Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/54

42 had a big thali in his hand containing the money already collected.

When the song was over, each one of the household placed something on the thali, silver coins of different value. Nagendra Babu gave them a ten-rupee note.

A young man of the party immediately approched him and said—"Your name, Sir, if you please."

"What does it matter?"—said Nagendra Babu.

"Our rule is to take down the names of those contributing more than five rupees."

"You may write—'A Friend'."

Satyendra said—"Write down—'A Deputy'—this gentleman is a Deputy Magistrate in Eastern Bengal and Assam where buying Swadeshi cloth is a felony and singing Bande Mataram, high treason."

Girindra interfered, saying—"No, no—don't mention the Deputy Magistrate.—'A friend' will do."

The young men made the note as desired and departed, resuming their song.

 

It was dusk. Some school-boys were walking about the streets in the bazar at Faridsing. They