Chapter 4 - Indian Literature in the Philippines

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husband, the other her brother and the third her son. The
king asked her to choose any one of them, and the woman
answered: "Sire, if I live, I can never get another bro-
ther. So give me my brother, Sire!" The king, pleased
with her arguments, released all three.
The Nearest Relative. The grandfather (Old Julian),
having been importuned by his grandson (Antonio) for more
stories, relents, and tells a problematic story. old
Julian, however, lays the condition, for the narration of
more stories that Antonio must answer the problem in the
tale. The story runs thus - A young man, Federico by name,
wanted to become a priest, but had to prove that he had no
ancestors or living relatives who were not bandits.
later found that he had an uncle, a revolucionario, whom
he sought out in the jungles. He found him, and decided
to remain with him. His father followed in search of the
son, but also decided to stay with them.
He
Later, the revolucionarios including the uncle, the
father and the son were captured by the government forces.
The mother learned of this, and went to the government
authorities to plead for the release of the three. After
so much tears and emotional entreaties, she was finally
granted the choice to save one, but only one among the
three. She was put in a dilemma, which of the three loved
ones - her husband, the other half of her life?; her son,