He called his children to the place where he lay on the floor -- for no one had any beds in that country -- and said to his son , ' I have no herds of cattle to leave you -- only the few things there are in the house -- for I am a poor man , as you know . But choose : will you have my blessing or my property ? ' ` Your property , certainly , ' answered the son , and his father nodded . ` And you ? ' asked the old man of the girl , who stood by her brother . ' I will have blessing , ' she answered , and her father gave her much blessing . That night he died , and his wife and son and daughter mourned for him seven days , and gave him a burial according to the custom of his people . But hardly was the time of mourning over , than the mother was attacked by a disease which was common in that country . ' I am going away from you , ' she said to her children , in a faint voice ; ` but first , my son , choose which you will have : blessing or property . ' ` Property , certainly , ' answered the son . ` And you , my daughter ? ' ' I will have blessing , ' said the girl ; and her mother gave her much blessing , and that night she died . When the days of mourning were ended , the brother bade his sister put outside the hut all that belonged to his father and his mother . So the girl put them out , and he took them away , save only a small pot and a vessel in which she could clean her corn . But she had no corn to clean . She sat at home , sad and hungry , when a neighbour knocked at the door . ` My pot has cracked in the fire , lend me yours to cook my supper in , and I will give you a handful of corn in return . ' And the girl was glad , and that night she was able to have supper herself , and next day another woman borrowed her pot , and then another and another , for never were known so many accidents as befell the village pots at that time . She soon grew quite fat with all the corn she earned with the help of her pot , and then one evening she picked up a pumpkin seed in a corner , and planted it near her well , and it sprang up , and gave her many pumpkins . At last it happened that a youth from her village passed through the place where the girl 's brother was , and the two met and talked .
` What news is there XXXXX my sister ? '
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