,a ,,wreath ,,of ,,indian ,,stories4    
,a ,,wreath                             
,,of                                    
,,indian ,,stories4                     
,by                               ,a4   
,l4 ,o4 ,e41                            
,,honorary ,,missionary ,,at ,,amritsar1
      ,author of 8,the ,young ,pilgrim10
 8,rescued from ,egypt10 c41 c4         
,illustration                           
,,london3                   ,t4 ,,nelson
 ,,and ,,sons1 ,,paternoster ,,row2     
,,edinburgh2 ,,and ,,new ,,york4        
,preface4   ,the following stories have 
been written by ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 since   
her arrival in ,india1 for the use of   
native readers4 ,it is deemed most      
desirable by those who thoroughly know  
the people1 that their minds should be  
trained in the first principles of      
morality1 as well as of religion1 by    
means of amusing fictions1 as they are  
particularly fond of stories4 ,a4 ,l4   
,o4 ,e4 desires1 therefore1 to devote   
her pen to the service of the land of   

her adoption1 as there are1             
comparatively speaking1 hardly any      
writers who enjoy the advantage of      
having the peculiar habits and failings 
of ,hindus1 ,mohammedans1 ,sikhs1 and   
native converts1 perpetually brought    
before their notice1 as is1 or should   
be1 the case with a member of a         
missionary band4  ,if her little        
8,indian ,stories0 be acceptable in her 
dear native land1 she will be thankful2 
but the object which she chiefly aims at
 is to write in a way to amuse1 and     
through amusement to instruct1 the      
people of the country of her adoption4  
,as stories placed in the hands of      
,oriental readers would be comparatively
 useless unless written in an ,oriental 
style1 and describing scenes and customs
 familiar to natives1 ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4   
has tried to adopt such a style1 and    
depict such scenes4 ,when she reviewed  
her work1 with the mental question1     
8,what would be thought of this in      
,england80 she felt how fanciful and    

affected her writings might appear to   
,european readers1 and almost gave up   
all idea of sending them home4 ,and yet1
 as quaint and often grotesque ornaments
 brought from the ,east are not despised
 in ,britain because they are unlike our
 own manufactures1 but are sometimes    
even prized for their very quaintness1  
it is possible that a few of ,a4 ,l4 ,o4
 ,e4's ,oriental stories may not be     
unacceptable in her native land4 ,they  
may even serve to awaken a little       
interest in a vast country like ,india1 
where a ,native ,church is struggling   
against surrounding evil influences1--a 
,church as yet small compared with the  
myriads of its opponents1 yet gaining   
strength year by year4 ,that infant     
,church needs tender care and indulgence
 from those who have been brought up in 
a land bathed in the light of           
,christianity1--a land where children   
are taught almost from the cradle the   
value of honesty and truth1 and where   
little is known of the fearful          

difficulties and trials which beset     
converts to the pure faith of the       
gospel4     ,contents4          ,i4     
,,the ,,radiant ,,robe1                 
#i        ,,ii4 ,,the ,,church ,,which  
,,grew ,,out ,,of ,,one ,,brick1        
#bh       ,,iii4 ,,the ,,pugree ,,with  
,a ,,border ,,of ,,gold1                
#eh        ,,iv4 ,,the ,,pink ,,chaddar1
                               #gf      
,v4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,three ,,jewels1
                      #ia        ,,vi4  
,,jewels ,,found1                       
#aab       ,,vii4 ,,the ,,broken        
,,fence1                                
#acc      ,,viii4 ,,shining ,,in ,,the  
,,dark1                           #aej  
,,ix4 ,,the ,,paper ,,parable1          
#afe         ,x4 ,,the ,,oldest         
,,language ,,upon ,,earth1              
#agj        ,,xi4 ,,stories ,,on ,,the  
,,ten ,,commandments3--              #a4
 ,the ,broken ,bridge1                  
#age              #b4 ,the ,burning     
,hut1                          #agi     

#c4 ,the ,marks on the ,sand1           
#ahb              #d4 ,the ,beautiful   
,garden1                     #ahe       
#e4 ,the ,blind ,mother1                
#ahi              #f4 ,a ,dangerous     
,village1                      #aib     
#g4 ,the ,beautiful ,pardah1            
#aif              #h4 ,the ,bearer's    
,dream1                       #bja      
#i4 ,the ,cracked ,scent-,bottle1       
#bjd             #aj4 ,the ,fall1 the   
,cheetah1 and the ,cup1       #bjh      
,a ,,wreath ,,of ,,indian ,,stories4    
,i4  ,the ,radiant ,robe4   ,fagir1 the 
government clerk1 sat in his house1 when
 the work of the day was over4 ,he had  
partaken of his evening meal2 he had    
smoked his hookah2#a his bodily frame   
was at ease1 but his mind was working   
with many thoughts4 ,his wife was beside
 him--,kasiti1 the gentle and obedient4 
,kasiti had long ago embraced the gospel
 and become a ,christian in heart1 but  
many months had passed before her       
husband had suffered her to be baptized4

 ,he had chidden her1 and she had not   
answered again2 he had been harsh1 and  
she had been loving4 ,kasiti#b had made 
her faith appear beautiful by her life1 
and her patience had at length won the  
victory4 ,fagir had not only consented  
to his wife's baptism1 but he had read  
her ,bible2 he had searched its pages   
diligently1 comparing the ,old          
,testament with the ,new4 ,and now      
,fagir's intellect was convinced of the 
truth of ,christianity2 light dawned    
upon his soul1 but it was as light      
without warmth4 ,fagir believed in      
,christ as the ,messiah1 but refused    
still to receive ,him as a ,sacrifice   
for sin4  8,such a sacrifice is not     
needed2 at least1 for those who walk    
uprightly and in the fear of ,god10 said
 ,fagir to ,kasiti1 who was seated at   
his feet1 with a ,bible on her knees4   
8,it would be mockery for such as ,i am 
to repeat what the ,christians are      
taught to say--#8,god be merciful to me1
 a sinner4' ,i1 at least1 am no sinner1 

but a just and upright man1 even judged 
by the laws contained in that ,bible4 ,i
 can hold my head erect before ,god and 
man2 for ,i serve ,god with fasting and 
prayer1 and man have ,i never wronged1  
but have bestowed large alms on the     
poor40  ,it was not for ,kasiti to      
reply2 she read to herself in silence2  
but the thought of her heart was1 8,had 
not ,christ died for sinners1 there     
would have been no heaven for me40  ,the
 evening was hot2 the motion of the     
gently-moving punkah#c disposed ,fagir  
to sleep4 ,his eyes gradually closed1   
and slumber stole over him where he sat1
 reclining on soft cushions4 ,and as the
 weary man slept he dreamed1 and his    
dream was as vivid as the realities of  
daily life could be4  ,behold in his    
dream a beautiful angel appeared unto   
,fagir4 ,a crown of light was on the    
head of the messenger of ,heaven2 glory 
was as a mantle around him1 and when he 
shook his silvery wings a shower of     
stars seemed to fall upon earth4 ,fagir 

trembled at the sight of the pure and   
holy being who floated in the air before
 him without touching the ground with   
his shining feet4  8,o ,fagir1 thou art 
bidden to the banquet of ,paradise60    
said the angel2 and his voice was as    
music at night4 8,receive this white    
robe1 in which1 if it retain its        
whiteness1 thou mayst be meet to appear 
in the presence of the great ,king4 ,but
 beware of sin2 for every sin shall be  
as a stain on thy robe4 ,keep it white  
for but one day1 and all the joys of    
,paradise shall be thine eternal        
reward40  ,as the angel spake1 he cast  
round the form of ,fagir a radiant robe1
 white as the snow on the mountains4    
,then the angel touched the broad border
 of the robe1 and on the border appeared
 in letters of gold1 ,fear ,god1 and    
keep his commandments 7,eccles4 xii4    
#ac74 ,fagir gazed in wonder on the     
inscription2 but even as he gazed it    
faded away4 ,he turned to look on the   
angel1 but behold6 the bright messenger 

had vanished4 ,nothing remained but the 
pure white robe1 which ,fagir still wore
 in his dream4  ,then the soul of ,fagir
 was filled with hope and triumph4 8,i  
have kept the commandments from my      
youth60 he exclaimed2 8and shall ,i     
break them now1 when my reward is so    
near at hand8 ,only one day of trial1   
and then ,i shall be walking in my      
radiant robe in the garden of celestial 
beauty1 and have for companions such    
beings as the bright angel who left     
heaven to bear a message to me1 the     
upright and the pious40  ,then there    
came a change in the dream of ,fagir3 he
 deemed that he had risen1 as was his   
wont1 at sunrise1 to go forth to the    
business of the day4 ,his thoughts were 
not now on ,paradise1 nor on the message
 borne by the holy one2 but still he    
wore the mysterious robe which the angel
 had thrown around him4  ,and on what   
were the thoughts of ,fagir intent as he
 took his early meal before starting for
 the cutcherry1 in which1 as a          

government official1 he worked day after
 day8 ,it might have been supposed that 
one so pious would have reflected on    
holy things1 when the first rays of the 
morning sun bade him thank ,god for     
sleep and protection during the hours of
 darkness4 ,but no2 the thoughts of     
,fagir were all on his worldly gains4   
,he had for years set his heart on      
buying a piece of land which belonged to
 a neighbour of the name of ,pir        
,bakhsh1 feeling certain that he could  
derive much profit from its possession2 
but ,pir ,bakhsh had always refused to  
sell the ground4 ,but ,fagir thought in 
his dream that ,pir ,bakhsh had suddenly
 died in the night2 his heir was only a 
child1 and ,fagir rejoiced in the hope  
that the land would now be sold1 as the 
estate was encumbered with debt4  8,the 
piece of ground is worth four hundred   
rupees#d at least10 ,fagir said to      
himself1 8and ,i shall manage now to buy
 it for two hundred rupees4 ,i shall    
then contrive to make the ,magistrate   

,sahib purchase it for a garden1 as it  
lies so close to his bungalow2#e and a  
goodly sum he shall pay6 ,i am a less   
sharp fellow than ,i take myself to be1 
if1 before the year is over1 my two     
hundred rupees have not swelled into    
seven hundred rupees at the least40     
,fagir laughed to himself at the double 
profit which he would make1 first as    
purchaser1 then as seller4 ,but his     
mirth suddenly ceased when his glance   
chanced to fall on his mysterious robe4 
8,i thought that this garment was whiter
 than milk60 he exclaimed2 8whence      
comes1 then1 this dull gray tint upon   
it80 ,the answer to his question came in
 an inscription which for a moment1 and 
only a moment1 appeared on the          
border1--,the love of money is the root 
of all evil 7#a ,tim4 vi4 #aj74  ,fagir 
felt pained and surprised2 he had often 
heard the ,christian padre#f say that   
the religion of the ,lord ,jesus reached
 even to the thoughts and desires of the
 heart1 but he had never till this time 

clearly perceived that covetousness is  
sin in itself1 even if it lead to no    
open violation of the laws of ,god or of
 man4 ,as if hoping by prayer to restore
 his robe to its former whiteness1      
,fagir now prostrated himself on his    
carpet1 and repeated a long form of     
prayer4 ,his lips moved1 and a murmuring
 sound of prayer was heard2 but even    
while he seemed to offer supplication   
and praise1 the mind of ,fagir was still
 fixed on the coveted field3 he was     
thinking how he should persuade the     
orphan's relatives that the ground was  
of little value1 and how he should make 
the ,sahib#g regard it as worth at least
 seven hundred rupees4 ,every time that 
,fagir repeated the name of ,god--and   
very often did he utter the holy word in
 his prayer--there fell1 as it were1 an 
ink-drop upon the garment given by the  
angel4 ,suddenly ,fagir perceived this1 
and started up from his knees4  8,can ,i
 sin even in the act of prayer80 ,fagir 
exclaimed in dismay4  ,then for an      

instant appeared on the border of the   
robe the words uttered by the ,almighty 
,himself1 amidst thunder and lightning1 
on ,sinai1--,thou shalt not take the    
name of the ,lord thy ,god in vain2 for 
the ,lord will not hold him guiltless   
that taketh his name in vain 7,ex4 xx4  
#g74  8,i will think no more on this    
robe10 said ,fagir1 with bitterness2 8if
 my thoughts be tainted with            
imperfection1 my acts at least are      
blameless4 ,it is enough if a man live  
righteously2 he is not master of his own
 heart40 ,here was at least an          
admission1 and that from one of the     
proudest of men1 that the heart has a   
root of bitterness in it that even the  
most righteous of mortals have no power 
in themselves to root up4  ,and now in  
the dream of ,fagir it came to pass     
that1 as he was about to quit his       
dwelling1 a messenger arrived with a    
chit from ,delhi4 ,fagir opened and read
 it1 and then1 turning towards his wife1
 he thus spake3--  8,kasiti1 this note  

brings good tidings4 ,hosein1 the head  
of my family1 is coming from ,delhi1 and
 will abide for ten days in this city4  
,we must receive him with great honour1 
for ,hosein is a wealthy and            
distinguished man1 much esteemed in the 
place where he dwells4 ,there must be   
plentiful feasting here during the days 
of his sojourn2 ,i will throw my doors  
wide open1 and invite hundreds of       
persons from far and near to meet my    
kinsman40  ,kasiti mildly made          
reply1--8,oh6 my lord1 your salary is   
but one hundred and fifty rupees2       
whence1 then1 will you spread the table 
for hundreds of guests80  8,i will      
borrow what ,i need10 said ,fagir4      
8,oh6 my lord10 said the gentle ,kasiti1
 8the padre hath said in my hearing1    
that debt is as a chain1 with which no  
servant of ,god should ever be bound40  
8,a woman's best eloquence is silence60 
exclaimed ,fagir with impatience4       
8,bring me the pen and ink2 ,i at once  
will write to the money-lender for two  

hundred and fifty rupees2 he will send  
the sum without delay1 for he knows that
 ,i am in government employ40  ,as      
,fagir stretched forth his hand for the 
pen1 his glance fell on the border of   
his stained garment1 and he read the    
words on it1--,owe no man anything1 but 
to love one another 7,rom4 xiii4 #h74   
,it seemed as if ,kasiti also had read  
the inscription1 for she ventured again 
to speak4 8,were it not well to welcome 
my lord's kinsman with due honour10 she 
said1 8but with less of expense and     
show8 ,we have enough to enable us to   
show him hospitality1 not for ten days  
only1 but for thrice ten1 if your guest 
be content to live as we live40  8,if   
,hosein should be content with so mean a
 reception1 ,i should not be content60  
exclaimed ,fagir1 his voice rising in   
wrath4 8,what6 shall he who is the head 
of ten villages come for the first time 
under my roof1 and find me living like a
 beggar8 ,wouldst thou have me to be    
dishonoured in his eyes1 ,o thou        

ignorant and foolish woman8 ,no6 ,hosein
 shall return to ,delhi and report to   
all his neighbours that wealth and      
honour1 much gold and many friends1 are 
the portion of his relative ,fagir60    
,it was then as if a dust-storm had     
swept over the robe of ,fagir3 it       
darkened even as he spake2 and black on 
the edge of the garment he beheld the   
inscription1--,pride goeth before       
destruction1 and a haughty spirit before
 a fall 7,prov4 xvi4 #ah74  ,vexed with 
himself1 and all the more so because he 
saw tears in the eyes of ,kasiti1 ,fagir
 quitted his dwelling to go1 as usual1  
to his work at the cutcherry4 ,the words
 of his wife1 though slighted1 rested on
 ,fagir's memory still3 8,debt is a     
chain with which no servant of ,god     
should ever be bound40 ,it was a thing  
forbidden in the ,bible6 ,fagir knew    
that there was no necessity for him to  
incur debt2 it was pride alone1 and     
thirst for the praise of men1 which made
 him submit to be bound like a slave    

with the chain of debt4  8,i shall soon 
cast it from me10 said ,fagir to        
himself1 as he went on his way4 8,if ,i 
manage skilfully1 perhaps ,i may get    
that piece of land for even less than   
two hundred rupees1 for the friends of  
that child know no more of business than
 ,i do of weaving shawls4 ,but ,i must  
make my bargain quickly1 or ,mahmud1 the
 man who ever crosses my path like a    
snake1 will be purchasing the land      
himself2 ,i know that he has for some   
time had his eye upon it4 ,he is a      
grasping1 unscrupulous fellow1 and his  
presence to me is as the simoom to the  
traveller in the desert4 ,but lo6 do ,i 
not behold him coming towards me60      
,yes1 it was ,mahmud himself whom ,fagir
 beheld approaching him in his dream4   
8,salm60#h cried ,mahmud2 and ,fagir    
respectfully returned the greeting1     
wishing the man whom he disliked health 
and all prosperity4 ,the stain of deceit
 and hypocrisy was on the garment worn  
by ,fagir4  8,have you heard of the     

sudden death of ,pir ,bakhsh80 asked    
,mahmud1 detaining ,fagir1 who was about
 to pass on4  8,i have heard of it10 was
 the reply4  8,i saw ,pir ,bakhsh but   
yesterday10 ,mahmud went on2 8my good   
fortune led me to his house then1 for   
had ,i gone to-day ,i should have found 
him a corpse4 ,the poor fellow's last   
act before his death was to sell me that
 bit of land which lies close to the    
,magistrate ,sahib's garden40  ,the eyes
 of ,mahmud glittered with satisfaction 
as he spake2 there was triumph in them1 
and in the smile on his lips1 which     
seemed to the enraged ,fagir to say1 8,i
 have forestalled thee and overreached  
thee4 ,i know that thy heart hath been  
set on that piece of ground2 it is now  
mine1 and thou never shalt have it1 nor 
so much as set thy foot upon it60  ,the 
two men parted without words of anger1  
but the soul of ,fagir was filled with  
disappointment1 envy1 and anger4 ,he    
clenched his hand1 gnashed his teeth1   
and1 turning round1 he looked after the 

