nd consequently received "only a small amount of
light. Thinking that this was its opportunity to improve its condition,
it said, "Camanchile, why is your life dreary?"

"Ah, Passion!" replied Camanchile, "just imagine that you were
unappreciated, as I am! Travellers never visit me, for I have no
flowers."

"Oh, that's easy!" said Passion. "Just let me climb on you, and I'll
display on your crown my beautiful flowers. Then many persons will
come to see you." Camanchile consented, and let Passion climb up on
him. After a few days Passion reached the top of the tree, and soon
covered the crown.

A few months later Camanchile realized that he was being smothered: he
could not get light, so he asked Passion to leave him. "O Passion! what
pain I am in! I can't get light. Your beauty is of no value. I am
being smothered: so leave me, I beg of you!"

Passion would not leave Camanchile, however, and so Camanchile died.

MORAL: Be yourself.

Note.

With this story compare the "Palasa-jataka," No. 370, which tells how a
Judas-tree was destroyed by the parasitic growth of a banyan-shoot. The
general idea is the same in both stories, though I hardly suspect that
ours is descended from the Indian. The situation of a tree choked to
death by a parasite is such a commonplace in everyday experience, that
a moral story based on it might arise spontaneously almost anywhere.

TALE 64

AUAC AND LAMIRAN.

Narrated by Anastacia Villegas of Arayat, Pampanga. She heard the story
from her father, and says that it is well known among the Pampangans.

Once Auac, a hawk, stole a salted fish which was hanging in the
sun to dry. He flew with it to a branch of a camanchile-tree,
where he sat down and began to eat. As he was eating, Lamiran,
a squirrel who had his house in a hole at the foot of the tree,
saw Auac. Lamiran looked up, and said, "What beautiful shiny black
feathers you have, Auac!" When he heard this praise, the hawk looked
very dignified. Nevertheless he was much pleased. He fluttered
his wings. "You are especially beautiful, Auac, when you walk; for
you are very graceful," continued the squirrel. Auac, who did not
understand the trick that was being played on him, hopped along the
branch with the air of a king. "I heard some one say yesterday that
your voice is so soft and sweet, that every one who listens to your
song is charmed. Please let me hear some of your notes, you handsome
Auac!" said the cunning Lamira