Page:True Tales of Indian Life - Dwijendra Nath Neogi.pdf/28

12 state the sràddha of his mother and giving away large sums of money, gifts of land, and herds of cattle to Bràhmans. The whole country was ringing with praises of his munificence, and the news naturally came to the ears of our Bràhman, who made up his mind to ask for a gift of money. But, alas, on going to the great man's dwelling he found he was too late, and the servants went to turn him from the door. Incensed at this treatment, the Bràhman could not refrain from blurting out, "For all your boast about the magnificence of the sràddha which your master has performed, I tell you, man, and I care not who hears it, that my mother's sràddha which I commenced five months ago and have not yet finished will be a greater and more splendid achievement." Some one immediately carried this remark to the Dewàn, who was greatly enraged and had the Bràhman brought before him with all speed. Addressing him in angry tones, he bade him explain the meaning of his insolence. Kàshinàth was prompt in his answer: "Ràjà, you have given liberally to the Bràhmans and others who have come to you, yet, in spite of all, you are not a whit the poorer and will live no less comfortably after all you have given away. But I have parted with my all and more than all and have not yet accomplished what I set out to do to gratify the soul of my dead mother." He then related the whole story of his mother's death, and to what he attributed it, the task he had set himself, and how, for want of land and money and help, he had turned his humble dwelling place itself into a ditch, and how he had been digging away, weak as he was, with his own hands for five months past, and yet seemed to be no nearer the end of his labours. "Ràjà," added the Bràhman, his