retiring form of ,mahmud with a         
withering glance of hatred4  8,i detest 
that man10 muttered ,fagir to himself2  
then he started in horror1 for behold   
red spots1 as of blood1 were staining   
his once white robe1 and in             
blood-coloured letters on the border    
appeared the inscription1--,whosoever   
hateth his brother is a murderer2 and ye
 know that no murderer hath eternal life
 7#a ,john iii4 #ae74  ,fagir now       
loathed his polluted garment1 and would 
fain have cast it from him1 but he had  
no power to do so2 that which he had    
received from the angel had become as a 
part of himself4 ,that robe was ,fagir's
 own boasted righteousness1 and his eyes
 had been opened to see that his        
righteousness was but as filthy rags    
7,isa4 lxiv4 #f74 ,but the eyes may be  
opened without the heart being          
converted2 and thus it was with ,fagir4 
,the downfall of his hopes regarding the
 piece of ground made him but the more  
eager to make money in other ways1 that 

he might indulge his pride and          
ostentation4  ,then1 in his dream1      
,fagir found himself seated at his desk 
in the cutcherry1 with his piles of     
papers before him4 ,amongst them was a  
chit#i from the ,collector ,sahib1 and  
the contents of it were as follows3--   
8,there are two applicants for the      
office of under clerk3 the one1 ,patras1
 a ,christian1 has been highly          
recommended to me2 the other is ,abbas1 
the son of a wealthy merchant4 ,i have  
desired them both to call upon you1 that
 you may examine them as to their       
qualifications for the office1 as ,i    
have not myself time to do so           
thoroughly40  8,not time1 indeed6 the   
,sahib might better have said1 not      
sufficient knowledge of the language and
 the people10 muttered ,fagir to        
himself1 as he laid down the chit4 ,then
 calling an attendant who was outside1  
he said to him1 8,is any one waiting to 
see me80  8,a young man1 of the name of 
,patras1 has been waiting your          

lordship's pleasure for this last       
half-hour10 answered the man4  8,let him
 enter10 said ,fagir2 and forthwith the 
,christian entered1 and made his        
respectful salm4  ,the head-clerk had no
 prejudice now against ,christians2 on  
the contrary1 ,fagir was convinced that 
they held the true faith1 and that if   
they followed the example of ,him in    
whom they believed1 they would be the   
most upright and holy of men4 ,fagir    
moreover knew something of ,patras1 and 
was aware that he was one who had had to
 bear losses for righteousness' sake4   
,with kindliness of manner ,fagir       
received the young man1 and began1 after
 the customary salutation1 to examine   
him as regarded his knowledge of        
accounts and of other matters connected 
with the work of the office4 ,the       
replies of ,patras were all that could  
be desired2 he was quick in answering1  
and made no mistakes4 ,it was clear to  
the mind of ,fagir that here was a man  
who would intelligently and faithfully  

fulfil the duties of the office4  ,yet  
there was something wanting in that     
young man1--at least1 in the judgment of
 the government clerk4 ,though every    
answer given to his questions was       
satisfactory1 ,fagir did not look       
satisfied yet4 ,patras had knowledge in 
his head and wisdom on his lips2 but the
 young ,christian had brought nothing in
 his hand6  8,i will see ,abbas also    
before deciding on recommending ,patras 
to the ,collector ,sahib10 thought      
,fagir4 ,he dismissed the ,christian    
from his presence2 and1 hearing from the
 attendant that ,abbas was waiting at   
the entrance1 ,fagir gave permission    
that he should appear before him4       
,abbas was a contrast to ,patras4 ,the  
face of the merchant's son expressed    
cunning rather than talent2 his eyes    
avoided meeting those of ,fagir2 and    
when questioned regarding accounts1 the 
replies of ,abbas betrayed his imperfect
 knowledge of business4 ,fagir saw that 
the young man had little to recommend   

him1 and was about to dismiss him1 when 
,abbas slowly1 and as it were           
stealthily1 drew forth a heavy bag of   
rupees4 ,there was no need for speaking 
a word2 this was not the first nor the  
second time that ,fagir--the            
self-righteous ,fagir--had been offered 
a bribe1 and had not declined it6       
,behold1 ,o reader6 how one sin draws on
 another1 even as do the divers links of
 a chain4 ,with ,fagir pride led to     
extravagance1 extravagance to debt1 debt
 to covetousness1 covetousness to       
malice1 meanness1 and dishonour4 ,for   
shameful was the readiness of ,fagir1   
for the sake of money1 to betray the    
confidence reposed in him by his        
superior1 to sacrifice the interests of 
the public service1 and to wrong a      
deserving man4 ,fagir felt lowered in   
his own eyes as he took the bag of      
rupees1 and saw the words on the border 
of his robe1--,he that walketh          
righteously1 and speaketh uprightly2 he 
that despiseth the gain of oppression1  

that shaketh his hand from holding of   
bribes2 444 he shall dwell on high      
7,isa4 xxxiii4 #ae1 #af74  ,then1 in his
 dream1 ,fagir found himself standing in
 the presence of the collector1 who     
wished to hear his opinion of the two   
candidates for the office of under      
clerk4  8,have you examined the two     
men80 inquired the ,english ,sahib2 and 
,fagir made reply1--  8,i have done so1 
your honour40  8,i hope that ,patras is 
the one best suited for the situation10 
said the collector2 8for he has been    
highly recommended to me as a perfectly 
trustworthy man40  8,patras may be a    
good man1 ,sahib10 replied ,fagir2 8but 
he would make a very bad clerk4 ,in     
everything connected with work1 ,i find 
him far inferior to ,abbas40  8,then    
,abbas must have the place10 said the   
,englishman2 8the public interest must  
ever be considered first of all40       
,fagir heard not the ,sahib's answer1   
for a feeling of horror had stolen over 
the soul of the guilty clerk4 ,the robe 

which he wore had suddenly rent into    
rags as he had spoken the words of      
falsehood1 and in letters of flame had  
appeared on the border1--,lying lips are
 an abomination unto the ,lord 7,prov4  
xii4 #bb74 ,all liars shall have their  
part in the lake which burneth with fire
 and brimstone 7,rev4 xxi4 #h74  ,and at
 that moment again ,fagir beheld before 
him the bright angel from whom he had   
received the robe--that garment once so 
white1 but now stained1 ragged1 and     
polluted6 ,the angel spake2 but the     
voice which had been sweeter than music 
now sounded more terrible than the blast
 of the trumpet of the archangel which  
shall call forth the dead from their    
graves4  8,o ,fagir60 cried the angel1  
8thou art summoned this moment to appear
 in the presence of the great ,king40   
,then a horrible fear and dread seized  
upon the soul of him who had been so    
confident in his own righteousness--of  
him who had said in his blindness of    
heart1 8,i can hold my head erect before

 ,god and man40 ,how should a poor      
wretch clad in loathsome rags dare to   
appear before ,him who is of purer eyes 
than to behold iniquity2 how should he  
venture into the presence of the        
terrible ,king6 ,fagir felt as if he    
would rather call on the rocks and the  
mountains to hide him2 and1 in his      
agony1 he cried out so loudly1 8,god be 
merciful to me1 a sinner60 that he awoke
 from his dream4 ,and1 behold1 he was   
reclining on cushions1 with his hookah  
beside him1 the punkah swinging to and  
fro1 and ,kasiti1 with her ,bible still 
on her knees1 sitting at his feet4  8,my
 lord#aj has had troubled sleep10 said  
the wife1 raising her mild eyes from her
 book4  8,o ,kasiti60 exclaimed ,fagir1 
still trembling from the effects of his 
dream2 8how can a poor sinner1 such as  
,i am1 weak1 guilty1 and full of evil1  
become fit to appear before ,god80      
,kasiti glanced down again at her       
,bible1 and read aloud the prayer of the
 penitent ,david from the page which lay

 open before her1--,purge me with       
hyssop1 and ,i shall be clean2 wash me1 
and ,i shall be whiter than snow4       
,create in me a clean heart1 ,o ,god2   
and renew a right spirit within me 7,ps4
 li4 #g1 #aj74  8,can those who have    
stained the garments of the soul ever   
renew their whiteness80 exclaimed       
,fagir4  ,kasiti knew not how to reply  
to her husband in words of her own2 but 
she turned over the leaves of her ,bible
 till she came to the description of the
 blessed in heaven1 and then silently   
pointed to the words of the angel3      
,these are they which have come out of  
great tribulation1 and have washed their
 robes1 and made them white in the blood
 of the ,lamb 7,rev4 vii4 #ad74  ,fagir 
prostrated himself before the ,lord in  
deep humility of soul4 ,having          
discovered that he was a great sinner1  
he now felt his need of a great         
,saviour4 ,having seen that his own     
righteousness was as filthy rags1 he    
desired that his soul might be washed   

clean in the blood of the ,lamb of ,god 
which taketh away the sin of the world4 
,fagir soon afterwards sought baptism2  
but not only the outward sign1 the water
 upon the brow1 but the inward baptism  
of the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,spirit which  
toucheth the heart4  ,having received   
free pardon and found mercy through     
,christ1 ,fagir thenceforth manfully    
struggled against the world1 the flesh1 
and the devil4 ,he strove to put away   
sin--the proud heart1 the covetous      
desire1 malice1 hatred1 and all         
uncharitableness4 ,fagir became one who 
shaketh his hand from holding of bribes1
 and keepeth his tongue as with a       
bridle4 ,all who knew him said of       
,fagir1 8,behold one who walketh        
uprightly40 ,but ,fagir himself never   
ceased every day to utter the           
prayer1--,god be merciful to me1 a      
sinner4     ,,ii  ,the ,church which    
,grew out of ,one ,brick4   ,i4  ,gunga 
,ram1 ,ya'kub1 and ,isa ,das were three 
poor ryots#aa who lived by their daily  

toil1 and earned scarcely more than     
enough to supply their families with the
 bare necessaries of life4 ,these men   
were neighbours and friends2 they had   
heard at the same time the gospel       
preached by the good ,pastor ,ghopal2 on
 the same day they had received baptism 
from his hand1 and professed their faith
 in ,christ as the ,lord4 ,wherever one 
of these ryots was seen1 it was certain 
that the other two would not be far     
distant4 ,and yet1 though the three were
 all ,christians in name1 toiled in the 
same field1 and led the same kind of    
life1 ,he who readeth the heart saw as  
much difference between them as between 
the diamond which shines in a rajah's   
diadem and the pebble which the coolie  
tramples under foot4  ,one morning      
,gunga ,ram1 ,ya'kub1 and ,isa ,das1 on 
their way to the rice-field1 passed     
close to the spot on which their pastor1
 ,ghopal1 by the aid of the ,sahib ,log1
 had been building a church4 ,money had 
come from praying people in ,england1   

and brick by brick the church had risen1
 until only the roof was wanting4 ,then 
there came heavy rains1 and the river   
swelled and rose1 and overflowed its    
banks4 ,the storm beat against the      
unfinished building1 and the labour of  
months was swept away in a day4 ,the    
rain ceased1 the river flowed again in  
its usual channel2 but where a goodly   
church had been rising1 alas1 there were
 now but ruins6  ,gunga ,ram1 ,ya'kub1  
and ,isa ,das stood gazing upon these   
ruins1 sorrowful to see the destruction 
wrought by the flood4  8,the heart of   
the ,padre ,ghopal will be exceeding    
sad10 said ,isa ,das4 8,it was his joy  
day by day to see his church rising1 and
 to think of the time when he should    
gather in it his people1 as a shepherd  
gathers his flock40  8,he will build up 
the church again1 and build it more     
strongly10 said ,ya'kub4  8,alas6 my    
friend1 where shall the money come      
from80 cried ,isa ,das4 8,i heard ,padre
 ,ghopal say but yesterday1 with tears  

in his eyes1 that he fears that he can  
get no more rupees from ,england4 ,the  
,collector ,sahib1 who gave thirty gold 
mohurs1 has gone from the station2 and  
,manton ,sahib1 who fills his place1 has
 refused to give even a pice40#ab       
8,manton ,sahib is very stingy60 cried  
,ya'kub4 8,he has a grand bungalow1 fine
 carriages and horses1 and feasts like a
 prince2 he could give many gold mohurs 
and not miss them4 ,why does he not help
 to build up our church80  8,manton     
,sahib told ,padre ,ghopal that the     
people should build one for themselves10
 ,isa ,das made reply4  ,then his two   
companions shook their heads1 and said  
bitter things against the ,sahib who    
cared not to help in such a good work4  
8,how can we who are so poor build a    
church80 exclaimed ,ya'kub4 8,we live in
 small huts1 and seldom eat anything    
better than rice and fruit4 ,i have     
really not enjoyed one good satisfying  
meal since the marriage of my younger   
brother1 two years ago40 ,ya'kub sighed 

at the remembrance of that great        
feast--the rich dishes1 the pastry1 and 
the sweetmeats2 for a feast was to      
,ya'kub the greatest of joys1 and he    
knew not when he should taste such      
another again4  8,if ,i were a rich     
baboo10 said ,gunga ,ram1 8,i would give
 a thousand rupees to ,pastor ,ghopal   
for his church40  8,if ,i were a great  
rajah10 cried ,ya'kub1 8,i would build a
 church all by myself1 and make it as   
grand as the ,taj60#ac  8,i shall never 
be either baboo or rajah10 said ,isa    
,das thoughtfully2 8but though ,i am    
only a poor ryot1 ,i should like to put 
one brick in that church20 and he       
looked1 as he spoke1 at the ruins4      
8,what is thy meaning80 asked his       
companions4  8,o my brothers10 replied  
,isa ,das1 8did not the ,pastor ,ghopal 
preach yesterday on the words of the    
,lord ,jesus3 ,it is more blessed to    
give than to receive 7,acts xx4 #ce74   
,when ,i heard him ,i said in my heart1 
#8,is that blessing kept for the rich2  

shall not the poor give something       
also8'0  8,they cannot give10 cried     
,gunga ,ram1 to whom his pice were dear 
as the drops of blood in his veins4     
,but ,isa ,das did not appear persuaded 
of the truth of these words4 8,do you   
not remember10 said he1 8how1 when the  
,lord ,christ stood in the ,temple1 and 
saw rich men casting into the treasury  
of ,god much gold and much silver1 and  
then a poor widow casting in two mites1 
,he said to ,his disciples1 #8,this poor
 widow hath cast in more than they all' 
7,luke xxi4 #c74 ,the ,lord accepted the
 offering of her who had little to give1
 but gave from the heart4 ,i should like
 to put one brick in that church60  ,and
 before ,isa ,das left the spot with his
 two companions1 his wish had formed    
itself into a silent prayer4 8,o ,lord1 
,thou hast said it is more blessed to   
give than to receive2 help me to win    
that blessing4 ,thou dost love the      
offering of the poor2 show me the way to
 offer something to ,thee60   ,,ii4     

,the three men1 ,gunga ,ram1 ,ya'kub1   
and ,isa ,das1 soon reached their place 
of labour1--a rice-field which bordered 
on a great river4 ,on the other side of 
the broad waters they could see the     
bungalow to which ,manton ,sahib had    
come but the week before4 ,it was a     
large well-built bungalow with white    
pillars1 and was partly hidden by the   
mango-trees and the tall palm-trees     
which grew in the compound around it4   
8,see60 cried ,gunga ,ram1 pointing     
towards the river2 8there is some one on
 horseback trying to cross the waters40 
8,it is a stranger2 he knows not the    
ford10 said ,isa ,das4  8,if he wish not
 to be carried away by the stream10     
observed ,ya'kub1 8he must turn his     
horse's head more to the right40  ,isa  
,das lifted up his voice and shouted1   
8,to the right--to the right60 ,perhaps 
the stranger did not hear him2 or       
hearing1 paid no heed to the warning of 
a poor ryot4  8,it is ,manton ,sahib    
himself10 exclaimed ,gunga ,ram2 8,i    

know him by the red beard and long      
hair40  8,he will be drowned10 said     
,ya'kub4 8,see6 his horse has lost his  
footing already1 and is plunging madly  
into the midst of the foaming waters4   
,the ,sahib will be carried away by the 
current1 and drowned60  8,let us hasten 
to his help60 cried ,isa ,das2 8we know 
the ford well1 and could find it even on
 a starless night40  8,and we can swim  
like ducks10 added ,ya'kub4  8,if we    
save the ,sahib1 we shall have a great  
reward60 cried ,gunga ,ram1 as he       
eagerly hurried after ,isa ,das1 who had
 already plunged into the swollen river4
  ,all the three men battled with the   
waters2 all three hastened to save a    
drowning man2 all three risked their    
lives to do so4 ,the act was the same1  
but the motive different4 ,gunga ,ram   
thought of praise and reward2 ,isa ,das 
thought but of the words of the         
,lord--8,inasmuch as ye did it1 ye did  
it unto me40  ,before the three ryots   
could reach the spot where the horse had

 lost his footing1 the commissioner was 
almost drowned4 ,the rush of waters had 
borne him out of his saddle2 only one of
 his feet was yet in the stirrup2 the   
rein had escaped from his hand2 he was  
clinging for life to the mane of the    
struggling horse1 of which only the head
 could be seen above the torrent4 ,the  
,sahib had scarcely even power to shout 
for help2 but in his great need help was
 at hand4 ,ya'kub seized the rein of the
 horse2 ,gunga ,ram gave his powerful   
aid2 while ,isa ,das supported the      
half-drowned man1 and assisted him to   
recover his seat in the saddle4 ,with   
violent efforts1 and with both          
difficulty and risk1 the three ryots    
succeeded in bringing both the horse and
 his gasping rider safe back to the side
 of the river4  ,as the horse struggled 
up the bank1 with clotted mane and      
streaming flanks1 ,manton ,sahib uttered
 a few words which were not addressed to
 the ryots1 and which they could not    
understand4 ,isa ,das thought1 and      

