Page:True Tales of Indian Life - Dwijendra Nath Neogi.pdf/29

Rh emotions getting the better of him, "having spent all that I was worth on the sràddha of my mother, I have lacked food since her death, no roof have I had to shelter me nor help from my fellow men. My body is wasted, my strength is leaving me and my hands are little more than skin and bone, yet will I labour till they drop off sooner than forego the accomplishment of my vow. Do you any longer marvel at my saying that the sràddha which I am performing for the soul of my mother is greater than yours?"

Greatly moved at the Bràhman's recital, the Dewàn answered with equal warmth: "Yes, a thousand times yes; and by Hari, our Lord, I will see to it that your vow is fulfilled. No more shall you suffer, and as for food and shelter, these you will have in my own house, where I entreat you to live henceforth as my most honoured guest."

Soon the tank was excavated at the Dewàn's expense, and known by the name of the Bràhman's mother, it has ever since been a boon to the inhabitants of the district. Krishna Pàuti, the founder of the family of the wealthy Pàlchandhuris of Ranaghat, the story is told that in the course of business he once made a verbal contract with an English trader to supply him with a large quantity of àtah (sunned) rice. Now, when the bargain was struck, business was very slack and prices correspondingly low, and so it happened that the rates