(49-1)
We used to live roaming with the whole family on the land called Ottur-Kol. |
(49-2)
Only my two elder brothers lived in Verkhnekolymsk. Comment:
|
(49-3)
One day in the morning my mother got up and saw a small mouse eating our clothes. Comment:
|
(49-4)
It found them. It ate the clothes, the blanket, the mittens, and the shoes. It found them and ate them. Comment:
|
(49-5)
The mother said that this would call down trouble. |
(49-6)
She had to catch the mouse and kill it. |
(49-7)
Mother caught that mouse. It had fallen into a small barrel. |
(49-8)
Mother was happy, because she thought that it had been eating things calling down a trouble. Comment:
|
(49-9)
She was happy to catch it. There wouldn't be any trouble. Comment:
|
(49-10)
She took a needle and a thread. |
(49-11)
She put on the mittens and took that mouse. Comment:
|
(49-12)
We were standing looking and laughing at how mother caught it. We were thinking how she would punish it. Comment:
|
(49-13)
Mother brought the needle with the thread close to the mouse's mouth. |
(49-14)
She was going to sew up its mouth. Suddenly that mouse moved its legs and started jerking. Mother got frightened and that mouse escaped. |
(49-15)
Mother was very sad that she hadn't sewn up its mouth. Comment:
|
(49-16)
In summer we got into trouble. |
(49-17)
Two of my elder brothers drowned. |
(49-18)
That very spring that mouse had babies on the blanket. |
(49-19)
Their mother mouse escaped and the babies were thrown into the water. |
(49-20)
I have forgotten why they were thrown into the water without being killed. I don't know, maybe this was not to bring on trouble. Comment:
|
(49-21)
From that time on my elder sisters and I always remember this story and believe in it. |