perhaps thought rightly1 that the       
,englishman1 in his own language1 was   
thanking ,god for preservation from     
death4 ,the ,sahib shook the drops from 
his dripping hair2 his solah topee was  
floating far away down the river2 he had
 lost it in the desperate struggle for  
life4 ,manton patted the neck of his    
trembling horse2 then turning towards   
the ryots1 addressed them in their own  
tongue1--  8,brave men2 you have done a 
good service1 and shall not miss a      
reward4 ,follow me to my own house40    
8,as your highness commands10 replied   
the three ryots at once4  8,this is a   
fortunate day for us10 exclaimed ,gunga 
,ram1 as the three men followed the     
commissioner towards his handsome       
bungalow2 8we shall be poor ryots no    
longer2 we shall no more have to earn   
our rice by the sweat of our brows40    
8,we will eat something better than     
rice10 cried the feast-loving ,ya'kub4  
8,in hopes of good food1 ,i seem already
 to feel myself growing fat as a baboo60

 and he patted his breast4  ,when the   
commissioner reached his house1 he      
called aloud for his bearer1 and gave   
command that money should be brought4 ,a
 bag of silver was quickly placed in the
 ,sahib's hand2 and before he dismounted
 from his horse1 ,manton drew from it   
three rupees1 and gave one to each of   
the men4  ,the ryots made low salms as  
they took the pieces of silver1 and then
 together they turned from the          
commissioner's house4 ,but the worm of  
discontent gnawed at the heart of ,gunga
 ,ram4  8,does the ,sahib value his life
 but at three rupees80 he muttered4     
8,one rupee is not worth the wetting of 
my waist-cloth60  ,ya'kub laughed at the
 disappointment of his companion4 8,one 
rupee will at least buy a right good    
dinner60 said he4 8,no work to-day for  
me4 ,i will hasten off to the bazaar1   
and have once more such a feast as that 
of which ,i partook when my younger     
brother was married40  8,oh1 thou man   
without wisdom60 cried ,gunga ,ram1 as  

he tied up his piece of silver in the   
end of his waist-cloth2 8thou wilt not  
surely spend all thy rupee on one meal80
  ,but ,ya'kub was already beyond       
hearing of the voice of his friend4 ,it 
was as if the savoury fragrance of the  
coming feast were drawing ,ya'kub on    
from afar4 ,he hastened his steps1 even 
as the thirsty camel doth in the desert 
when he smelleth water1 and rusheth     
towards the well4  8,thou wilt not spend
 thy money thus80 asked ,gunga ,ram of  
,isa ,das4  ,isa ,das smiled as he made 
reply3 8,no2 ,i will not thus spend my  
rupee upon feasting20 and he thought1   
but he spake not his thought            
aloud1--8,the ,lord hath already heard  
and answered my prayer4 ,i1 even ,i1 a  
poor ryot1 will put one brick in that   
church40   ,,iii4  ,on the evening of   
that same day1 ,padre ,ghopal and the   
,english padre1 ,logan by name1 walked  
together to look upon the ruins of the  
native church that had been destroyed by
 the flood4 ,ghopal1 with tears in his  

eyes1 as he stood by the ruins1 besought
 the ,padre ,sahib to help him in this  
great trouble1 as he had often helped   
him before4  8,i am sorry1 very sorry1  
for the destruction of your church10    
said ,logan ,sahib kindly but gravely2  
8but ,i really cannot so soon again ask 
for subscriptions from ,england1 and my 
own purse is now empty4 ,there was a    
collection made for you but last year in
 my former parish1 near ,london1 and    
some of the very poorest of the school  
children gave to it their pence and     
their halfpence1 instead of spending the
 money on sweetmeats4 ,i heard of a     
blind woman who1 day by day1 can        
scarcely earn her scanty living by      
knitting1 who yet found that she could  
spare something to help the ,lord's work
 in a distant land4 ,if she cared for   
the building of a church into which she 
never will enter1 and for the conversion
 to ,god of people whom she never will  
see1 are the members of your flock      
content to remain idle8 ,do they think  

it well to sit with folded hands like   
children1 and expect to be fed by       
others8 ,it is time that native         
,christians should learn the proverb1   
#8,god helps those that help            
themselves4'0  ,padre ,ghopal shook his 
head and sighed deeply4 8,i have spoken 
to the people on this subject again and 
again10 he replied1 8but they listen as 
those who hear not4 ,they are as trees  
that bear leaves of profession1 but the 
fruit of good works is not seen on the  
boughs4 ,besides1 my people are poor10  
added the native pastor4  8,was it not  
said of the ,philippians1 how their deep
 poverty abounded unto the riches of    
their liberality1 for that to their     
power1 yea1 and beyond their power1 they
 were willing of themselves80 7#b ,cor4 
viii4 #b7 said ,padre ,logan4 8,not till
 we see more of this spirit of          
liberality and self-sacrifice in the    
,indian ,church1 will ,god's full       
blessing rest upon it40  8,i know it1 ,i
 know it10 sighed ,padre ,ghopal4  8,and

 not all your people are poor10         
continued the ,english pastor4 8,you    
have amongst them baboos in government  
employ1 who receive good salaries every 
month4 ,can you not persuade them to    
give at least one-tenth of their means  
to the ,giver of all1 even as every ,jew
 did in the days of old8 ,shall         
,christians do less for their religion  
than did the ,jews80  8,the baboos want 
good houses1 and their wives want fine  
jewels10 said ,padre ,ghopal4 8,if we   
wait to rebuild this church till the    
people bring free-will offerings1 like  
,jews at ,jerusalem or ,christians at   
,philippi1 we shall wait till yon river 
runs dry40  ,even as ,padre ,ghopal     
spoke1 a poor ryot drew nigh1 and       
respectfully made his salm4 8,may ,i    
speak with the padre80 said he4  8,he   
has1 of course1 some favour to ask10    
observed ,padre ,logan4 8,these people  
are always crying1 #8,give--give6'0     
,isa ,das1 for it was he1 heard the     
words of the ,englishman1 and they were 

bitter to the soul of the ryot2 but     
without looking towards him the poor man
 turned to his own pastor and silently  
held out his hand1 in which there was   
one bright silver rupee4  8,what is thy 
meaning8 ,what wouldst thou have me do  
with this rupee80 asked ,padre ,ghopal  
in surprise as he took the money4  ,isa 
,das pointed with his finger to the     
ruins and said1 8,i should like to put  
one brick into that church40  8,this is 
strange--very strange60 exclaimed ,padre
 ,logan4 8,i never heard of anything    
like it in this country before4 ,how can
 such a man1 lean in body1 and wearing  
but one garment1 have a whole rupee to  
spare80 and he glanced with suspicion at
 ,isa ,das1 for he thought to           
himself1--8,that man must have stolen   
the piece of silver40  8,let not my lord
 have hard thoughts of his servant10    
said ,isa ,das1 who understood the look4
 8,your servant to-day helped ,gunga    
,ram and ,ya'kub to save the life of    
,manton ,sahib when he had missed the   

ford1 and was nearly drowned in the     
river4 ,manton ,sahib for that service  
gave to each of us a rupee40  8,and you 
devote yours to the building of your    
church60 exclaimed ,padre ,logan4  8,i  
give it to the ,lord1 who loved and gave
 ,himself for me10 was ,isa ,das's      
reply1 as with a cheerful1 happy heart  
he turned from the place4  ,padre ,logan
 watched the poor man as he departed1   
then suddenly shook ,ghopal by the hand4
 8,god forgive me for my harsh          
judgment60 he cried2 8and ,god be       
praised that there are men in ,india    
like this poor ryot60  ,a ray of        
pleasure and hope brightened the face of
 ,padre ,ghopal4 8,i will once more     
visit the baboos10 he said1 8and see if 
the example of this poor man will not   
move them to give of their abundance1   
even as he hath given of his poverty4   
,but first let us together beseech the  
,lord to open the hearts of the people40
   ,,iv4  ,was ,isa ,das a poorer man on
 account of what he had given to ,god8  

,no one would have thought so1 who could
 have seen with what a light step and   
happy face he returned to his home that 
evening4 ,the rich flower of joy grows  
on the prickly shrub of self-denial2 the
 flower blooms even in this world1 but  
the fruit will be gathered in the next4 
,as ,isa ,das passed along the dusty    
road which led to his hut1 everything on
 which he looked seemed to add to his   
joy4 ,there was the golden light of     
sunset2 ,isa ,das beheld it1 and said to
 himself1 8,light is the gift of ,god40 
,he passed where the thirsty cattle were
 drinking at the river1 and said to     
himself1 8,water is the gift of ,god40  
,isa ,das remembered his own blessings1 
and said to himself1--8,eyes to see1 and
 ears to hear1 and hands to work1 and   
feet to walk1--these also are gifts of  
,god4 ,the great ,father in heaven loves
 to give4 ,he gave ,his only-begotten   
,son1 that whosoever believeth in ,him  
should not perish1 but have everlasting 
life 7,john iii4 #af74 ,god hath called 

us to be ,his children2 and shall not   
the children be even as the ,father1 and
 also delight in giving8 ,yea1 to give  
freely and to give joyfully1--this is   
the right of the children of ,god40     
,when ,isa ,das came in sight of his    
humble home1 his little boy1 his        
well-beloved1 ran forth to meet him4    
,the child had a flower in his hand1--a 
small flower which he had plucked to    
give to his father4 ,isa ,das caught up 
the child and kissed him1 and took the  
small flower from the little hand with a
 smile of acceptance1 as if it had been 
the ,koh-i-noor worn by the ,queen4 8,my
 loving child1--he also is a gift from  
,god10 thought the ryot4  ,when ,isa    
,das entered his humble home1 he found  
that his wife had carefully prepared the
 evening meal4 ,it was but a very simple
 meal1 but ,isa ,das blessed ,god before
 he ate it as thankfully as if he had   
been sitting down to a feast4 ,then he  
told his wife of all that had happened2 
for ,isa ,das was the ,christian husband

 of a ,christian woman1 and they shared 
all each other's sorrows and joys1 and  
nothing that the one did was ever hidden
 from the other4 ,the love which ,isa   
,das and his ,lakhdili felt for each    
other was also the gift of ,god4  ,when 
the wife heard of the gift of the rupee1
 her eyes sparkled with pleasure1 for   
she thought1--8,my husband will perhaps 
buy a new chaddar for me1 or bangles to 
put on the arms of our dear little boy20
 but when ,isa ,das told ,lakhdili that 
his money had gone to be1 as it were1 a 
brick in the church1 she was too good a 
wife and too good a woman to say aught  
against what her husband had done4      
8,oh1 husband6 thou hast done a good    
work10 said ,lakhdili2 8and good works  
are the ladder by which holy men1 as    
thou art1 climb to heaven40  8,oh1      
woman60 cried ,isa ,das with            
earnestness1 8thinkest thou that by good
 works we poor sinners can climb to     
heaven8 ,as well might ,i gather a heap 
of date-stones together1 and think by   

mounting on them to reach the noonday   
sun6 ,heaven is ,christ's free gift2 ,he
 bought it for us with ,his own blood4  
,but we love ,him who gave us the       
gift1--we love ,him as my little child  
loves me1--and our offerings are even as
 this flower which my darling gathered  
to place in the hand of his father40    
,v4  ,scarcely had ,isa ,das finished   
his meal1 when some one approached him4 
,the light of sunset had faded away1 and
 ,isa ,das could not see the face of him
 who had come1 but when he spoke ,isa   
,das knew well the voice of ,gunga ,ram4
  8,dost thou know what hath befallen   
our companion ,ya'kub80 were the first  
words of ,gunga ,ram as he seated       
himself on the ground near ,isa ,das4   
8,i have not seen ,ya'kub since the     
morning10 was ,isa ,das's reply1 8when  
from ,manton ,sahib we each received a  
rupee40  8,ah1 poor ,ya'kub60 cried     
,gunga ,ram1 but more in mirth than in  
sorrow4 8,did ,i not warn him and say to
 him1 #8,thou man without wisdom1 spend 

not all thy money upon one meal6' ,his  
bright rupee has been to him even as a  
melon under which a centipede lies      
hidden1 that bites the hand of him who  
gathers the fruit40  8,what is thy      
meaning80 asked ,isa ,das4  8,ya'kub    
hurried off to the bazaar10 ,gunga ,ram 
made answer2 8and there1 to the last    
pie1 he spent his money on buying       
dainties1 the fat and the sweet4 ,and he
 bought bang also1 and he ate to the    
full1 and he drank to the full1 till his
 eyes would not have distinguished the  
saddle of a horse from the hump of a    
bullock60  8,alas1 that ,ya'kub should  
thus have cast disgrace on the          
,christian name60 exclaimed ,isa ,das   
with sorrow4  ,but ,gunga ,ram neither  
showed nor felt any regret at the fall  
of his weaker brother2 it was to him    
rather a cause of mirth4  8,ya'kub      
became in his drunkenness as one who is 
mad10 thus ,gunga ,ram went on with his 
story4 8,ya'kub ran against the bearers 
of a palki1--rushing fiercely against   

them as the wild boar rushes through the
 jungle1--and1 behold6 in the palki was 
the ,manton ,sahib himself60 ,gunga ,ram
 laughed till his sides shook as he     
added1 8,so poor ,ya'kub1 of course1 was
 sent to jail4 ,this was the end of his 
feast6 ,this was the great good which   
came to him from the rupee given by the 
,sahib60  ,then ,isa ,das could not help
 thinking of the words of the wise      
,solomon written in the ,holy           
,book1--8,the blessing of the ,lord it  
maketh rich1 and ,he addeth no sorrow   
with it0 7,prov4 x4 #bb74 ,poor ,ya'kub 
had sought no blessing2 he had cared but
 to gratify the lusts of the flesh2 and 
behold sorrow and disgrace had come     
where he had looked for nothing but joy4
  8,thou wilt not thus spend thy rupee1 
my friend80 he said unto ,gunga ,ram4   
8,spend it1 indeed6 ,why should ,i spend
 it at all80 was ,gunga ,ram's reply4   
8,no2 ,i do not lightly part with my    
money1--,i gather it up and store it4 ,a
 pice is but a little coin1 but many    

pice make a rupee1 and many rupees a    
gold mohur2 and as the proverb saith    
truly1--#8,by patience the mulberry-leaf
 becomes satin4'0 ,gunga ,ram lowered   
his voice and glanced round him         
suspiciously as he went on1--8,why      
should ,i hide a secret from thee which 
,i have already confided to ,ya'kub8    
,the ,sahib's coin lies not alone in my 
bag1--there are now thrice three1 which 
,i have saved by care and self-denial2  
and if things go well with me to the end
 of the year1 ,i shall have as many     
rupees saved as ,i have fingers on these
 two hands20 and ,gunga ,ram stretched  
out his hands as he spoke4  8,what      
avails our having money1 if we never    
spend it80 asked ,isa ,das4 8,hast thou 
never heard the words of the ,lord3     
#8,lay not up for yourselves treasures  
upon earth1 where moth and rust doth    
corrupt1 and where thieves break through
 and steal2 but lay up for yourselves   
treasures in heaven1 where neither moth 
nor rust doth corrupt1 and where thieves

 do not break through nor steal'80      
7,matt4 vi4 #ai1 #bj74  ,gunga ,ram gave
 a sign of impatience4 8,preach not to  
me1 but look to thyself60 he exclaimed4 
8,i wot thou hast not yet parted thyself
 with the ,sahib's rupee40  8,i have    
parted with it10 replied ,isa ,das with 
a smile4  8,hast thou then been to the  
bazaar and bought a ring1 or a bracelet1
 or a new kamarband80 asked ,gunga ,ram4
  ,isa ,das shook his head4  8,or a goat
 to give milk to thy child80  ,again    
,isa ,das shook his head as he made     
reply1--8,i have bought nothing1 ,o my  
friend60  8,then thou hast lost thy     
rupee80 cried ,gunga ,ram4  8,i have not
 lost it10 said ,isa ,das with          
cheerfulness4  8,thou hast not kept1 nor
 spent1 nor lost it2 then hast thou been
 so mad as to give it away to some poor 
neighbour80 asked ,gunga ,ram1 who would
 not so much as have given away an anna 
to his own brother4  8,i have given it  
to ,one who is rich10 replied ,isa ,das2
 and he added to himself1--8to ,one who 

for our sakes was yet content to be     
poor40  8,if thou hast given thy good   
rupee to one who is rich already1 thou  
hast indeed acted the part of a         
fool6--unless1 indeed1 he be likely to  
repay thee thy money with interest10    
said ,gunga ,ram4  8,a hundredfold--a   
thousandfold10 thought ,isa ,das1 as he 
lifted up his eyes towards heaven4 8,it 
is there that ,i would lay up my        
treasure40   ,,vi4  ,on the following   
evening there was a great dinner at the 
bungalow of ,manton ,sahib4 ,all the    
,english gentlemen of the station were  
invited1 and amongst them came ,padre   
,logan4  ,there was much talk at the    
dinner-table on various matters1--the   
last news from ,europe1 the state of the
 crops1 the movements of the            
governor-general1 and the chance of a   
war in ,burmah4 ,at last ,padre ,logan  
observed to ,manton ,sahib1 to whom he  
sat opposite1 8,i hear that yesterday   
you had a narrow escape from drowning40 
8,yes10 replied ,manton ,sahib2 8,i     

missed the ford when attempting to cross
 the river1 lost my seat in the saddle1 
and never in all my life felt myself    
nearer to death than ,i did when the    
waters came rushing around me1 for ,i am
 unable to swim4 ,i believe that ,i     
should not have been sitting at this    
table to-day1 had not three ryots1      
capital swimmers1 come to my rescue40   
8,and you gave each of them a rupee10   
observed ,padre ,logan4  8,unlucky      
rupees they were10 cried the            
commissioner1 shrugging his shoulders4  
8,how so80 inquired ,padre ,logan1      
whilst the rest of the company at table 
became silent in order to listen4       
8,why1 before the day was over1 one of  
the fellows got drunk on his rupee10    
replied ,manton ,sahib4 8,he actually   
attacked my bearers with a stick when ,i
 was going home in my palki in the      
evening1 and was so noisy and           
troublesome that ,i was obliged to send 
him to prison40  8,but another of the   
ryots made a very different use of his  

