Tales of Giants from Brazil | Page 2

head. "O Sun Giant, you
are so wonderful and so powerful that I love you as I never before have
loved a suitor who sang beneath my palace window," said she, "but I
love my mother, too. I cannot go away with you and leave my own dear
mother. It would break my heart."
The Sun Giant told the Spring Princess again and again of his great
love for her, of his magnificent palace which would be her new home,
of the happy life which awaited her as queen of the palace. At length
she listened to his pleadings and decided that she could leave home and
live with him for nine months of the year. For three months of every
year, however, she would have to return to the wonderful palace of
mother-of-pearl where the Great River runs into the sea and spend the
time with her mother, the Giantess of the Great River.
The Sun Giant at last sorrowfully consented to this arrangement and the
wedding feast was held. It lasted for seven days and seven nights. Then
the Spring Princess went away with the Sun Giant to his own home.
Every year the Spring Princess went to visit her mother for three
months according to the agreement. For three months of every year she

lived in the palace of mother-of-pearl where the Great River runs into
the sea. For three months of every year the rivers sang once more as
they rushed along their way. For three months the lakes sparkled in the
bright sunlight as their hearts once more were brimful of joy.
When at last the little son of the Spring Princess was born she wanted
to take him with her when she went to visit her mother. The Sun Giant,
however, did not approve of such a plan. He firmly refused to allow the
child to leave home. After much pleading, all in vain, the Spring
Princess set out upon her journey alone, with sorrow in her heart. She
left her baby son with the best nurses she could procure.
Now it happened that the Giantess of the Great River had not expected
that her daughter would be able to visit her that year. She had thought
that all the rivers and lakes, the palace of mother-of-pearl, and her own
mother heart would have to get along as best they could without a visit
from the Spring Princess. The Giantess of the Great River had gone
away to water the earth. One of the land giants had taken her prisoner
and would not let her escape.
When the Spring Princess arrived at the beautiful palace of
mother-of-pearl and gold and silver and precious stones, where the
Great River runs into the sea, there was no one at home. She ran from
room to room in the palace calling out, "O dear mother, Giantess of the
Great River, dear, dear mother! Where are you? Where have you
hidden yourself?"
There was no answer. Her own voice echoed back to her through the
beautiful halls of mother-of-pearl with their rich carvings. The palace
was entirely deserted.
She ran outside the palace and called to the fishes of the river, "O fishes
of the river, have you seen my own dear mother?"
She called to the sands of the sea, "O sands of the sea, have you seen
my darling mother?"
She called to the shells of the shore, "O shells of the shore, have you

seen my precious mother?"
There was no answer. No one knew what had become of the Giantess
of the Great River.
The Spring Princess was so worried that she thought her heart would
break in its anguish. In her distress she ran over all the earth.
Then she went to the house of the Great Wind. The Giant of the Great
Wind was away, but his old father was at home. He was very sorry for
the Spring Princess when he heard her sad story. "I am sure my son can
help you find your mother," he said as he comforted her. "He will soon
get home from his day's work."
When the Giant of the Great Wind reached home he was in a terrible
temper. He stormed and raged and gave harsh blows to everything he
met. His father had hid the Spring Princess in a closet out of the way,
and it was fortunate indeed for her that he had done so.
After the Great Wind Giant had taken his bath and eaten his dinner he
was better natured. Then his father said to him, "O my son, if a
wandering princess had come this way on purpose to ask you a
question, what would you do to her?"
"Why, I'd answer her question as best I could, of course," responded