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She sat there chanting and weeping, and meanwhile
everyone at home was wondering why she had not
returned. Her mother sent the second daughter to look for
her. “Find out what’s happened to your sister,’’ she said.
When the eldest daughter saw her sister approaching, she
began to wail louder.
“Come, quick, you poor unfortunate aunt! See what has
happened to your poor little nephew Kikos!
“What Kikos?”
‘‘Why haven’t you heard? Listen.~~
“Some day I’ll marry and have a son
With hair of chestnut brown.
One day, I know he’ll climb this tree
And he’ll come tumbling down.
Alas, alas, Kikos dear!
Alas, dear Kikos is dead!”
“Alas, dear Kikos is dead!” the second daughter began to
wail. She sat down next to her sister, and began to weep.
Meanwhile the mother became still more anxious. She sent
out her third daughter. “You’d better go and see what has
happened to your sisters,’ she said.