rupee10 observed ,padre ,logan4  8,that 
is to say1 he made no use of it at all10
 replied the commissioner4 8,but the    
very circumstance of his having the     
money brought the poor fellow to grief40
  8,how so80 asked ,colonel ,miller1 an 
officer who sat at the end of the table4
  8,a rumour had been abroad10 thus     
,manton ,sahib made reply1 8that week   
after week1 and month after month1 this 
ryot1 whose name is ,gunga ,ram1 has    
been saving money1 pie by pie4 ,but no  
one was sure of the matter1 for the     
man's earnings were so small that it was
 hard to believe that he should be able 
to scrape any money together4 ,but it   
appears that ,ya'kub1 in his            
drunkenness1 had made it known          
throughout the bazaar that ,gunga ,ram1 
like himself1 had received a present    
from me2 and perhaps rumour had turned  
the one rupee into ten40  8,that is     
likely enough10 said ,padre ,logan4     
8,be that as it may1 poor ,gunga ,ram   
had to pay dearly for his love of       

money10 said ,manton ,sahib4 8,about    
midnight some thieves entered his hut1  
and searched it1 but at first could find
 nothing in it4 ,determined to reach the
 supposed hoard1 the villains seized    
poor ,gunga ,ram1 and cruelly tortured  
him to make him confess where he had    
buried his money4 ,in his agony the poor
 wretch told them the place4 ,the cries 
of ,gunga ,ram reached the ears of some 
of the police1 who came to his aid2 but 
before they entered the hut the thieves 
had made off with the money1 and the    
police found only the miserable ,gunga  
,ram stretched on the ground bleeding   
and groaning4 ,he was carried off to the
 hospital at once4 ,thus you see that ,i
 had some cause to say that mine were   
unlucky rupees40  8,you have told us of 
the fate of two of the receivers of your
 gift10 observed the ,english padre2    
8let me now tell you something of the   
third ryot1 and of the use which he made
 of his rupee1 which may perhaps be to  
you yet more surprising40  8,one of the 

fellows is lodged in an hospital1       
another in a jail10 said ,colonel       
,miller1 laughing2 8,i suppose that the 
story of the third will be that he      
bought a rope with his rupee1 and hanged
 himself in the next mango-grove40      
,most of the rest of the company        
laughed2 but ,manton ,sahib turned      
attentively to listen to what ,padre    
,logan was going to say4 8,what did the 
third man do with his money80 he        
inquired4  8,he gave it to ,padre       
,ghopal1 to help to rebuild the little  
native church that was thrown down by   
the flood10 was the padre's reply4  ,all
 the company looked surprised4 ,no one  
had been surprised to hear of a man     
getting drunk on bang1 or of another    
being tortured and robbed2 but they     
regarded the poor ryot's free-will      
offering to ,god as a very strange thing
 indeed4  8,i can scarcely believe it10 
said ,colonel ,miller2 and his face     
expressed doubt yet more than did his   
words4  8,i was myself present when ,isa

 ,das gave his rupee into the hand of   
,ghopal10 said the ,english padre4      
8,then ,i can only say that this ryot   
gives me a higher opinion of the natives
 of ,india than ,i ever had before10    
observed ,colonel ,miller4  8,you see1  
sir10 said ,logan1 addressing himself to
 ,manton ,sahib1 8that not all of the   
rupees went to the thieves or to the    
seller of bang40  ,manton ,sahib was    
silent for some moments1 reflecting     
deeply4 ,at the time of his preservation
 from drowning he had thanked ,god for  
saving him from death1 but never till he
 heard of the gift of the poor ryot had 
he thought of bringing a thank-offering1
 an acknowledgment of the mercy shown to
 him by ,god4 ,the poor man's piety     
kindled a feeling of piety in the breast
 of the wealthy ,sahib1 even as one     
torch is kindled by another4  8,are the 
natives1 then1 so anxious to have their 
church built80 the commissioner asked of
 the clergyman4  8,many wish it to be   
built10 was ,padre ,logan's reply2 8but 

,isa ,das is the only one of whom ,i    
have yet heard as helping the cause by a
 gift40  8,then let his example be      
followed10 cried ,manton ,sahib2 8and my
 help shall not be wanting4 ,tell       
,ghopal1 that whatever sum of money he  
may succeed in gathering from his native
 flock for the building of the church   
before ,sunday next1 shall be doubled by
 me40  8,ghopal will not gather much1 ,i
 suspect10 observed ,colonel ,miller to 
,manton ,sahib2 8your purse will not be 
greatly lightened40  8,whether the sum  
be small or great1 ,i will keep to my   
promise10 said the commissioner2 8and   
the heavier the drain on my purse1 the  
better shall ,i be pleased40   ,,vii4   
,before the rising of the sun on the    
following morning1 ,padre ,logan was on 
his way to the house of ,ghopal1 to     
carry to him the news of the            
commissioner's promise4 ,before the sun 
had set on that day1 ,padre ,ghopal had 
visited the dwelling of every native    
,christian in the place1 and in every   

house had told of the poor ryot's       
offering1 and of the rich commissioner's
 offer4 ,never had such interest and    
excitement been shown amongst the       
,christians before4 ,the punishment of  
,ya'kub1 the erring one1 and the robbery
 of the money of the unfortunate ,gunga 
,ram1 were known to all2 and the story  
of the three rupees from the lips of    
,padre ,ghopal fell with more effect    
upon the ears of the hearers than ten   
sermons might have done4 8,god is       
great60 they exclaimed4 8,happy is he   
upon whom rests the blessing of the     
,most ,high4 ,without that blessing1    
even money may bring but sorrow and     
shame40  ,padre ,ghopal carried with him
 a bag to receive the contributions of  
the people4 ,when he started in the     
morning1 there was but one rupee in the 
bag--that one was the offering of ,isa  
,das2 but before ,ghopal returned to his
 home the bag had become a heavy burden1
 full of pice1 annas1 and rupees4 ,those
 who had never given before now gave    

with thankfulness and joy4  8,i was     
going to spend much on the marriage     
festivities of my daughter10 said one2  
8,i will spend less on feasting and     
show1 that ,i may have something to     
spare for the work of ,god4 ,may the    
,lord ,jesus grant ,his favour to my    
child2 that is far better than dance or 
feasting could be40  8,i had intended to
 buy a new horse10 said a baboo2 8but ,i
 will make my old pony carry me yet     
another year4 ,i will ride him with     
pleasure2 and mounted upon him1 will go 
from day to day to see the house of ,god
 rising from its ruins1 for ,i shall    
have put many bricks in that church40   
,margam1 the mother of ,padre ,ghopal1  
had no money to give2 but1 with a happy 
smile1 she drew from her arm a silver   
bangle1 and dropped it into the bag of  
her son4 8,let the silver be changed    
into bricks for the house of the ,lord10
 said the pious woman4  ,before the     
appointed ,sunday arrived1 ,padre ,logan
 and ,ghopal together1 with thankful    

surprise1 counted out the money which   
had been poured by rich and poor into   
the treasury of the ,lord4 ,the coppers 
and the silver together1 and cowries    
also1 that were found in the bag1       
amounted to a goodly sum2 and when the  
last rupee had been counted1 ,padre     
,ghopal lifted up his eyes to heaven1   
and exclaimed1 8,god be praised6 ,he    
hath answered our prayers even beyond   
our hopes4 ,there is lying before me in 
these heaps half of the money required  
to build up our church60  8,and ,manton 
,sahib will double the amount10 said the
 joyful ,padre ,logan4 8,he is a man who
 will never flinch back from keeping his
 promise40  ,padre ,logan was right2 nor
 had the commissioner the slightest wish
 to flinch back from keeping his        
promise4 ,manton ,sahib rejoiced to help
 those who were helping themselves4     
,never had the ,englishman written      
anything with more pleasure than when he
 dipped his pen and made out a cheque on
 the ,bank of ,bengal for the remainder 

of the sum required to complete the     
building of the church4  ,fast went on  
the work of building2 the church seemed 
to grow rapidly1 as rice when the water 
rises around it4 ,every one in the      
,christian village rejoiced to see its  
progress1 and many who could give no    
money gave a helping hand to the work4  
8,this is our own church10 the people   
would say2 8we need no more money from  
,england4 ,we ourselves1 with the       
,commissioner ,sahib's help1 have built 
our house of prayer1 and we will support
 our minister also4 ,it is a good thing 
to offer freely and joyfully to the     
,lord4 #8,god loveth a cheerful giver'0 
7#b ,cor4 ix4 #g74  ,before the rainy   
season arrived the little church was    
built and roofed in2 and there was a    
glad gathering of all the people to     
celebrate the opening of the holy house 
with prayer and songs of praise4 ,gunga 
,ram and ,ya'kub were there2 the one had
 left his hospital1 the other had been  
dismissed from jail4 ,gunga ,ram had a  

pale cheek1 and a deep scar left by a   
wound2 and poor ,ya'kub could scarcely  
lift his eyes from the ground1 for shame
 covered his face4 ,these two poor ryots
 joined in the prayer1 but their voices 
were not heard in the songs of joy4     
,after the meeting was over1 ,gunga ,ram
 and ,ya'kub joined ,isa ,das1 who was  
standing a little apart1 his hands      
clasped1 his face bright with happiness1
 as he looked at the beautiful building 
standing where only ruins had been4     
8,ah1 my brother60 cried ,gunga ,ram1   
8this is indeed a day of rejoicing for  
thee4 ,behold ,god hath heard thy       
prayer1 and hath greatly prospered thy  
work40  ,gunga ,ram spoke from the      
heart1 for during the time of his sore  
sickness and pain ,god's ,holy ,spirit  
had spoken to his soul4 ,gunga ,ram had 
resolved that out of his little earnings
 a tenth part should always henceforth  
be devoted to holy uses1 the support of 
his pastor1 and the relief of the poor4 
,gunga ,ram would seek to lay up for    

himself treasure in heaven1 where       
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt1 nor 
thieves break through and steal4  8,i am
 as joyous as if ,i were sultan of the  
world10 said ,isa ,das1 8when ,i look on
 that house1 in which ,i hope that the  
gospel will be preached from generation 
to generation40  8,and thou thyself hath
 built that church10 said ,gunga ,ram4  
8,i build a church6--,i1 who am but a   
poor ryot60 exclaimed ,isa ,das in      
surprise4 8,thou dost not well1 ,o      
,gunga ,ram1 to speak words of mockery  
to thy friend40  8,they are not words of
 mockery1 but words of truth10 replied  
,gunga ,ram4 8,without thy prayers and  
thy offering1 that church would not have
 been standing there this day4 ,it is   
thou who didst build that church40  8,i 
laid but one brick10 said ,isa ,das4    
8,but as from the seed springs the tree1
 so from that one brick laid in faith   
and prayer that goodly building hath    
risen10 said ,gunga ,ram4 8,o my        
brother1 ,i have learned a great lesson 

whilst lying wounded and in sore        
trouble1--a lesson which is worth more  
to me than the nine rupees which the    
robbers carried away4 ,our money is as  
seed-corn which the ,lord1 the great    
,land-owner1 commits to ,his servants   
that they may sow and reap a            
hundredfold4 ,ya'kub was as one who     
grinds the seed-corn and eats it1 and   
lo1 his field is brown and bare when the
 green blade is springing up in the     
fields of others around him6 ,i was as  
one who hides his seed-corn till the    
time for sowing is past1 and that which 
might have brought forth good fruit     
becomes corrupted and mouldy4 ,but thou1
 ,o ,isa ,das1 thou hast been as one who
 does the bidding of his lord1 and in   
the day of harvest greatly rejoices4    
,for is it not written in the ,word of  
,truth1 ,he that soweth to his flesh1   
shall of the flesh reap corruption2 but 
he that soweth to the spirit1 shall of  
the spirit reap life everlasting80      
7,gal4 vi4 #h47     ,,iii4  ,the        

,pugree#ad with a ,border of ,gold4     
,it was a happy day for ,hassan1 the    
,christian moonshee1#ae when all        
arrangements were settled for the       
marriage of his daughter ,fatima with   
,yuhanna1 a highly respectable baboo1#af
 who held the same faith as himself4    
,hassan had had a time of great trouble 
both before and after his baptism2 old  
friends had turned their back upon him1 
and those who had often eaten his bread 
had crossed to the other side of the    
road when they saw him4 ,reproach had   
been cast upon his name1 and sharp words
 had pierced his soul like a sword4 ,yet
 ,hassan had held fast to the faith     
which he had embraced2 he had borne     
losses and endured reproach1            
strengthened by prayer1#ag and helped by
 the counsels of ,alton ,sahib1 the     
,english friend who had first placed a  
,bible in the hands of his moonshee4    
,the storm of persecution had now passed
 over2 men ceased to revile one whom    
they could not but respect2 ,hassan     

earned a comfortable livelihood by      
teaching2 and now his daughter's        
betrothal to the baboo whom above all   
others he preferred for a son-in-law1   
was as a crown to his prosperity4  8,we 
will have a grand wedding1 ,o ,margam10 
said ,hassan to his wife2 8a great      
tamasha1#ah and plenty of feasting60    
8,and my daughter shall have goodly     
garments1 meet for the bride of         
,yuhanna10#ai said the smiling ,margam4 
8,she shall have a shawl woven at       
,amritsar1 and embroidery from ,delhi1  
and slippers worked in blue and silver1 
such as are worn by the begum40#bj      
8,and what shall ,i have1 ,o father80   
cried little ,yusuf1 the youngest child 
of the moonshee1 and dear to his heart  
as the light of his eyes4  8,thou at the
 wedding of thy sister shalt have a new 
pugree with a border of gold10 said     
,hassan1 bending down to kiss fondly the
 brow of his child4  8,for the wedding  
festivities and the goodly garments     
money must be borrowed10 observed       

,margam1 who knew that the expenses to  
be incurred would amount to a sum much  
greater than her husband could earn in a
 year by teaching4  8,yes1 ,i must      
borrow10 said ,hassan calmly1 but with a
 look of thought4 8,to whom shall ,i go 
for the money80  8,to ,nabi ,bakhsh10   
suggested ,margam4  8,not to ,nabi      
,bakhsh1 of all men60 exclaimed the     
moonshee2 8he is an usurer who would    
squeeze juice out of a date-stone6 ,not 
to ,sadik1 for ,i owe him five rupees   
already40  8,there is the ,english      
,sahib2 he is a great friend of my      
lord10 observed ,margam2 8surely when he
 hears that the money is required for a 
wedding-feast he will be ready to lend40
  8,and ,alton ,sahib is able to do so10
 cried ,hassan2 8his salary is five     
hundred rupees a month1 and ,i doubt    
that he spends more than three4 ,he has 
the smallest and worst bungalow in the  
station1 and keeps fewer servants than a
 clerk on the railway would do4 ,the    
,sahib must be laying up money2 and he  

is so much my friend that ,i am sure    
that he would help me in this my need4  
,to-day is a holiday in the school where
 ,i teach2 my time is therefore my own1 
and ,i will go at once to the ,sahib40  
8,and as you come back by the bazaar1 ,o
 father10 cried the eager little ,yusuf1
 8be sure that you do not forget to buy 
for me the pretty new pugree with a     
border of gold40  8,i will not forget   
it1 ,o my child10 said the moonshee with
 a smile1 as he rose to depart4  ,hassan
 had pleasant thoughts whilst he went on
 his way towards the bungalow of ,alton 
,sahib4 ,he considered how the ,lord had
 brought him through all his troubles1  
and after the storm of adversity had    
given the sunshine of joy to ,his       
servant4 8,those who despised me will   
envy me now10 thought ,hassan2 8my      
daughter is to marry a good man and a   
prosperous man1 and the grand feast     
which ,i shall prepare will show to all 
that this is an occasion of great joy   
and rejoicing40  ,when ,hassan came in  

sight of the little bungalow of ,alton  
,sahib1 his thoughts flowed in another  
channel4  8,it is strange that a        
government ,sahib should choose to live 
in a place little better than a stable10
 said the moonshee to himself4 8,that   
bungalow is only fit for owls and rats1 
and will come down in the next rains4   
,the ,sahib is at home1 ,i see1 for     
there is the syce#ba leading away his   
horse from the door4 ,horse1 did ,i call
 it6 ,how can an ,english ,sahib ride   
such a wretched tatt8#bb ,the tall man's
 feet must almost touch the ground as he
 rides4 ,there is only one thing which  
,i do not like about ,alton ,sahib4 ,he 
is as good a ,christian and as true a   
friend as ever trod the earth1 but he   
must have a close fist1 and be          
uncommonly fond of his money4 ,i never  
hear of his entertaining a friend3 and  
he seems to make his coat last for ever2
 ,i wonder whether he ever intends to   
buy a new one6 ,i like a ,sahib to spend
 freely1 and never take to counting the 

pice4 ,does not the ,bible say1 #8,lay  
not up for yourselves treasures on      
earth'8 ,why does one who loves ,god as 
the ,sahib does hoard up his money thus8
 ,it is a grievous fault in the ,sahib40
  ,hassan forgot the ,sahib's fault when
 he stood in his presence1 met his      
kindly smile1 and heard his hearty      
congratulations on the approaching      
marriage in his family4 ,hassan was     
asked to take a seat2 there were but two
 chairs in the room1 which was very     
poorly furnished indeed4  ,alton ,sahib 
listened smilingly to all that ,hassan  
had to tell him about the baboo who was 
to become his son-in-law1--how much     
respected he was by all1 and how much   
property he had in his village4 ,but the
 smile passed from the ,sahib's face    
when ,hassan1 after much other          
conversation1 told the object of his    
visit1 and asked for a loan of two      
hundred rupees4  8,i have not the       
money10 said the ,sahib gravely2 8and if
 ,i had1 it would be against my         

