Page:Malabari, Behramji M. - Gujarat and the Gujaratis (1882).djvu/179

Rh and with true insight, as soon as he is weaned, he is sent off to these parts in company of an honest acquaintance.

The little suckling is destined to be a merchant, and to a shopkeeper he is apprenticed at the first start in life. He is bound to serve the Shett for a number of years, to serve his person and his shop, to help at cooking the meals; he is bound to serve diligently and well, he is bound to keep secrets. If he give satisfaction for one year, he may expect a salary of eight annas a month from the beginning of next year. Meantime he looks upon himself as a lucky dog if he can have for his two meals what remains after the master has dined—barely enough to keep body and soul together. But the boy who, only a month ago, led the life of an infant epicure, indulging every pleasure and every liberty dear to childhood, repines not at the change that has come over his bright young life. He slaves at his work heroically, bent upon learning the craft by which his master has raised a fortune. This alchemy the