And Cute arose and took of the fruit of the land, and went his way unto the shores of the great river. And one met him and said unto him, "What wouldst thou here?" And Cute answered and said, " I would barter this fruit of the land for gold and for gaudy raiment, that I may praise the great parents."
And the man said unto him, "Give unto me this fruit of the land, and I will give unto thee this piece of gold; and come unto my house on the morrow, for there will I give thee gaudy raiment." .... And Cute said unto him, " Do thou give unto me the gold, and I will bear the fruit to thy doors, that thou mayst not be burdened with it. Do thou then lead the way."
And the man gave unto Cute the gold, and led the way. And when his back was turned, Cute turned about, and ran, and bore away both the gold and the fruit. ....
And it came to pass that Cute waxed hungry, and he went into a shop and began to eat. And the master of the shop said unto him, " Hast thou wherewith to pay for that which thou eatest?" And Cute said unto him, " Hold thy peace!"
Now when Cute had eaten his fill, he arose to depart. And the master of the shop stood in his way, and said unto him, "Give me my due." Now the master of the shop was of small stature; and Cute seized him and beat his head upon the floor, and took his garment, and went his way. And the garment was rich and shapely. ....
Now Cute waxed rich and great, and they made him ruler of the land. And it came to pass that Square knocked upon his gate and said, "Brother, if I had wealth I would divide it with thee. Do thou then give me of that which thou hast, that I may be clothed and fed."
And Cute answered and said, "Fool, I know thee not. Have not the great parents said, 'Let him whom prosperity forsaketh be forsaken by all?' Get thou therefore from my sight." And he cast him out. . . . .
And Square leaped into the great river, and was drowned; but Cute lived and was honored, and well beloved of the great parents, Munnee and Boshor.
B.W.
* The emblems of Munnee and Boshor.
* Printed upon birch bark in hieroglyphic characters, and recently discovered in a mound near St. Louis.