Tales of Giants from Brazil   By: Elsie Spicer Eells (1880-)

by

ELSIE SPICER EELLS

Author of "Fairy Tales from Brazil"

With Illustrations by Helen M. Barton

[Illustration: "O Fishes of the river, have you seen my own dear mother?"]

New York Dodd, Mead and Company 1918 Copyright, 1918 by Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc.

Vail Ballou Company Binghamton and New York

FOREWORD

Brazil is the land of the giant among all the rivers of the world. It is the land of giant fruits and giant flowers. Of course it is the land of giant stories too.

Years ago when the Portuguese settlers came to Brazil they brought with them the folk tales of the old world. Just as European grass seed, when planted in our Brazilian gardens, soon sends forth such a rank, luxuriant growth that one hardly recognizes it as grass, so the old Portuguese tales, planted in Brazilian soil, have grown into new forms.

The author gratefully acknowledges her indebtedness to the Brazilian story tellers to whose tales she has listened, and to the collection of Dr. Sylvio Romero, "Contos Populares do Brazil," from which some of the "giant tales" have been adapted.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I THE PRINCESS OF THE SPRINGS

II THE FOUNTAIN OF GIANT LAND

III THE BOY AND THE VIOLIN

IV THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS

V THE LITTLE SISTER OF THE GIANTS

VI THE FOREST LAD AND THE WICKED GIANT

VII HOW THE GIANTESS GUIMARA BECAME SMALL

VIII THE ADVENTURES OF A FISHERMAN'S SON

IX THE BEAST SLAYER

X THE QUEST OF CLEVERNESS

XI THE GIANT'S PUPIL

XII DOMINGO'S CAT

ILLUSTRATIONS

"O Fishes of the river, have you seen my own dear mother?"

The youngest prince watched the lemon tree carefully every day

He saw standing before him the most beautiful maiden he had ever dreamed of

There in the hall stood the most enormous giant she had ever seen

The giant's daughter, Guimara, was very much pleased with D. Joaõ

Immediately a great flock of pigeons appeared

With the lovely princess borne safely upon the butterfly's wings, the prince swiftly escaped

The next day the cat dug up pieces of gold and carried them to the king

TALES OF GIANTS FROM BRAZIL

I

THE PRINCESS OF THE SPRINGS

Once, long ago, the Moon Giant wooed the beautiful giantess who dwells in the Great River and won her love. He built for her a wonderful palace where the Great River runs into the sea. It was made of mother of pearl with rich carvings, and gold and silver and precious stones were used to adorn it. Never before in all the world had a giant or giantess possessed such a magnificent home.

When the baby daughter of the Moon Giant and the Giantess of the Great River was born it was decreed among the giants that she should be the Princess of all the Springs and should rule over all the rivers and lakes. The light of her eyes was like the moonbeams, and her smile was like moonlight on still waters. Her strength was as the strength of the Great River, and the fleetness of her foot was as the swiftness of the Great River.

As the beautiful Spring Princess grew older many suitors came to sing her praises beneath the palace windows, but she favoured none of them. She was so happy living in her own lovely palace with her own dear mother that she did not care at all for any suitor. No other daughter ever loved her mother as the Spring Princess loved the Giantess of the Great River.

At last the Sun Giant came to woo the Spring Princess. The strength of the Sun Giant was as the strength of ten of the other suitors of the fair princess. He was so powerful that he won her heart.