conscience to lend it40  ,hassan could  
scarcely refrain from an exclamation of 
surprise4 ,he glanced round the room in 
which he sat1 and ,alton ,sahib1 who    
quickly read the minds of men1 perceived
 that in that of the moonshee was       
arising the thought1 8,can the ,sahib be
 speaking the truth80  ,the face of the 
,englishman flushed2 he hesitated for   
several moments1 as if it were a painful
 effort to him to utter that which he   
was about to say4  8,hassan1 ,i seldom  
speak to any one about my private       
affairs10 said the ,sahib at last2 8but 
,i believe that it will be better both  
for you and for myself if ,i do so now4 
,you think me close-handed and unwilling
 to part with my money2 you may even    
think me insincere1 and therefore a most
 inconsistent ,christian2 but ,i spoke  
but truth when ,i said that ,i had no   
money4 ,the fact is0--the ,sahib lowered
 his voice as he went on--8the fact is1 
that ,i am in debt to a friend20 and the
 flush on the young man's brow and cheek

 deepened as he uttered the words4      
,hassan's surprise was now twofold2 he  
wondered how the prudent ,sahib could   
have got into debt1 and he wondered why 
any one should blush to own that he had 
done so4 ,there was nothing shameful to 
,hassan in the idea of being in debt2   
like many of his countrymen1 he thought 
it a very small matter1 scarcely a      
misfortune1 and not in the least degree 
a disgrace4 ,it was clear that debt was 
not regarded in the same light by the   
,english ,christian4  ,it had often been
 a matter of regret to ,alton ,sahib to 
see how lightly debt weighed on the     
consciences of many in ,india4 ,he took 
a deep interest in the spiritual welfare
 of ,hassan1 whom he regarded as a      
brother in ,christ4 8,shall ,i see my   
brother sin1 and not tell him of his    
error80 thought ,alton ,sahib4 8,debt in
 this land is as the canker-worm in the 
grain1 or the hidden abscess in the     
human frame4 ,i can best show ,hassan   
how ,i abhor it by letting him know what

 efforts ,i have myself made1 and am now
 making1 to get rid of the plague40  8,i
 feel it due to myself to let you know  
something of the circumstances that     
involved me in the debt from which ,i   
am1 and have been for years1 struggling 
to free myself10 said the young ,sahib1 
after another pause4 8,when ,i was in   
,calcutta1 not long after my first      
arrival in this country1 ,i was robbed  
at a hotel of all the ready money which 
,i possessed4 ,this was1 of course1 a   
source of annoyance to me1 but not of   
serious difficulty1 as ,i had a wealthy 
friend in a station in ,bengal1 who     
would1 ,i knew1 at once advance whatever
 ,i required to pay my hotel-bill1 and  
to take me up to the ,punjaub1 the      
province to which ,i had been appointed4
 ,i believed that the loan would be very
 soon repaid by my father in ,england40 
8,your excellency's mind must have been 
quite at rest in the matter10 observed  
the moonshee4  8,as ,i dipped my pen10  
continued the ,sahib1 8to write to my   

friend the judge to ask for a loan of   
three hundred rupees1 the very smallest 
sum that would suffice to cover needful 
expenses1 a servant brought in letters  
from ,england4 ,i laid down my pen and  
opened the first one1 little guessing   
the heavy news which it would contain4  
,the letter informed me that1 by the    
failure of a bank1 all my father's      
property1 the savings of many years1 had
 been swept away2 and that he who had   
risen in the morning believing himself  
to be in affluence1 had lain down at    
night in a state of poverty1 which      
illness made more distressing40  8,alas6
 the news was heavy indeed60 exclaimed  
,hassan4  8,my father has since been    
called to that happy home where there is
 no more trial10 said ,alton ,sahib with
 a sigh2 8he had laid up treasure in    
heaven1 in that bank which never can    
fail4 ,but at the time of which ,i speak
 his need was pressing2 ,i wrote to the 
judge in haste1 but instead of          
borrowing1 as ,i had intended1 three    

hundred rupees with the assurance that  
the money would be repaid in two months1
 ,i asked for the loan of five thousand 
rupees1 to be repaid ,i knew not when1  
that ,i might send home help at once to 
my sick and afflicted father40  8,and   
the ,judge ,sahib gave the money80 asked
 ,hassan4  8,at once1 most generously1  
most readily10 replied the young        
,english ,sahib2 8nor do ,i believe that
 he would ever ask me for one rupee of  
the money again40  8,all is well1 then1 
your excellency10 observed ,hassan2 8the
 ,judge ,sahib is rich1 he needs not the
 money1 the matter is no trouble to     
him40  8,but it has been a sore trouble 
to me10 cried the young ,sahib quickly2 
8,i could no more sit down quietly under
 that burden of debt1 than ,i could     
calmly endure to wear a chain of iron   
around my neck4 ,my life has been one   
perpetual effort to cast off that chain2
 link by link ,i have broken it away4 ,i
 lived from the first on half my        
income--lived as no other ,english      

gentleman in my position would do4 ,when
 my salary was increased1 ,i did not    
increase my expenses4 ,i have endured to
 be thought stingy and inhospitable1 in 
a land where not to have the hand and   
the door open is esteemed a great       
reproach4 ,i could not give alms or     
entertain guests on the money that was  
really another's2 it was better in man's
 sight to be unjustly considered mean1  
than in the sight of ,god to be         
dishonest40  8,dishonest60 exclaimed    
,hassan in astonishment2 the word did   
not seem in his mind to be in the least 
suited for the occasion4  8,yes1        
dishonest10 repeated the ,sahib2 8money 
which we have borrowed is not really our
 own1--it belongs to the lender40  8,it 
was his pleasure to lend it10 observed  
,hassan4  8,but not his pleasure that it
 should never be returned10 rejoined the
 ,sahib with animation4  ,still the     
moonshee did not appear persuaded that  
there could be any harm in incurring a  
debt to a man who was rich enough to    

spare the money4  ,alton ,sahib rose and
 went up to his table1 on which lay a   
,bible4 ,he turned over the pages1 and  
then silently pointed out the           
text1--,owe no man anything1 but to love
 one another 7,rom4 xiii4 #h74  8,i knew
 not that such a command was in the     
,bible10 observed the moonshee4 8,but   
the ,sahib was under necessity to break 
it40  8,conscience does not reproach me 
for incurring my debt10 said ,alton     
,sahib gravely1 8but conscience would   
give me no rest if ,i neglected doing my
 utmost to pay back what ,i owe4 ,i     
hope1 when my last month's salary comes 
in on ,monday1 to send back the last    
rupee to my friend2 and the day on which
 ,i find myself free from debt will     
doubtless be one of the happiest days of
 my life40  8,ah6 then the ,sahib will  
be able1 after all1 to lend to his      
servant60 exclaimed ,hassan with        
pleasure2 8the marriage of my daughter  
will not take place for more than a     
month40  ,alton ,sahib felt vexed that  

all that he had said had had so little  
effect on the mind of the ,christian    
moonshee4 ,the young man closed the     
,bible and returned to his seat4        
8,moonshee ,j10 he said1 8,i borrowed   
money from pressing necessity2 you would
 borrow without necessity40  ,again     
surprise awoke in the breast of the     
moonshee4 8,did ,i not tell your        
excellency10 he said1 8that ,i required 
money for the wedding festivities of my 
daughter80#bc  8,and what necessity is  
there that those festivities should     
involve you in great expense1 or        
entangle you in debt80 said ,alton      
,sahib4 8,if you could be content to put
 aside pride and ostentation1 to place  
simple fare before a moderate number of 
guests1 and avoid all waste and show1   
your own means would suffice for the    
marriage expenses4 ,will your daughter  
be more happy as a wife1 because her    
wedding-feast has made her father act in
 a way that befits not a ,christian8 ,is
 ,god's blessing on the union to be     

procured by disobeying ,god's command8  
,what profit is there in an expensive   
wedding-feast80  8,it is the dastur10#bd
 observed ,hassan1 as if that expression
 were a sufficient answer to all        
objections4  8,o my friend60 exclaimed  
,alton ,sahib1 8you who condemn the     
worship of idols1 make not for yourself 
an idol of dastur4 ,it was once the     
dastur in ,england for ,sahibs who      
received a slight affront to call out   
the offender to some retired spot1 that 
the two might shoot at each other with  
pistols1 that so the offence1 however   
small1 might be wiped out in blood40    
8,a very evil dastur10 remarked the     
moonshee4  8,but one so generally       
observed1 that it was thought the       
deepest dishonour to break through it10 
said ,alton ,sahib4 8,but men were found
 brave and faithful enough to break     
through such a dastur for the sake of   
,christ and the gospel4 ,it is now the  
dastur amongst ,mohammedans to recite   
the praises of their prophet2 it is the 

dastur amongst ,brahmins to wear their  
holy threads2 but you have broken       
through your dastur1 and ,brahmins1     
converted like yourself to the          
,christian religion1 have cast aside    
their much-valued threads4 ,will you1 ,o
 my friend1 reserve any dastur that is  
contrary to the will of ,god8 ,will you 
say to your ,heavenly ,king1 #8,lord6 ,i
 have given up for ,thee the love of    
brethren1 the favour of friends1 many of
 the things which ,i prized most upon   
earth2 but ,i cannot--will not--even to 
obey ,thee1 give up the dastur of       
half-ruining myself to have a grand     
wedding-feast4 ,i at my baptism         
renounced 8the world1 the flesh1 and the
 devil10 but ,i reserved one thing which
 is of the world which ,i will not      
renounce4'0  ,the face of the moonshee  
looked troubled4 ,his friend had pointed
 out sin where he had hitherto seen no  
sin2 dishonesty in what he had never    
considered dishonest2 shame in what he  
had never thought shameful4 ,with a deep

 sigh he made reply3 8,it is not for    
myself that ,i care2 but what would     
those of my household say if ,i bade    
them1 on such an occasion1 act          
differently from all those who dwell    
around them60 ,before the mind of the   
moonshee arose the images of ,margam and
 ,fatima1 and the loved child who was   
perhaps the dearest of all4 ,how could  
he bear to disappoint them1 and expose  
them to the taunts of their neighbours6 
8,go to your family2 they too are       
,christians10 said ,alton ,sahib1 8and1 
,i trust1 ,christians not only in name4 
,repeat to them what ,i have said to you
 to-day4 ,ask them whether the pride of 
life which leads to sinful debt be not  
condemned in this verse8--#8,all that is
 in the world1 the lust of the flesh1   
and the lust of the eyes1 and the pride 
of life1 is not of the ,father1 but is  
of the world4 ,and the world passeth    
away1 and the lust thereof2 but he that 
doeth the will of ,god abideth for ever'
 7#a ,john ii4 #af1 #ag74 ,ask them     

whether in another world1 nay1 even one 
year hence1 the remembrance that a      
foolish dastur was given up for         
conscience' sake will not be sweeter    
than the recollection of the grandest   
display at a wedding8 ,the praise of man
 is as the gay paper-lamps at an        
illumination1 that last but for a night2
 the praise of ,god is as the stars in  
the sky1 that shone ere the day of our  
birth1 and which will shine long after  
our bodies have been laid in the tomb40 
,hassan arose1 made his salm1 and took  
his departure4 ,his reason was          
convinced1 his conscience was aroused1  
he was almost persuaded to have a simple
 and inexpensive wedding2 but whenever  
he thought of his family his resolution 
gave way4  8,i will not return through  
the bazaar10 said ,hassan to himself    
rather sadly2 8,i should be too much    
tempted to buy for my darling the pugree
 with a border of gold60  ,no sooner was
 the shadow of ,hassan seen on the      
threshold of his home than little       

,yusuf1 full of eagerness1 ran forward  
to meet his father4 ,the child looked to
 see whether the moonshee had brought   
anything in his hand1 and the face of   
the little one showed disappointment    
when he saw that the hand was empty4    
8,o father60 exclaimed ,yusuf1 8you have
 forgotten my pugree60  8,i forgot it   
not1 my son10 said the moonshee1 as1    
entering the inner apartment1 he seated 
himself on his carpet4  8,has my lord   
ordered any of the things needed for the
 great day which is coming80 asked the  
smiling ,margam1 who was preparing the  
moonshee's hookah4 ,fatima thought of   
bangles#be and ear-rings1 but she was   
too shy to utter a word4  8,i have      
delayed making my preparations10 said   
the moonshee4  ,margam saw that the mind
 of her husband was perplexed with much 
thought4 8,has the ,english ,sahib then 
given nothing80 she ventured to ask4    
8,the ,sahib has given a great deal of  
good advice1 but advice which we should 
all find it very hard to follow10       

replied the convert4 8,be seated1 ,o    
,margam and ,fatima1 and you shall hear 
what the ,sahib says regarding grand    
marriage festivities1 and the debts to  
which1 in this country1 they almost     
necessarily lead40  ,wondering1 and     
rather fearing what might be coming1    
,margam and ,fatima seated themselves on
 the floor and listened4 ,little ,yusuf 
took his favourite place close to his   
father1 whose hand he fondled in both   
his own4 ,the moonshee then repeated1   
almost word for word1 what had passed   
between himself and his ,english friend4
 ,margam broke in every now and then    
with an exclamation of surprise or      
displeasure2 but ,fatima listened in    
silence1 with her glance bent on the    
ground4 ,the large eyes of ,yusuf were  
never taken from the face of his father2
 the child was eagerly drinking in all  
that was uttered4 ,though he could not  
understand every word1 ,yusuf took in   
the general meaning of much that was    
said4  ,when the moonshee ceased1 there 

was a short silence in the room4 ,margam
 looked vexed1 and the downcast eyes of 
,fatima were brimming over with tears4  
,it would be to these women1 ,christians
 though they were1 a terrible trial to  
break through dastur on such an occasion
 as that of a wedding4#bf  8,i leave the
 decision to you all10 said the         
moonshee1 glad perhaps thus to escape   
from himself deciding so difficult a    
question4 8,shall ,i borrow from some   
one else1 and have all things arranged  
according to dastur2 or shall we give up
 everything that is not necessary1 to   
avoid displeasing ,god by incurring     
debt80  ,again there was a short        
silence4 ,little ,yusuf was the first to
 break it4 ,clinging to his father1 the 
child raised himself to a position high 
enough for his lips almost to reach his 
parent's ear1 and then said in a        
whisper1--which was1 however1 distinct  
enough to be heard by all present1--8,i 
will please the ,lord ,jesus by giving  
up my pugree bordered with gold40  ,the 

most learned discourse could not have   
had more effect than those simple words 
of the child4 ,the vexed look on the    
mother's face changed to a smile2 and   
though two big tears dropped down the   
cheeks of ,fatima1 she was able         
cheerfully to say1 8,i would rather     
please the ,lord ,jesus than have       
,malika ,victoria's jewel1 the grand    
,koh-i-noor60  ,a few weeks afterwards1 
the marriage took place4 ,great was the 
surprise amongst the neighbours of      
,hassan at the simple arrangements made 
for the wedding4 ,the feast was chiefly 
of fruit1 the ornaments chiefly of      
flowers2 but the fruit was sweet1 and   
the flowers fairer than anything that   
man's hand could have made4 ,fatima was 
a very happy bride1 for she thought to  
herself1 8,as the ,lord deigned to come 
to the marriage at ,cana1 we can ask    
,him to be present at this simple feast1
 where there is nothing which my dear   
father is not able to pay for40 ,and no 
face at the wedding looked brighter than

 that of little ,yusuf2 the snow-white  
pugree above that happy young face      
needed no border of gold6     ,,iv4     
,the ,pink ,chaddar4#bg   ,hear1 the    
story of ,but1 the moonshee's only      
daughter4  ,but had1 when she was but a 
babe in arms1 lost her mother1 but she  
was to her father as the light of his   
eyes4 ,the moonshee often went to teach 
a ,mem ,sahiba1#bh whose husband was in 
government employ4 ,the ,mem ,sahiba was
 kind to little ,but2 she let her       
sometimes come to her bungalow1 and gave
 her sweetmeats1 and once a doll from   
,england4 ,those were happy days to     
little ,but when her father1 taking her 
hand1 led her to the white bungalow in  
which the ,mem ,sahiba dwelt4  ,one day 
the ,mem ,sahiba said to the moonshee3  
8,the ,sahib wishes to go on a journey  
into ,cashmere1 and to take you with    
him2 are you willing to go for six      
months with the ,sahib80  ,the          
moonshee's heart was glad1 for he had   
long wished to visit the beautiful ,vale

 of ,cashmere2 but then trouble came    
over him like a shadow1 for he thought  
of his little ,but4  8,if ,i go far from
 hence10 said he1 8what will become of  
my only child8 ,behold1 ,i have but one1
 and her mother is dead1 and ,i have no 
sisters who would be to her as a mother4
 ,but1 if ,i leave her1 will be as a    
stray lamb that is found by the         
jackals40  8,have no fear for ,but10 the
 ,mem ,sahiba made reply2 8if it be your
 wish1 ,i will place her in the school  
at ,khushpore1 for the ,miss ,sahiba    
there is my friend4 ,but shall learn to 
read and to write1 and all that is good 
will she learn2 for the ,miss ,sahiba is
 one who fears ,god1 and she dearly     
loves little children40  ,and thus was  
it arranged2 the moonshee went to       
,cashmere with the ,sahib1 and little   
,but was sent to the school at          
,khushpore4  ,but shed many tears at    
parting from her father1 but her tears  
were soon dried4 ,the ,miss ,sahiba     
looked kindly upon her1 and spoke sweet 

