Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/172

150 her old husband bringing home his young bride in such a sorry plight, she burst out laughing shrilly, and called aloud, 'That is right! that is right!Remember what the song says

'Old wives must scramble through water and mud, But young wives are carried dry-shod o'er the flood.'

This allusion so enraged her husband that he could not contain himself, but cried out, 'Hold your tongue, you shameless old cat!'

Of course, when he opened his mouth to speak, the poor dragged bride fell out, and going plump into the river, was drowned.Whereupon the cock-sparrow was so distracted with grief that he picked off all his feather until he was as bare as a ploughed field.Then, going to a pipal tree, he sat all naked and forlorn on the branches, sobbing and sighing.

'Don't ask me!' wailed the cock-sparrow; 'it isn't manners to ask questions when a body is in deep mourning.'

But the pipal would not be satisfied without an answer, soat last poor bereaved cock-sparrow replied

On hearing this sad tale, the pipal became overwhelmed with grief, and declaring it must mourn also, shed all its leaves on the spot.