wish to raise the same. V./e invite all the gardeners of tln Philippines into this garden section of "The Young Citizen." A Pretty Dress For Ang-Ang (Continued from page 85) The fireflies flew down and words. Proudly, she went to the clung to Ang-ang's honey-smeared caiiao. "'But remember," said the body. They clustered like dia- bird. "leave before dawn. The fireflies need to rest and they will leave 99 moon. The young chief of the mountain tribes sat on his broad ~tone throne and watched Ang-ang eagerly. "Who is she?" he asked his men. ''\Vhy have I not seen her before?·· And he watched her sway and dance, the fireflies glinting like diamonds about her. When her dance ended, the young chief.went to h~r side and asked for her name. 'Ang·· <!ng was very much pleased and sur prised. When the young chief asked her to dance ~ith him, her pride knew no bounds. She danced and sang till the moon set. Then, in a hurry, she departed, remembering what the Bird told her. The chief would noc let her go and held her hand. But she wriggled out of his grasp, leaving a handful of fireflies and a bit of honey in the hand of the chief. ''Honey and fireflies,·' said the chief sofcl y, "sweetness and light. They are better than riches. I must find this girl and marry her, for she is good and sweet." The young chief followed Angang. He saw che fireflies leaving her one by one. until a trail of light floated in the air. When Ang-ang n:ached her hut. he stole softly 2way. The next morning, the young chief went to Ang-ang's hut. He saw the kind girl feeding her friends of the woods. '"That is why they monds upon her hair. They wen: like necklaces upon her neck. Thev were like bracelets of stars laid upon her arms They made for her a doth of brilliance that glowed in the darkness of the night. · you in shame if you do not hurry." are so eager to help her," he Ang-ang was overjoyed beyond wipe his fountain pm. After the examination. the boy filed me among his other old notebooks in a box. In this place. I grew ragged, dusty and rorn. I am still in this place. and I don't know how much longer I shall live. When Ang-ang arrived ac che ca· thought. '"She is sweet and kind. iiao. the dancing had already be- She is just the girl to help me rull! my tribe." · £:Un. Far and near came the mountain tribes to participate in the merry-making. The sound of the gong .:ind the barimbaw echoed in the evening srillness. The prince then asked Ang-ang to marry him . Ar their wedding. che deer, an<l Everybody looked at Ang-ang. the wild fowl got plenty to eat. Every one wondered what beautiful dress it was chat she wore. When she moved. light moved with her. \\'hen she danced so gracefully. the brilLianle of her dress sent off sparks that seemed to reflect the The birds and the bees hummed and sung all day. In the evening. the friendly fireflies lighted the place of merry-making. proud of their share in giving Ang-ang such happiness.

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