words2 and though ,but was shy at first1
 and hung down her head in silence1 even
 before the end of the day she was as   
merry as the little gray striped        
squirrel that runs up the trees1 and    
hides in the branches4  ,but had now    
many companions1 and soon made friends  
with them all4 ,very fond was the little
 girl of talking1 and in the hours of   
play the words from her tongue flowed on
 as the brook that runs down from the   
hills4 ,but liked to speak much of the  
,mem ,sahiba whom none of the other     
girls had seen1 and of the grand things 
in her house4 ,but did not take any heed
 to speak truth1 so that the stream of  
her words was not pure1 but as a muddy  
and polluted brook4  8,my ,mem ,sahiba10
 the child would say1 8has more shining 
rings on her fingers than there are     
leaves on that tree4 ,the ,sahib is a   
very great man2 those who come near him 
bow down to the ground1 and when he goes
 forth he rides on an elephant with a   
howdah of gold40#bi  ,some of ,but's    

companions wondered when they heard her 
stories1 and some laughed and called    
them jhuth muth 7fibs72 but when the    
,miss ,sahiba heard them she never      
laughed1 but she sighed1 and her gentle 
face grew grave4 ,often1 when alone in  
her room1 the ,miss ,sahiba would kneel 
down and thus pray to the ,god in heaven
 who listens to prayer3 8,o ,lord1 show 
my dear children the shame and the sin  
of lying6 ,teach them ,thy way of truth2
 make them holy1 for ,thou art holy60   
,when ,but came to school1 she wore a   
chaddar pink as the petals of a rose4   
,the ,miss ,sahiba did not much like to 
see this chaddar1 for those worn by all 
her other girls were white4 ,but ,but   
did not wish to change her pink garment 
for a plain white one4  8,i cannot leave
 off wearing this chaddar10 she said1   
drawing it closer round her slight form4
 8,my ,mem ,sahiba gave it to me1 and   
she told me always to wear it40  ,the   
,miss ,sahiba made no reply1 but her    
mind was not at rest4 ,she thought to   

herself1--8,i never know whether ,but be
 speaking the truth or not4 ,oh that ,i 
could but trust her word6 ,i love my    
little ,but--she is gentle and docile1  
quick at her lessons1 never cross1 and  
ready to do a kindness to any of her    
companions2 but a pleasant child with a 
deceitful heart is like a fruit that    
looks fair to the eye1 but which is all 
decayed and worthless within40  ,the    
,miss ,sahiba used often to gather the  
children around her and talk with them  
when the hours for lessons were over2   
and much did they like to listen4       
,sometimes she told them of the dear    
mother whom she had left behind in      
,england1 that she might come and teach 
little ,indian children the way to      
heaven4  ,the ,miss ,sahiba sat in the  
schoolroom on one hot summer's day1 when
 the weather was too sultry for even her
 native children to go out1 and they    
were seated on the floor around her4    
,the ,miss ,sahiba felt weary and faint1
 for she had come from a land where the 

heat is never great1 and the glow of    
,india was to her almost as that of a   
fiery furnace4 ,but she thought that her
 dear ,lord had given her these children
 as ,his little lambs to feed1 and she  
was willing to live and even to die far 
away from her own home1 if she only     
might be permitted to lead these        
children to the ,lord ,jesus1 the ,good 
,shepherd1 who gave ,his life for the   
sheep4  8,i think that there was never a
 better mother than mine10 said the     
,miss ,sahiba1 as she showed to the     
children a little picture of her dear   
parent which she had just received from 
,england4 8,my mother was always kind   
and good to me1 but there were three    
occasions in my life on which she showed
 the greatest love2 and whenever ,i     
recall these occasions to mind1 ,i bless
 ,god for having given me such a good   
mother40  ,the children were eager to   
hear more1 and little ,but1 who sat     
nearest to the feet of the ,miss        
,sahiba1 looked up into her face and    

said1 8,tell us of these three times    
when the ,mem ,sahiba in ,england showed
 so much love40  8,i will tell you10    
replied the ,miss ,sahiba2 8and you     
shall judge on which occasion the       
greatest love was shown4  8,the first   
time was when ,i was sick with the      
small-pox4 ,day and night my dear mother
 watched by my bed4 ,if1 after feverish 
sleep1 ,i opened my eyes at midnight1   
there1 close at hand1 ready with the    
medicine or cooling drink1 ,i ever saw  
my beloved mother4 ,but for her tender  
care1 ,i believe that ,i should have    
died4 ,was it not true love that made   
her watch over me thus80  ,the ,miss    
,sahiba paused1 and all the children who
 had heard her replied1 8,it was very   
great love40  8,the second occasion was 
this10 the ,miss ,sahiba went on4 8,one 
evening in winter1 when the fire was    
lighted in our sitting-room1 ,i saw     
above the mantlepiece a picture that had
 been crookedly hung4 ,it was rather    
higher than ,i could reach with my hand1

 so ,i brought a stool1 and stood upon  
it1 that ,i might set the picture       
straight4 ,i knew not that my dress1 as 
,i stood1 had touched the fire1 until1  
to my great terror1 ,i found myself all 
in flames6 ,my shrieks brought my mother
 to my aid4 ,she threw me down on the   
floor2 she wrapped a thick rug around   
me2 with her own dear hands1 all        
scorched and blistered1 she put out the 
fire4 ,never shall ,i forget how my     
mother then clasped me to her heart1 and
 wept1 and thanked ,god who had enabled 
her to save her child from a terrible   
death4 ,she was herself in very great   
pain from her burns1 but she scarcely   
thought of the pain40  ,again the ,miss 
,sahiba paused1 and one and all of the  
children said1 8,the ,mem ,sahiba showed
 very great love40  8,on the third      
occasion1 of which ,i am going to tell  
you10 said the ,english ,sahiba1 8,i    
think that even greater love was shown1 
for my mother saved me from something   
worse than even fever or fire40  ,then  

every child bent forward to listen1 and 
wondering1 thought in her heart1 8,what 
can be worse than fever or fire80  8,the
 third time when my mother showed how   
well she loved me10 continued the       
,sahiba1 8was--when she gave me a       
beating for telling a lie60  ,the       
children were all so much astonished    
that they could not utter a word4 ,they 
opened their black eyes wide1 and stared
 at the ,sahiba4 ,but began to          
laugh1--it seemed so strange to her that
 a beating should be called a proof of  
great love6  8,oh6 well1 well do ,i     
recollect the grief of my mother when   
she found that her little girl had      
spoken an untruth60 said the ,miss      
,sahiba4 8,the pain to her heart was    
worse1 far worse1 than the pain of the  
burns had been to her hands4 ,she told  
me1 with tears in her eyes1 that lying  
lips are an abomination to the ,lord1   
that liars will be shut out from heaven4
 ,she punished me1 but not in anger2 oh 
no1 but in very great sorrow and love4  

,then she and ,i knelt down together to 
ask ,god to forgive my great sin4 ,i    
could not speak because of my sobs2 but 
,i heard my mother ask ,god to blot out 
her child's sin in the blood of ,his    
dear ,son1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1    
that which alone can wash away sin4 ,my 
mother prayed--oh1 how hard she         
prayed6--while the tears ran down her   
cheeks1 that ,god1 for the sake of the  
,lord ,jesus ,christ1 would give me ,his
 ,holy ,spirit1 to make my sinful heart 
clean1 and to guide me into all truth4  
,dear children1 ,i shall never forget   
that day1 either the punishment or the  
prayer4 ,thanks to my mother who gave   
the punishment1 thanks to ,god who heard
 the prayer1 ,i believe that ,i have    
never since that time uttered a lie4    
,now1 tell me1 my dear children1 did not
 my mother do more for me then1 did she 
not show more true love for me on that  
sad day1 than when she watched me       
through my illness1 or saved my life    
from the flames80#cj  ,some of the girls

 said 8,yes20 but one of them whispered 
softly1 8,it does not seem so to me40   
8,i will tell you why ,i think it10 said
 the ,miss ,sahiba1 who had heard the   
whisper4 8,sin is a worse evil than     
fever1 and the fire of ,god's anger     
worse than fire that only burns the     
body4 ,it was pain to my mother to      
punish me2 but she did not shrink from  
the pain1 no more than she shrank from  
throwing me down on the floor1 or       
scorching her own hands when she was    
trying to put out the flames40  ,many of
 the girls were listening with interest 
and attention2 but the ,miss ,sahiba saw
 but too well that ,but did not care for
 good counsel4 ,the child's eyes had    
wandered to the picture which the ,miss 
,sahiba still held in her hand2 and     
while others were thinking of the lesson
 of truth taught by the lady1 ,but only 
asked the trifling question1 8,is the   
frame of that picture real gold80       
,alas6 that when ,god's servants speak  
of heaven and the way to reach it1 and  

of other solemn truths1 some who might  
listen and learn let their attention be 
drawn away by the merest trifles4 ,it is
 as if a person to whom a diamond is    
offered should turn away to chase a     
butterfly2 or as if one fleeing from a  
tiger should stop to pluck a flower by  
the way4  ,it was not many days after   
that on which the ,miss ,sahiba had told
 her story1 that her first friend1 the  
,mem ,sahiba1 came to visit the school  
at ,khushpore4 ,it is easy to be        
imagined that ,but was rejoiced again to
 see her kind friend2 and in honour of  
the visit1 the ,miss ,sahiba promised   
all the children a feast of fruit4  ,the
 two ladies walked up the room in which 
the classes were assembled1 and as they 
came near the place where ,but stood    
with her eyes sparkling with pleasure1  
the ,miss ,sahiba said to her friend1   
8,here is your little ,but1 in the pink 
chaddar which she says that you gave her
 and told her to wear40  8,i never gave 
her a chaddar of any colour10 said the  

,mem ,sahiba with a look of surprise2   
8what could make the silly child utter  
such an untruth80  ,do you think that   
,but blushed and hung down her head in  
shame at having been found out guilty of
 lying8 ,alas6 no4 ,but had told so many
 lies in her short life that she felt no
 sorrow or shame for the sin4 ,she was  
only vexed that the ,miss ,sahiba should
 know of her falsehood4  ,if ,but did   
not care1 the ,miss ,sahiba cared a     
great deal4 ,she thought1 8,oh1 how     
shall ,i cure this poor child of her    
terrible habit80 ,then turning towards  
,but1 she said aloud1 8,but1 ,i grieve  
to find that you have told me an        
untruth4 ,i cannot let you share in our 
feast4 ,retire to the sleeping-room     
directly2 ,i should not be your true    
friend if ,i passed over this matter40  
,then ,but began to cry2 not because of 
sorrow for sin1 but because she had lost
 the feast1 and was sent so early to    
bed4 ,she clasped her hands1 and glanced
 towards her former friend1 the ,mem    

,sahiba1 as if to entreat her           
intercession2 but the lady looked grave 
and shook her head4 ,she knew that the  
punishment had been deserved1 and that  
it would be no real kindness not to     
inflict it4  ,but still poor ,but1      
accustomed from her infancy to hear     
lies1 could not but think herself hardly
 dealt with4 ,had her lie got any one   
into trouble1 had she slandered a       
companion1 she would have seen that sin 
had been committed2 8,but what did it   
signify10 thought she1 8whether ,i said 
truly that the chaddar had been given to
 me by my father2 or untruly1 that it   
had been given to me by the ,mem        
,sahiba80 ,as ,but turned weeping to go 
to her room1 the ,miss ,sahiba heard her
 murmur between her sobs1 8,why does she
 make such a fuss8 ,what harm could the 
lie do8 it was such a little one60  ,the
 feast of fruit began2 plenty of nice   
klas 7plantains7 were spread on the     
floor4 ,some of the girls were sorry for
 ,but1 sent to remain in her bed to     

think over her fault2 but soon even     
these girls forgot the poor child1 who  
could hear from her apartment the sound 
of their laughter and singing4 ,but lay 
crying1 listening to the children's     
voices1 and longing to join them4  ,as  
the ,miss ,sahiba1 with her friend1 sat 
watching the young people enjoying their
 fruit1 she was suddenly startled by a  
scream from the neighbouring room1 which
 was that to which ,but had been sent in
 disgrace4 ,the scream expressed violent
 terror or pain2 and the ,miss ,sahiba1 
who loved the child whom she punished1  
rushed into the room with such speed to 
see what could be the matter1 that      
almost before the girls had time to cry1
 8,what has happened80 the lady was at  
the side of her poor little charge4     
,but was standing on her bed1 her face  
pale with terror1 looking at a small    
black scorpion which was running across 
the floor4 ,the ,miss ,sahiba's heel in 
a moment had crushed the scorpion1 and  
in a quiet1 composed manner she turned  

to ,but4 8,why did you scream so80 she  
asked4  8,it was on my bed--close--quite
 close to me6 ,i just raised my arm1 and
 it fell on the floor10 cried ,but1 who 
was trembling violently from the effects
 of the fright4  8,why did you make such
 a fuss80 said the ,miss ,sahiba1 after 
motioning to the girls1 who were        
crowding into the room1 to leave her    
alone with ,but4  8,how could ,i help   
making a fuss80 exclaimed the astonished
 ,but2 8the dreadful thing might have   
stung me60  8,likely enough10 said the  
,miss ,sahiba coldly1 as she seated     
herself on the edge of the bed2 8but    
what harm could it do80  ,but was more  
and more surprised4 8,it was a horrid   
poisonous creature60 she cried4  8,it   
was such a little one10 said the lady1  
looking steadfastly into the face of the
 girl4  ,but did not know what to make  
of her teacher taking the matter so     
quietly2 she herself was not disposed to
 take it quietly at all4 8,i wish that  
you would have the place searched1--oh1 

every corner of it60 she cried4 8,i     
should not wonder if a whole nest of    
scorpions were hidden in some hole in   
the wall60  8,that's likely enough10    
said the ,miss ,sahiba quietly2 8this is
 a season for insects4 ,i saw pretty    
fire-flies last night2 ,i am going to   
look for them again in the compound40   
8,you think of fire-flies1 when there   
may be scorpions in this very room60    
exclaimed ,but4 8,the ,sahiba does not  
seem to care for the danger to her poor 
little girl40  ,then the manner of the  
lady quite altered2 the cold1 careless  
look changed to one of earnestness and  
love4 ,she drew the frightened ,but     
close to her1 held her little trembling 
hand in one of her own1 and with the    
other pointed to the dead scorpion which
 lay on the floor4  8,o my child60 she  
cried1 8see in that poisonous reptile a 
type of your own sin of untruth4 ,that  
scorpion could only hurt the body2 but  
falsehood poisons the soul4 ,who but a  
fool would play with a scorpion and say1

 #8,it is but a little one1' instead of 
crushing it at once6 ,who but a fool    
would amuse himself with fire-flies when
 poisonous reptiles were lurking near6  
,but1 my poor child1 how many lies1 more
 hateful than scorpions1 have been      
suffered to nestle in your bosom and to 
come forth from your lips6 ,and you     
think me hard and severe because ,i wish
 to crush them1 because ,i warn you     
against the sin which ,god hates4 ,you  
were grieved and disappointed at being  
shut out from a little feast which would
 soon have been over2 but think what it 
would be to be shut out for ever from   
heaven1 from its brightness and glory   
and joy6 ,and it is written in ,god's   
holy ,word1 ,there shall in no wise     
enter into it anything that defileth or 
maketh a lie40  ,the ,miss ,sahiba added
 many more words1 and this time they    
fell on an attentive ear4 ,she taught   
,but how to pray for forgiveness of past
 sin1 and for the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1
 through whom alone she could conquer   

her sin in the future4 ,little ,but     
learned a prayer before she went to     
sleep that night1 and she thought of it 
the very first thing when her eyes      
unclosed in the morning4 ,while ,but    
prayed that ,god would make her truthful
 and holy1 she also tried very hard     
herself to be truthful and holy4 ,soon  
all her companions saw a great change in
 little ,but4 ,her face grew brighter as
 her heart grew more pure2 for we never 
are so happy as when we feel that the   
smile of the ,lord is upon us4 ,no girl 
in the school was more loved and trusted
 than she who had once been constantly  
uttering falsehoods2 and when she spoke 
of anything that had happened1 however  
strange the tale might be1 it was       
instantly believed4 ,it became a common 
saying amongst those who knew her1 8,i  
would rather doubt my own eyes than the 
word of ,but40     ,v4  ,the ,story of  
,three ,jewels4   ,hear the parable of  
three jewels--a ,ruby1 a ,pearl1 and a  
,diamond4  ,there lived in a country far

 beyond the dark waters a mighty ,rajah1
 whose name was ,kaml ,rahm             
7,all-merciful74 ,though his home was so
 distant1 he had sons who dwelt in the  
land of ,hindostan2 and the names of    
these sons were ,mul ,mal1 ,bihar ,lal1 
,tuls ,rm1 and ,nihl ,chand4  ,one day  
the ,rajah called one of his servants   
whose name was ,narayan ,das 7,servant  
of ,god71 and thus he gave him          
command3--  8,go thou to the land in    
which dwell my four sons1 and speak to  
them thus3 ,thus saith the ,father whom 
ye see not1 but who cares for you and   
loves you1 and desires to give treasure 
to you out of the abundance of his great
 riches4 ,leave the city in which you   
dwell1 cross the river which lies to the
 east1 and1 by the path of which my     
servant will tell you1 reach a certain  
mountain4 ,there you will behold by the 
wayside a landmark in the shape of a    
,cross4 ,dig at the foot of it1 and lo6 
you will find a treasure4 ,there is a   
jewel which is a royal gift from myself1

 such as none but myself can bestow4 ,in
 a setting of pure gold are three       
gems--a ruby1 of which the name is      
,pardon2 a pearl1 of which the name is  
,purity2 and a diamond1 of which the    
name is ,heaven4 ,he who wears the ruby 
over his heart will be preserved in     
danger2 he who wears the pearl over his 
heart will be kept in health2 he who in 
the same manner wears the diamond will  
become the heir to a throne4 ,all the   
treasures of earth are not to be weighed
 in the balance against these jewels1   
,pardon1 ,purity1 and ,heaven40  ,the   
servant ,narayan ,das prostrated himself
 before his great ,master1 and said1    
8,the will of my ,lord shall be obeyed40
 ,narayan ,das had a happy home1 but he 
went forth from it2 he had parents whom 
he loved1 but he bade them farewell4    
,the sea was wide and the waves were    
rough1 but he feared not to cross them2 
lo6 he had good tidings to bear to the  
sons of his ,lord1 and the joy of       
bearing them repaid him for all the     

toils and dangers of the journey before 
him4  ,after a long and stormy voyage1  
the messenger from the ,father reached  
the land of ,hindostan2 and a few days  
afterwards he arrived at the city in    
which the four brothers dwelt1 even ,mul
 ,mal1 ,bihar ,lal1 ,tuls ,rm1 and ,nihl
 ,chand4 ,narayan ,das was weary and    
faint1 but he would not rest till he had
 inquired the way to the dwelling of    
,mul ,mal1 who was the eldest of the    
four brothers1 who lived in different   
quarters of the same city4  ,when the   
messenger entered the presence of ,mul  
,mal1 he saw in him a man who had upon  
his brow the spot which marked a        
worshipper of the goddess ,kal4#ca ,it  
was the morning of a great festival1 and
 ,mul ,mal was about to set forth to    
bathe in the ,ganges1#cb and to do puja 
7worship7 to the idol whom he adored4   
8,o ,mul ,mal60 cried ,narayan ,das1 8,i
 bring to you good tidings from your    
great and all-merciful ,father4 ,there  
is a treasure hidden for you at the foot

 of a ,cross1 and ,i can direct you how 
to find it4 ,but you must set forth at  
once1 or1 behold6 another may take the  
treasure1 and you may lose for ever the 
opportunity of gaining these jewels1    
,pardon1 ,purity1 and ,heaven40  ,but   
,mul ,mal thought scorn of the faithful 
messenger1 because he was not in face or
 garb as one of the people of           
,hindostan4  8,who art thou1 ,o man of  
the pale cheek and red beard80 he cried2
 8and what dost thou ask at my hand80#cc
  8,i am a servant of ,kaml ,rahm1 and  
your friend2 and ,i come1 not to take   
from you1 but to give to you10 replied  
,narayan ,das2 8yea1 ,i have risked my  
life to bring to you good tidings from  
afar40  8,i care not for thy tidings1   
nor do ,i believe thy word10 cried ,mul 
,mal with contempt4 8,why dost thou     
delay me1 when ,i am about to do puja to
 my great goddess80  8,o my lord10 cried
 ,narayan ,das earnestly1 8there is no  
image made by the hands of man that can 
bestow on its worshipper ,pardon1       

