By the river Kingin stands the great stone image, or Miryek, that was
cut out of the solid rock ages ago. Its base lies far beneath the
ground and around its granite cap many feet square the storm-clouds
gather and play as they roll down the mountain.
Down under the earth near this mighty colossus lived a soft-furred mole
and his wife. One day a daughter was born to them. It was the most
wonderful mole baby that ever was known. The father was so proud of his
lovely offspring that he determined to marry her only to the grandest
thing in the whole universe. Nothing else would satisfy his pride in
the beautiful creature he called his own.
Father Mole sought long and hard to find out where and what, in all
nature, was considered the most wonderful. He called in his neighbors
and talked over the matter with them. Then he visited the king of the
moles and asked the wise ones in his court to decide for him. One and
all agreed that the Great Blue Sky was above everything else in glory
and greatness.
So up to the Sky the Mole Father went and offered his daughter to be
the bride of the Great Blue, telling how with his vast azure robe the
Sky had the reputation, both on the earth and under it, of being the
greatest thing in the universe.
But much to the Mole Father’s surprise, the Sky declined.
“No, I am not the greatest. I must refer you to the Sun. He controls
me, for he can make it day or night as he pleases. Only when he rises
can I wear my bright colors. When he goes down darkness covers the
world and men do not see me at all, but the stars instead. Better take
your charming daughter to him.”
So to the Sun went Mr. Mole and though afraid to look directly into his
face, he made his plea. He would have the Sun marry his attractive
daughter.
But the mighty luminary, that usually seemed so fierce, dazzling men’s
eyesight and able to burn up the grass of the field, seemed suddenly
very modest. Instead of accepting at once the offer, the Sun said to
the father:
“Alas! I am not master. The Cloud is greater than I, for he is able to
cover me up and make me invisible for days and weeks. I am not as
powerful as you think me to be. Let me advise you to offer your
daughter to the Cloud.”
Surprised at this, the Mole Father looked quite disappointed. Now he
was in doubt as to what time he had best propose to the Cloud,—when it
was silvery white and glistening in a summer afternoon, or when it was
black and threatening a tempest. However, his ambition to get for his
daughter the mightiest possible bridegroom prompted him to wait until
the lightnings flashed and the thunder rolled. Then appearing before
the terrible dark Cloud that shot out fire, he told of the charms of
his wonderful daughter and offered her as bride.
“But why do you come to me?” asked the Cloud, its face inky black with
the wrath of a storm and its eyes red with the fires of lightning.
“Because you are not only the greatest thing in the universe, but you
have proved it by your terrible power,” replied the Father Mole.
At this the Cloud ceased its rolling, stopped its fire and thunder and
almost laughed.
“So far from being the greatest thing in the world, I am not even my
own master. See already how the wind is driving me. Soon I shall be
invisible, dissolved in air. Let me commend you to the Wind. The Master
of the Cloud will make a grand son-in-law.”
Thereupon Papa Mole waited until the Wind calmed down, after blowing
away the clouds. Then telling of his daughter’s accomplishments and
loveliness, he made proffer of his only child as bride to the Wind.
But the Wind was not half so proud as the Mole Father had expected to
find him. Very modest, almost bashful seemed the Wind, as he confessed
that before Miryek, the colossal stone image, his power was naught.
“Why, I smite that Great Stone Face and its eyes do not even blink. I
roar in his ears, but he minds it not. I try to make him sneeze, but he
will not. Smite him as I may, he still stands unmoved and smiling.
Alas, no. I am not the grandest thing in the universe, while Miryek
stands. Go to him. He alone is worthy to marry your daughter.”
By this time the Mole Father was not only footsore and weary, but much
discouraged also. Evidently all appreciated his shining daughter; but
would he be able, after all, to get her a worthy husband?
He rested himself a while and then proceeded to Miryek, the colossus of
granite as large as a lighthouse, its head far up in the air, but with
ears ready to hear.
The Mole Father squeaked out compliments to the image as being by
common confession the greatest thing on earth. He presented his request
for a son-in-law and then in detail mentioned the accomplishments of
his daughter, sounding her praise at great length. Indeed, he almost
ruined his case by talking so long.
With stony patience Miryek listened to the proud father with a twinkle
in his white granite eyes. When his lips moved, he was heard to say:
“Fond Parent, what you say is true. I am great. I care not for the sky
day or night, for I remain the same in daylight and darkness. I fear
not the sun, that cannot melt me, nor the frost that is not able to
make me crumble. Cold or hot, in summer or in winter time, I remain
unchanged. The clouds come and go, but they cannot move me. Their fire
and noise, lightning and thunder, I fear not. Yes, I am great.” Then
the stone lips closed again.
“You will make, then, a good bridegroom for my daughter? You will marry
her, I understand?” asked the proud father as his hopes began to rise,
though he was still doubtful.
“I would gladly do so, if I were greatest. But I am not,” said Miryek.
“Down under my feet is the Mole. He digs with his shovellike hands and
makes burrows day and night. His might I cannot resist. Soon he shall
undermine my base and I shall topple down and lie like common stone
along the earth. Yes! by universal confession, the Mole is the greatest
thing in the universe and to him I yield. Better marry your daughter to
him.”
So after all his journeying, the father sought no further. Advised on
all sides, and opinion being unanimous, he found out that the Mole was
the greatest thing in the universe. His daughter’s bridegroom was found
at home and of the same family of creatures. He married her to a young
and handsome Mole, and great was the joy and rejoicing at the wedding.
The pair were well-mated and lived happily ever afterward.