Page:Wonder Tales from Tibet.djvu/80

52 your folly!" And he advanced angrily toward the boy again.

"But I will not be a care to you," said the lad, drawing farther away. "I will bring you riches and happiness, far more than a calf could do!"

The man laughed again. "That is a likely tale!" said he. "Get away from here! When you show me that wealth and prosperity, then I'll adopt you and make you my son, but not before."

The boy crept to the door and there paused. "Master," said he, "you have grown bitter through poverty; but your heart is not so hard and scornful as are your words. My name is Massang, and I will come again and bring wealth with me. Such is my promise—farewell!"

The man went back to his hut, pondering deeply and in his heart regretting the harsh words he had spoken to the boy, while Massang fled away into the fields.

For a long distance the lad traveled, seeing no one and meeting with no