“Long ago, the people of the far north were constantly being attacked so they decided to pack up all their household possessions, cattle, rice, money, and jewels and escape to the south country. They knew that they would become slaves but thought that was better than living in fear. They journeyed through jungles and mountains, eating all their rice and cattle along the way, causing them to eventually have to stop and buy food in a town along the way. The people in the town saw all of their money and jewels and looked at them with greedy eyes. The travelers began to grow nervous that they would be slain for their worldly goods.
One man, wiser than the rest of the group, said, “Why do we risk death over our possessions? Let us leave them in some secret place and when happier days return to us, so will we to our possessions.” The travelers agreed with the wise man and since they were in the favor of the spirits, they were guided to a cave deep in the forest where they left their money and jewels.
Generations passed and the story of the cave and its treasure was spread across the land. Many people tried to get to the treasure but the spirits who guarded it always drove them away. Even the white, foreign strangers, were driven back by the faithful spirits when they endeavored to enter the treasure chamber. For all time this treasure shall remain there, and verily it will remain untouched forever.” Vanida’s grandmother finished the story dramatically.
“Oh, that was the best telling yet, Grandma!” Vanida exclaimed as she clapped her small five-year old hands together. She had heard the story of The Spirit-Guarded Cave many, many times, but it was still her favorite of the Laos folklore. She insisted that her grandmother tell the story every time she came to visit.
“Vanida, have I ever told you about the wise man from the story?” Her grandmother asked. Vanida just shook her head in response. “Well he was your great-great-great grandfather. He was the one who began passing the story down from generation to generation in the hopes that one day, when our people were no longer enslaved, that one of his decedents would be able to retrieve the treasure from the cave.”
“I’ll do it! I’ll get the treasure Grandma!” Vanida cried as she jumped up from her spot on the floor.
“I know you will sweetheart,” Her grandmother replied as she pulled her into a hug.
Many years passed and Vanida grew up from the little girl who loved to hear her grandmother tell stories into a beautiful, young woman whose family had fallen on hard times. It had been a long time since her grandmother had told her the story of the Spirit-Guarded Cave, but she had never forgotten about it.
Late one night, Vanida snuck into her grandmother’s room and gently shook her awake, “Grandma, I know how to help our family. I am going to find the cave from the story and get back the treasures of our ancestors.”
“Do be careful, sweetheart, and let the spirit’s guide you.” Her grandmother advised. She had thought about telling her that is was too dangerous but knew that nothing would change her granddaughters mind. Vanida gave her grandmother a kiss on the forehead, grabbed her pack of food and water, and disappeared into the night.
Vanida realized after about thirty minutes of walking that she had no clue where exactly the spirit cave was. She stopped and chastised herself for just boldly charging into the situation without thinking it through and was about to turn around to return home, when she remembered her grandmother’s advice. The girl had always loved the spirits and treated them with the upmost respect so she hoped they would help her. She stood still for a moment, just listening to the wind rustle the trees around her, until she felt something pull her towards the mountains.
Vanida let the spirits guide her deep into the woods near the mountains and up to the mouth of a cave. She knew all the things that the spirits liked to do to people coming to steal the treasure, but at that moment she wasn’t scared. She felt safe and protected by the spirits and entered the cave without fear. She entered the treasure chamber unharmed and collected enough money and jewels to fill her pack, while still leaving plenty behind to be found by other descendants. Vanida thanked the spirits for their protection and headed home, knowing that her family would be saved.
Author’s Note: This story is a continuation of The Spirit-Guarded Cave from the Folklore of Laos. I summarized the original story in the beginning of this story but I highly recommend checking out the original version because it was really good. I mentioned in my reading notes that I would love to do a continuation of the story because the ending seemed like it was left kind of open. I felt it would be really depressing for the treasure to never be found and thought that maybe the spirits would let a descendent of the travelers claim the treasure.
Bibliography. The Spirit-Guarded Cave by Katherine Neville Fleeson, with photographs by W.A. Briggs (1899). Links to the reading
One man, wiser than the rest of the group, said, “Why do we risk death over our possessions? Let us leave them in some secret place and when happier days return to us, so will we to our possessions.” The travelers agreed with the wise man and since they were in the favor of the spirits, they were guided to a cave deep in the forest where they left their money and jewels.
Generations passed and the story of the cave and its treasure was spread across the land. Many people tried to get to the treasure but the spirits who guarded it always drove them away. Even the white, foreign strangers, were driven back by the faithful spirits when they endeavored to enter the treasure chamber. For all time this treasure shall remain there, and verily it will remain untouched forever.” Vanida’s grandmother finished the story dramatically.
“Oh, that was the best telling yet, Grandma!” Vanida exclaimed as she clapped her small five-year old hands together. She had heard the story of The Spirit-Guarded Cave many, many times, but it was still her favorite of the Laos folklore. She insisted that her grandmother tell the story every time she came to visit.
“Vanida, have I ever told you about the wise man from the story?” Her grandmother asked. Vanida just shook her head in response. “Well he was your great-great-great grandfather. He was the one who began passing the story down from generation to generation in the hopes that one day, when our people were no longer enslaved, that one of his decedents would be able to retrieve the treasure from the cave.”
“I’ll do it! I’ll get the treasure Grandma!” Vanida cried as she jumped up from her spot on the floor.
“I know you will sweetheart,” Her grandmother replied as she pulled her into a hug.
Many years passed and Vanida grew up from the little girl who loved to hear her grandmother tell stories into a beautiful, young woman whose family had fallen on hard times. It had been a long time since her grandmother had told her the story of the Spirit-Guarded Cave, but she had never forgotten about it.
Late one night, Vanida snuck into her grandmother’s room and gently shook her awake, “Grandma, I know how to help our family. I am going to find the cave from the story and get back the treasures of our ancestors.”
“Do be careful, sweetheart, and let the spirit’s guide you.” Her grandmother advised. She had thought about telling her that is was too dangerous but knew that nothing would change her granddaughters mind. Vanida gave her grandmother a kiss on the forehead, grabbed her pack of food and water, and disappeared into the night.
Vanida realized after about thirty minutes of walking that she had no clue where exactly the spirit cave was. She stopped and chastised herself for just boldly charging into the situation without thinking it through and was about to turn around to return home, when she remembered her grandmother’s advice. The girl had always loved the spirits and treated them with the upmost respect so she hoped they would help her. She stood still for a moment, just listening to the wind rustle the trees around her, until she felt something pull her towards the mountains.
Vanida let the spirits guide her deep into the woods near the mountains and up to the mouth of a cave. She knew all the things that the spirits liked to do to people coming to steal the treasure, but at that moment she wasn’t scared. She felt safe and protected by the spirits and entered the cave without fear. She entered the treasure chamber unharmed and collected enough money and jewels to fill her pack, while still leaving plenty behind to be found by other descendants. Vanida thanked the spirits for their protection and headed home, knowing that her family would be saved.
(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)
Author’s Note: This story is a continuation of The Spirit-Guarded Cave from the Folklore of Laos. I summarized the original story in the beginning of this story but I highly recommend checking out the original version because it was really good. I mentioned in my reading notes that I would love to do a continuation of the story because the ending seemed like it was left kind of open. I felt it would be really depressing for the treasure to never be found and thought that maybe the spirits would let a descendent of the travelers claim the treasure.
Bibliography. The Spirit-Guarded Cave by Katherine Neville Fleeson, with photographs by W.A. Briggs (1899). Links to the reading
