However , they were so anxious that he should marry , that they willingly accepted Thakane as their daughter-in-law , though she did bring any marriage portion with her . After some time a baby was born to her , and Thakane thought it was the most beautiful baby that ever was seen . But when her mother-in-law saw it was a girl , she wrung her hands and wept , saying : ' O miserable mother ! Miserable child ! Alas for you ! why were you not a boy ! ' Thakane , in great surprise , asked the meaning of her distress ; and the old woman told her that it was the custom in that country that all the girls who were born should be given to the ogre to eat . Then Thakane clasped the baby tightly in her arms , and cried : ` But it is not the customer in MY country ! There , when children die , they are buried in the earth . No one shall take my baby from me . ' That night , when everyone in the hut was asleep , Thakane rose , and carrying her baby on her back , went down to a place where the river spread itself out into a large lake , with tall willows all round the bank . Here , hidden from everyone , she sat down on a stone and began to think what she should do to save her child . Suddenly she heard a rustling among the willows , and an old woman appeared before her . ` What are you crying for , my dear ? ' said she . And Thakane answered : ' I was crying for my baby -- I can not hide her for ever , and if the ogre sees her , he will eat her ; and I would rather she was drowned than that . ' ` What you say is true , ' replied the old woman . ` Give me your child , and let me take care of it . And if you will fix a day to meet me here I will bring the baby . ' Then Thakane dried her eyes , and gladly accepted the old woman 's offer .
When she got home she told her husband she had thrown it in the river , and XXXXX he had watched her go in that direction he never thought of doubting what she said .
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