,purity1 and ,heaven4 ,wherefore will my
 lord not listen8 ,will he spurn from   
him the richest of treasures1--even     
treasures that will1 if worn over the   
heart1 preserve him in danger1 keep him 
in health1 and make him the heir to a   
throne8 ,read but this letter from your 
,father1 and see in it the truth of all 
that ,i have spoken20 and ,narayan ,das 
drew from his bosom a book on which was 
inscribed these words3 8,the ,holy      
,scriptures40  8,away with thy book60   
cried the worshipper of ,kal2 8,i desire
 not thy jewels1 nor will ,i listen to  
thee40  ,at that moment there was heard 
a loud noise of drumming and shouting2 a
 great multitude was about to pour forth
 from the city to worship the idol4 ,and
 with the multitude ,mul ,mal went      
forth3 he had despised the message of   
his ,father2 he had lost the treasure   
which had been freely offered to        
him1--even ,pardon1 ,purity1 and        
,heaven4  ,narayan ,das sighed deeply4  
8,alas60 he cried1 8woe is me that the  

ear should be closed to the voice of    
friendship1 and that the eye should be  
turned away from the gift of a ,father's
 love6 ,but if my message be rejected by
 the first brother1 it may find a place 
in the heart of the second40  ,by mere  
inquiries ,narayan ,das found the house 
of the second son1 ,bihar ,lal4  ,bihar 
,lal was a more sensible man than ,mul  
,mal1 and he did not think scorn of the 
messenger1 nor of the message1 as his   
brother had done4  8,surely10 he said to
 himself1 8no light cause would have    
made this good man leave his country1   
travel so great a distance1 and go      
through so many dangers to bring good   
tidings to me4 ,perhaps in the place of 
which he tells me this treasure may     
really be hidden4 ,would it not be      
wisdom in me at least to read the letter
 which he says that my ,father has      
written1 and to try whether the jewels  
,pardon1 ,purity1 and ,heaven may not be
 found at the foot of the ,cross80      
,narayan ,das saw with joy that ,bihar  

,lal was not as the deaf adder that will
 not hear the voice of the charmer4 ,he 
was not as the blind man who sits hungry
 beneath the date-tree1 and who knows   
not that its clusters of fruit are      
within his reach4  8,oh haste1 my lord60
 cried the messenger2 8for if you delay1
 who knows whether you may not lose for 
ever the ruby1 the pearl1 and the       
diamond which are freely offered to you 
by your ,father60  ,but ,bihar ,lal made
 reply3 8,i cannot and ,i will not set  
forth at once1 nor have ,i time at      
present even to read the letter of my   
,father4 ,bales of merchandise have just
 arrived from ,persia2 ,i must examine  
their contents4 ,i have many friends in 
the city1 and ,i have invited them all  
to a banquet4 ,business takes up my     
time1 and what is left from business is 
filled up by amusement4 ,go your way    
now1 ,o messenger6 perhaps when ,i have 
nothing else to do ,i may seek from you 
guidance to the place where ,i may find 
the ruby1 the pearl1 and the diamond1 in

 their setting of gold40  ,thus absorbed
 in the business and cares of this      
world1 the man went on his way4 ,alas6  
never1 never was he to possess the      
treasure which he delayed to search for6
 ,on the very day on which he concluded 
a bargain which made him the richest    
merchant in the city1 even on the night 
on which he had feasted at the house of 
a prince1 he was smitten down by        
cholera4 ,bihar ,lal died in much       
suffering2 his body was burned1 and his 
ashes were cast into the ,ganges4 ,never
 did he find the treasures of ,pardon1  
,purity1 and ,heaven6 ,the acceptable   
time for ,bihar ,lal had passed for ever
 away6  ,then ,narayan ,das found his   
way to the house of ,tuls ,rm1 who was  
the third of the brothers who dwelt in  
that city4  ,tuls ,rm was a man of a    
pleasant countenance and of an open     
heart4 ,when he heard of his ,father's  
love1 his whole face brightened2 and    
when he saw his ,father's letter1 he    
pressed it first to his heart and then  

to his brow4 ,nay1 ,tuls ,rm read enough
 of the letter to feel sure that        
,narayan ,das was a true messenger1 and 
that at the foot of the ,cross he was   
indeed sure to find the treasures of    
,pardon1 ,purity1 and ,heaven4 ,gladly  
did ,tuls ,rm welcome the messenger who 
had come so far to bring good tidings1  
and eagerly he asked his way to the     
place where the jewels were buried4     
8,will you accompany me thither80 asked 
,tuls ,rm of ,narayan ,das4  ,the       
messenger shook his head4 8,i will show 
you the road1 but you must tread it     
alone10 replied ,narayan ,das4 8,fear   
not if you find it rough and thorny at  
first4 ,courage and perseverance are    
required of him who would gain the      
treasures2 has any one ever yet         
conquered a kingdom by idly sleeping on 
a bed of roses8 ,go forth boldly1 ,o    
,tuls ,rm6 ,and forget not to take with 
you the staff of ,prayer2 without its   
help you will never overcome all the    
difficulties of the way40  ,the         

countenance of ,tuls ,rm grew grave when
 he reflected on these difficulties1 for
 he was not a man of a resolute will4   
,it needed much perseverance on the part
 of ,narayan ,das to make ,tuls ,rm so  
much as start on his journey1 though he 
did not doubt the worth of the prize    
which he went forth to seek4  ,and when 
,tuls ,rm set forth at last1 he was as  
one who seeth the eyes of a wild beast  
glaring behind every bush2 he was full  
of cowardly fears4 ,tuls ,rm shrank back
 even from shadows2 and when sharp      
stones wounded his feet1 he first felt  
inclined to sit down and weep1 and then 
to turn back and return to his home4    
,yet some words in his ,father's letter 
gave a little courage to ,tuls ,rm3--,i 
will not fail thee nor forsake thee2 be 
strong and of a good courage 7,josh4 i4 
#e1 #f74 ,know ye not that they which   
run in a race run all1 but one receiveth
 the prize8 ,so run1 that ye may obtain 
7#a ,cor4 ix4 #bd74  ,at last the       
traveller came to the stream which it   

was needful that he should cross2 and   
the name of that stream was ,baptism4   
,the waters were bright and pure1 but   
the banks were steep2 and ,tuls ,rm saw 
that a plant with exceedingly sharp     
thorns grew thickly upon those banks1   
and the name of the plant was           
,persecution4#cd  ,tuls ,rm sat down on 
a stone on the top of the nearer bank1  
and wrung his hands and beat his breast1
 and groaned in the heaviness of his    
spirit4  8,oh1 is there no other way    
than that of crossing this river of     
,baptism10 he cried1 8by which ,i can   
reach the treasures offered to me by my 
,father1--even the rich jewels which1   
worn over the heart1 will bring safety  
to the soul1 health to the soul1 and the
 crown of eternal life8 ,i dare not--oh1
 ,i dare not go forward6 ,i would rather
 lose that which ,i feel to be indeed   
above all price1 than encounter those   
dreadful thorns4 ,alas1 that the thorny 
plant of ,persecution should shut me out
 from the waters of ,baptism60  ,then   

,tuls ,rm thought that he heard a voice1
 sweeter than the voice of an angel2 and
 it said1--,fear not1 for ,i am with    
thee2 be not dismayed1 for ,i am thy    
,god3 ,i will strengthen thee2 yea1 ,i  
will help thee2 yea1 ,i will uphold thee
 with the right hand of my righteousness
 7,isa4 xli4 #aj74 ,be thou faithful    
unto death1 and ,i will give thee a     
crown of life 7,rev4 ii4 #aj74  ,with   
fresh energy and hope ,tuls ,rm arose   
and attempted to descend the bank in    
order to cross over the river2 but1     
alas1 he dropped the staff of ,prayer1  
and did not stoop to lift it again6     
,without that staff he had not the      
strength to force his way through the   
thorns of ,persecution4 ,tuls ,rm tried 
to press on for a time1 but the thorns  
tore his garments and wounded his flesh4
 ,his feet were bleeding and sore1 and  
his courage at last utterly failed him4 
,when ,tuls ,rm had gone half-way down  
the bank he stopped1 groaned1 hesitated1
 and then turned back4 ,alas1 for him   

who had dropped the staff of ,prayer6   
alas1 for him who had lost the jewels   
for which he longed1 because he had not 
the courage and perseverance to win     
them6  ,as ,tuls ,rm was sadly returning
 to the city1 he met his youngest       
brother1 ,nihl ,chand4 ,he beheld ,nihl 
,chand hurrying on with a firm step     
towards the river of ,baptism2 he looked
 not to the right hand nor to the left1 
for his was a resolute spirit4  8,how is
 it that thou art turning back1 ,o      
,tuls80 he cried1 when he saw his       
brother4 8,i knew that thou didst start 
before me1 but ,i hoped by quick walking
 to overtake thee1 so that we might     
together find the priceless treasures1  
the glad tidings of which have been     
brought to thee as well as to me40      
8,alas1 my brother60 replied ,tuls ,rm1 
with a deep sigh1 8,i turn back because 
of the difficulties o the road4 ,if no  
thorns of ,persecution grew by the river
 of ,baptism1 surely ere now ,i should  
have crossed it2 but see how my flesh   

has been torn60  8,pardon1 ,purity1 and 
,heaven1--the ruby1 the pearl1 and the  
diamond1--are worth a little struggle   
and a little pain10 said the resolute   
,nihl ,chand4 8,though there were a lion
 in the way1 he should not stay me4 ,it 
is written in the ,book of my           
,father1--,though an host should encamp 
against me1 my heart shall not fear40   
8,o ,nihl60 cried the timid-spirited    
,tuls ,rm1 8,i am not as thou art2 yet  
if it be my destiny to wear the         
jewels1#ce surely they will be mine1    
even though ,i remain on this side of   
the waters of ,baptism4 ,all is not in  
my own hands2 who can oppose the decrees
 of ,fate80  8,deceive not thyself1 nor 
excuse thy own sloth by talking about   
,fate60 exclaimed ,nihl ,chand4 8,if1   
when thou wert preparing thy meal1 a    
tiger were to steal upon thee1 wouldst  
thou quietly sit still and say1--#8,if  
it be my destiny1 ,i shall eat this     
dinner2' or1 #8,if it be my destiny1 the
 tiger will eat me'8 ,no10 continued    

,nihl ,chand with much animation2 8thou 
wouldst start up1 snatch the nearest    
weapon1 and struggle for life like a    
man4 ,even so1 with courage and         
resolution1 press on for the prize set  
before thee40  ,but ,tuls ,rm only      
mournfully shook his head1 and with a   
slow step and a heavy heart returned to 
the city4  8,he is a poor1 weak         
creature10 muttered ,nihl ,chand1 8and  
not worthy to wear the jewels which he  
has not the courage to seek4 ,i will go 
forward without him40  ,nihl ,chand was 
indeed a very different man from any of 
his three brothers4 ,he had more wisdom 
than ,mul ,mal1 and his acute mind saw  
at once the folly of bowing down to     
idols of wood and stone4 ,nihl ,chand   
was not1 like ,bihar ,lal1 inclined to  
waste precious time in delay1 and to    
give up his whole soul to the cares of  
this perishing world4 ,and ,nihl ,chand1
 unlike ,tuls ,rm1 had a firm and       
fearless spirit1 and a will as strong as
 iron4 ,no thorns of ,persecution could 

stay the resolute man2 he pressed       
through them as one who is shod with    
brass4 ,and when ,nihl ,chand had passed
 the waters of ,baptism1 with what      
pleasure he looked back and smiled6     
,then1 feeling that the worst of his    
trials was over1 on ,nihl hastened      
towards the hill1 which was soon in     
sight4 ,he could now see1 at no great   
distance1 the ,cross at the foot of     
which the treasure lay buried which had 
been given to him by his ,father4  ,on  
the way ,nihl ,chand was joined by a    
stranger1 who appeared to be travelling 
in the same direction4 ,the man was of  
very dark complexion1 but gaily dressed1
 and his name was ,temptation4  ,after  
the usual salutation1 ,temptation thus  
addressed ,nihl ,chand1--  8,brave and  
noble hero1 the fame of your courage    
hath spread far and wide1 and has       
reached the ears of your servant4 ,i    
have beheld from afar with what         
resolution you passed through the thorns
 of ,persecution as if they had been    

soft grass4 ,worthy are you of the      
priceless jewels which will so soon be  
in your grasp4 ,how different are you   
from your superstitious and worldly     
brothers1 and how superior to the weak  
and cowardly ,tuls ,rm6 ,allow me to be 
your companion1 that1 though ,i never   
myself can possess them1 ,i may at least
 have a sight of the ruby1 the pearl1   
and the diamond1 that are to the soul   
,pardon1 ,purity1 and ,heavenly ,glory60
  ,nihl ,chand had at first suspected   
the stranger to be a thief in disguise1 
and had stood on his guard against him2 
but the honey of flattering words is    
sweet4 ,the ears of ,nihl ,chand were so
 charmed by the praise that flowed from 
the lips of ,temptation1 that he now    
suffered him to walk by his side as if  
he had been a familiar friend4  ,thus   
journeying together1 the two men reached
 the foot of the ,cross4 ,nihl ,chand   
had not forgotten to take with him a    
spade for digging1 and now with energy  
he set to the task of removing the      

earth4 ,temptation stood by watching    
him1 and praising his vigour now1 as he 
before had praised his courage4  ,before
 ,nihl ,chand had laboured long1 his    
spade struck against something hard4 ,he
 stooped and lifted up from the earth a 
little casket of purest gold4 ,opening  
this1 he beheld within the priceless    
jewels1--the ruby1 the pearl1 and the   
diamond1--joined together in one setting
 of gold4  ,nihl ,chand closely examined
 the prize4 ,round the ruby1 in         
characters of surpassing fineness1 were 
engraved the words1--,thy sins be       
forgiven thee 7,matt4 ix4 #b74 ,round   
the pearl1 ,purity1 appeared the        
inscription1--,holiness1 without which  
no man shall see the ,lord 7,heb4 xii4  
#ad74 ,and in delicate letters appeared 
round the diamond1--,it is your         
,father's good pleasure to give you the 
kingdom 7,luke xii4 #cb74  ,temptation  
looked with envy and desire on the      
precious jewels in the hands of ,nihl   
,chand1 though not yet worn over his    

heart4 ,much did ,temptation wish to rob
 of them the brave man who had come     
through such difficulties to obtain     
them2 but ,nihl ,chand was courageous   
and strong1 and ,temptation knew that he
 had not a chance of getting the jewels 
by force4 ,he therefore had recourse to 
cunning4  8,the ornament is very        
beautiful10 said the treacherous        
stranger1 bending forward as if to      
examine it4 8,grand is the blood-red    
ruby1 and happy is he to whom free      
pardon for sin is given40  ,nihl ,chand 
smiled as he made reply1--8,of great    
value is the ruby2 none but its         
possessor can know real peace4 ,blessed 
is he whose sins are forgiven--he who   
fears not the judgment of ,god40  8,and 
splendid is the diamond10 observed      
,temptation2 8,heaven is indeed such a  
prize as the mightiest might glory in   
winning40  8,yes10 replied the exulting 
,nihl ,chand1--who1 when he passed the  
waters of ,baptism1 had assumed the new 
name of ,christian2 8it is a glorious   

thing to be made an inheritor of the    
,kingdom of ,heaven60  8,but1 to my     
mind10 observed crafty ,temptation1     
8this pale pearl set between the ruby   
and the diamond rather mars the beauty  
of the whole ornament4 ,the gift would  
be better without it40  8,yet it adds to
 its value10 observed ,nihl ,chand2 8is 
not the health of the soul a thing to be
 prized80  8,your health is most        
perfect10 said the crafty deceiver2 8he 
who carouses at a banquet cares not to  
put medicine into his cup4 ,behold the  
strength of your arm and the firmness of
 your step6 ,you need no health beyond  
what you already possess4 ,look again at
 the jewel1 my lord1 and say whether you
 would not prefer the glowing ruby      
,pardon1 and the sparkling diamond      
,heaven1 apart from ,purity the white   
pearl80  ,nihl ,chand looked again and  
again1 and every time that he looked he 
cared less for the pearl1 though this1  
as well as the other jewels1 had been   
offered to him by his ,father4          

