Page:Old Deccan Days.djvu/88



V.

RAMA AND LUXMAN; OR, THE LEARNED OWL.

NCE upon a time there was a Rajah whose name was Chandra Rajah, and he had a learned Wuzeer or Minister, named Butti. Their mutual love was so great that they were more like brothers than master and servant. Neither the Rajah nor the Wuzeer had any children, and both were equally anxious to have a son. At last, in one day and one hour, the wife of the Rajah and the wife of the Wuzeer had each a little baby boy. They named the Rajah's son Rama, and the son of the Wuzeer was called Luxman, and there were great rejoicings at the birth of both. The boys grew up and loved each other tenderly; they were never happy unless together; together they went to daily school, together bathed and played, and they would not eat except from off one plate. One day, when Rama Rajah was fifteen years old, his mother, the Ranee, said to Chandra Rajah, 'Husband, our son associates too much with low people; for instance, he is always at play with the Wuzeer's son, Luxman, which is not befitting his rank. I wish you would endeavour to put an end to their friendship, and find him better playmates.'

Chandra Rajah replied, 'I cannot do it; Luxman's father is my very good friend and Wuzeer, as his father's father was to my father; let the sons be the same.' This answer annoyed the

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