Page:Between the twilights being studies of Indian women by one of themselves (IA betweentwilights00soraiala).pdf/182

162 make a play with fishes and boats, floating them in the water, and offering rice and feastings on the grass. Quaint songs are sung.

“Who is worshipping the water with garlands of flowers while the sun is overhead?”

“It is I, chaste and virtuous, lucky sister of a Brother. May I have sons who will not die.”

But “Lotus-born” lived not long enough to find fulfilment of her prayer. Better nursing came too late, and the petals of the Lotus curled together in eternal sleep.

The mother of “Lightning-Beloved” is in great spirits this morning. The son-in-law elect was ill, and I had pointed the moral about letting children get past baby troubles before you betroth them; it is so one lessens the risk of widowhood.

“Well! at any rate,” she said, “you should be pleased with me. Your ‘Lightning-Beloved’ is not yet a widow. I saved her from being born a widow.”

This was startling, but I waited explanation.

“When ‘Lightning-Beloved’ was on the