,temptation now drew from his bosom a   
paper2 he opened it1 and displayed to   
view a yellow stone1 which to the eyes  
of ,nihl ,chand looked very beautiful1  
though1 in truth1 it was but a worthless
 bit of coloured glass4  8,my heart is  
so drawn towards your honour10 said     
crafty ,temptation1 8that ,i am willing 
to do for you what ,i would do for no   
other man4 ,i am willing to exchange    
this precious yellow stone1 of which the
 name is ,pleasure1 for your dull1 pale 
pearl1 ,purity4 ,i am of great          
experience in the art of setting stones2
 give but your consent1 ,o my lord1 and 
the exchange at once shall be made40    
,nihl ,chand doubted and hesitated4 ,in 
his secret heart he preferred ,pleasure 
to ,purity2 yet something within him    
whispered that it would be both foolish 
and wrong to part with any portion of   
the gift of his ,father4  ,when         
,temptation saw that the ,christian     
,nihl ,chand hesitated1 he knew that his
 own object was half gained already4    

,temptation turned the false stone1     
,pleasure1 in every direction1 so that  
the light should sparkle upon it4       
,again1 in terms of contempt1 he spoke  
of ,purity1 the pearl1 as being only fit
 for women to wear4  ,at last ,nihl     
,chand was persuaded to change the pearl
 for the bit of coloured glass4 8,be    
careful10 said he1 8in removing the     
pearl1 not to injure my ruby or my      
diamond4 ,i care not much for ,purity of
 heart2 but ,pardon for the past and    
,heaven for the future are possessions  
with which ,i never will part40  ,o     
foolish boast6 ,o worse than foolish    
deed6 ,scarcely had ,nihl ,chand trusted
 his treasure into the hands of         
,temptation1 ere the treachery of the   
thief was made clear4 ,the deceiver     
suddenly darted down the hill1 at such  
speed that the weary ,nihl ,chand1      
startled and surprised1 had no power to 
follow4 ,very soon the deceiver1 who had
 carried off the priceless treasure1 was
 lost to view4  ,with bitter shame and  

grief ,nihl ,chand now returned on his  
steps1 feeling like a lost and ruined   
man4 ,oh that he had had but the wisdom 
to know that purity of character1 the   
health of the soul1 is never to be      
divided from pardon of sin and the      
promise of heaven1 so freely and        
lovingly offered by ,god1 the           
all-merciful ,father6 ,christ came to   
save us from the power as well as from  
the punishment of our sins4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,o       
reader1 have you understood the meaning 
of my parable1 the lesson which is to   
the story even what the kernel is to the
 nutshell8  ,ask your own heart whether 
you yourself resemble any one of the    
four men whose story you now have heard4
 ,have you1 like ,mul ,mal1 refused even
 to listen to the messenger who would   
bring you good tidings of pardon and    
peace through ,christ1 who came to seek 
and to save the lost8 ,will you not even
 read the ,scriptures1 to see for       
yourselves whether the message be true8 

,do you stop your ears and harden your  
heart when ,god's servant comes to tell 
you of pardon1 purity1 and heaven1      
freely offered to man8  ,or are you1    
like ,bihar ,lal1 almost persuaded that 
the good tidings are indeed true2 and   
yet1 are you inclined to leave the      
matters that concern the soul to a more 
convenient season8 ,are you setting your
 heart on your merchandise or any       
worldly gains1 when ,death1 the black   
camel that kneels at every man's door1  
may even now1 with noiseless tread1 be  
approaching yours8 ,alas6 remember the  
,saviour's solemn warning1--,what shall 
it profit a man if he gain the whole    
world and lose his own soul8 or what    
shall a man give in exchange for his    
soul8  ,or are you1 like ,tuls ,rm1 a   
sincere believer in the gift of ,god1   
and one who heartily desires to obtain  
pardon for sin1 purity of heart1 and    
heavenly bliss when this short life     
shall be over8 ,and yet1 do you lack    
courage to take the decisive step which 

may cause your soul to be wounded by    
persecution1 the step which will perhaps
 divide you for ever from all that on   
earth you hold most dear8 ,do you think 
that you can keep back from ,christian  
baptism1 and yet secure the ,christian's
 blessing8 ,o weak and trembling        
believer1 forget not the words of       
,christ the ,lord1--,whosoever shall    
confess ,me before men1 him shall the   
,son of man also confess before the     
angels of ,god4 ,blessed are they that  
are persecuted for righteousness' sake3 
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven4    
,but you may be1 ,o reader1 one who has 
bravely passed through the waters of    
,baptism--you may be one who is now     
called by the name of ,christian4 ,at   
the foot of the ,cross you may have     
found the treasure which is more        
precious than all besides4 ,you may have
 the knowledge of the way to eternal    
life1 you may believe in the ,son of    
,god1 and you may be resting your hopes 
of heaven upon ,his finished work4 ,but 

even now1 oh1 stand on your guard1 for  
,temptation is near6 ,an enemy1 even    
,satan1 is beside you1 who would        
persuade you that every one who has been
 baptized is safe1 even if his faith    
7not living faith7 work no change in his
 life4 ,the man who is willing to divide
 purity from pardon and heaven1 will1   
like ,nihl ,chand1 lose all of the      
three6 ,he who wilfully throws away the 
white pearl1 has lost the ruby and the  
diamond6 ,for thus saith the ,holy      
,saviour1 ,he who is ,truth1            
,righteousness1 and ,love1--,not every  
one that saith unto ,me1 ,lord1 ,lord1  
shall enter the kingdom of heaven1 but  
he that doeth the will of my ,father    
which is in heaven4  ,o reader1 may ,god
 give to you grace to take the ,holy    
,scriptures in your right hand1 and the 
staff of ,prayer in your left4 ,may ,he 
so guide you by ,his ,holy ,spirit1     
which is promised in answer to prayer1  
that you may fearlessly and faithfully  
go on your way1 treading under foot the 

thorns that lie in your path6 ,and may  
,he enable you not only to find1 but to 
hold fast to the end1 and wear in your  
heart1 the priceless treasures--even    
free pardon for every past sin1 the     
promise of a heavenly crown1 and that   
purity of life by which every true      
,christian must seek to glorify ,god6   
,,vi4  ,jewels ,found4  ,a ,,sequel ,,to
 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,three ,,jewels4   
,with a very heavy heart and sorrowful  
countenance a man of the name of ,tuls  
,rm sat in his dwelling4 ,he found no   
rest by night and no pleasure by day4   
,his hookah#cf brought him no sense of  
repose4 ,he cared not to go forth to    
visit his friends4 ,tuls ,rm scarcely   
touched the food placed before him by   
,juwal his wife4  ,the heart of the     
gentle ,juwal was very closely knit to  
that of her husband4 ,she was as the    
creeping plant which throws its tendrils
 round the tall tree2 and as the leaves 
of the two are mingled together1 so     
until now had the thoughts and hopes of 

,juwal been mingled with those of ,tuls 
,rm4 ,happy the man who has such a wife 
as ,juwal6  ,the gentle woman had long  
watched in silence the sorrow of her    
husband2 she had sighed when she heard  
him sigh1 and grieved because she beheld
 him grieve4 ,at last ,juwal could keep 
silence no longer4  8,why is my lord so 
sorrowful80 she said2 8why has sleep    
fled from his eyes8 and wherefore doth  
he put away food from him8 ,to share the
 troubles of my lord1 would be to me a  
dearer privilege than to enjoy all kinds
 of pleasures in an ivory palace40      
,then ,tuls ,rm opened his heart to his 
wife1 for he had none other in whom he  
could safely confide4 8,know1 ,o        
,juwal60 said he1 8that some time since1
 from beyond the dark water1 there came 
a messenger from my great ,father1 ,kaml
 ,rahm1--that ,father whom ,i never have
 seen1 but who loves me with exceeding  
great love4 ,this messenger1 whose name 
is ,narayan ,das1 brought to me and to  
my three brothers1 ,mul ,mal1 ,bihar    

,lal1 and ,nihl ,chand1 the following   
message3--  8,i bring to you1 ,o        
brothers6 good tidings from your great  
and merciful ,father1 who ever careth   
for ,his children4 ,there is a treasure 
hidden for you at the foot of a ,cross1 
even jewels of priceless value1--a ruby 
called ,pardon1 a pearl called ,purity1 
and a diamond called ,heaven4 ,the three
 jewels are joined together in one      
setting of gold1 and never must be      
divided one from another4 ,he who wears 
these jewels over his heart will have   
safety in danger1 perfect health1 and   
become the heir to a glorious throne4   
,the treasure is a free gift from your  
,father1 and each one of you who shall  
seek for it in the right way shall      
possess it for his own40  8,these are   
wonderful tidings indeed60 exclaimed    
,juwal2 8but did my lord and his        
brothers believe them80  8,mul ,mal     
would not believe10 replied ,tuls ,rm2  
8he would not so much as listen to      
,narayan ,das1 or read the letter which 

the messenger had brought to him from   
our ,father20 and ,tuls ,rm1 as he      
spoke1 laid his hand on a book called   
the ,bible1 which ,juwal had often heard
 him reading aloud to himself4 8,bihar  
,lal1 on the contrary1 believed the     
brave and earnest man who had left his  
native land1 and come through trials and
 dangers1 to bring good tidings to us4  
,but my second brother's heart was set  
on his merchandise and his business1 and
 he put off seeking for the treasure    
till a more convenient season40         
8,alas60 cried ,juwal1 8in the midst of 
all his cares and his pleasures1 poor   
,bihar ,lal was smitten by cholera1 and 
he passed away from earth1 even as the  
rain sinks in the sand and is seen no   
more40  8,when ,i stood by the          
funeral-pile of ,bihar ,lal10 said ,tuls
 ,rm1 8,i resolved in my heart that ,i  
would not delay searching for the       
treasure as my poor brother had done4 ,i
 girded myself and set out on my        
journey4 ,great was my desire to wear   

over my heart the jewels of ,pardon1    
,purity1 and ,heaven40  ,juwal did not  
venture to ask1 8,and did my lord find  
them80--for she saw by the anguish      
written on his face that ,tuls ,rm had  
never possessed the treasure4  8,but ,i 
found the journey to be one of exceeding
 difficulty10 continued ,tuls ,rm with a
 sigh4 8,to possess myself of the       
promised jewels1 ,i had to cross a river
 called ,baptism1 to pass which was to  
break my caste2 and ,i could not reach  
it without descending1 with much danger 
and pain1 a very steep bank4 ,on this   
bank grows thickly that plant with      
exceeding sharp thorns whose name is    
,persecution1 and briers whose names are
 ,loss and ,contempt4 ,juwal1 ,i went   
some steps forward2 but then ,i stopped 
short1 for ,i could not1 ,i dared not go
 further6 ,the thorns and briers had    
torn my garments and wounded my flesh4  
,i groaned in the anguish of my spirit4 
,great as was my longing to possess     
,pardon1 ,purity1 and ,heaven1 ,i could 

not endure the suffering through which  
,i must pass to win them4 ,i turned     
back1 ,o wretched man that ,i am6 ,i    
turned back20 and ,tuls ,rm groaned     
aloud4  ,tears dropped from the eyes of 
,juwal4 ,she had heard enough of the    
,father's letter1 from the lips of her  
husband1 to feel sure that the treasure 
which he had lost was one of priceless  
value4 ,juwal had even1 with great      
pains1 learned to read a little herself 
from the ,book which her husband prized1
 and she had thought much1 by night and 
by day1 over what she had heard and     
read4  8,what makes my shame and grief  
all the greater10 continued ,tuls ,rm   
after a pause1 8is to know that my brave
 and noble youngest brother1 ,nihl      
,chand1 has done what ,i dared not do4  
,he trampled down the thorns under his  
feet2 he heeded not the briers of ,loss 
and ,contempt2 he pressed on as a strong
 racer who seeth the goal near1 and     
already heareth the shouts of those who 
will behold him lay his hand on the     

prize4 ,he was as a hero who flincheth  
not in the day of battle4 ,nihl ,chand  
burst through ,persecution2 he crossed  
the waters of ,baptism2 and now1 without
 doubt1 he is wearing the ,father's     
gift1 all his sins pardoned1 his virtues
 shining forth in his life1 and his     
spirit rejoicing in hope of a crown to  
be worn for ever and ever4 ,i1 on the   
contrary1 a wretched coward1 shall      
bewail my weakness to the end of my     
days1 and shall at last perish without  
pardon1 and sink into outer darkness40  
,tuls ,rm smote his breast1 for he felt 
as a criminal who heareth the sentence  
of death4 ,then ,juwal who sat at her   
husband's feet1 lifted up her mild eyes 
and spake thus3--  8,o my lord6 surely  
it is not too late to do now what ,nihl 
,chand has done2 it is not too late to  
arise and go forth to seek the treasure4
 ,my lord will take yon staff of ,prayer
 in his hand1 and with it beat down some
 of the briers and thorns4 ,it is far   
better to have the flesh torn than the  

heart broken2 it is better to suffer for
 a short space than to be wretched for  
ever40  ,tuls ,rm listened with some    
surprise to such brave words from the   
lips of a woman4 ,then said he1         
8,behold1 ,i see two staffs of ,prayer4 
,wherefore should two be provided80     
,then ,juwal blushed and drooped her    
head1 as in a low voice she replied1    
8,i1 even ,i1 am ready to go with my    
lord40  8,thou60 exclaimed the          
astonished husband4 8,canst thou1 feeble
 woman1 endure the thorns of            
,persecution and the briers of          
,contempt8 ,hast thou no regard for thy 
caste8 ,thou art weak1 and a stranger to
 the dangers of the world2 thou hast    
ever been sheltered from all troubles1  
as the pearl shut closely up in its     
shell40  ,juwal grasped the staff1 and  
said1 though with a trembling           
voice1--8,i am weak1 but ,i can lean    
hard upon ,prayer4 ,as for troubles1    
will it not be a joy to share them with 
my dear lord8 ,let all my neighbours    

despise me1 so that ,i be but fair in   
his eyes4 ,as regards caste1 surely the 
highest caste of all is to belong to the
 family of the ,great ,king4 ,o my lord1
 let us set forth at once2 let us cross 
the river of ,baptism together6 ,i am   
but a woman2 but ,i have learned from   
that blessed ,book that the great       
,father loves ,his daughters as well as 
,his sons2 and who knows whether even   
for me some gift may not be reserved8   
,unworthy as ,i am even to look upon    
them1 may not ,i too1 possibly1 receive 
the jewels of ,pardon1 ,purity1 and     
,heaven80  ,then ,tuls ,rm1 as from a   
sudden impulse1 sprang to his feet4     
8,shall a woman be ready to leave all1  
and dare all1 and suffer all10 he       
exclaimed2 8and shall a man shrink back 
like a coward6 ,o ,juwal1 light of my   
eyes6 thy voice is like the voice of    
hope to thy husband4 ,i will follow the 
example of my brave brother2 come what  
may1 we will cross the waters of        
,baptism40  ,very early in the following

 morning1 before the sun had risen1     
,tuls ,rm and ,juwal1 each with a staff 
of ,prayer in hand1 and the husband with
 the ,book in his bosom1 started from   
their home and commenced their journey4 
,the earth was glowing in the bright    
light of the sun before they reached the
 top of the bank which overlooked the   
river of ,baptism4 ,by this time the    
slender frame of ,juwal was weary2 but  
she leaned on her staff1 and looked now 
tenderly at the husband whose steps she 
followed1 now on the glorious sky above 
her4 ,juwal thought of ,pardon1 ,purity1
 and ,heaven1 and then she forgot her   
weariness4 ,till now ,tuls ,rm had      
walked on in front2 but he stopped on   
the top of the bank1 and let his wife   
come up with him4 ,he feared that she   
would never have strength to pass       
through the terrible thorns of          
,persecution4 ,tuls's own heart was     
again failing him2 but when he looked   
sadly and anxiously at ,juwal1 she met  
his look with a smile4  8,wilt thou not 

wait and rest a while80 asked the       
husband4  8,oh no2 ,i am ready at once  
to go with my lord10 replied ,juwal1 so 
cheerfully that the soul of ,tuls ,rm   
was filled with wonder4 ,beholding the  
courage of a woman1 his own greatly     
revived4  ,together the two began to    
descend the bank4 ,tuls ,rm was so      
anxious about his wife that he scarcely 
felt how the thorns were tearing his own
 flesh4 ,never had ,juwal been so dear  
to the soul of her husband as now1 when1
 in a woman with weak frame but brave   
spirit1 he beheld his fellow-heir of    
eternal life2 no mere plaything or      
slave1 but the companion of his dangers1
 the sharer of all his trials4 ,juwal   
suffered even more than did her husband4
 ,after the fashion of ,indian women1   
,juwal wore many rings in her ears2#cg  
and the briers and thorns caught in     
these rings1 so that the wearer's course
 was stayed1 and she was as a prisoner  
fastened in bonds4 ,tears gushed from   
the woman's eyes4 ,tuls ,rm tried to    

lend his aid to release his wife1 but   
only himself became more painfully      
entangled in the sharp thorns4  8,o     
,juwal6 what can we do80 exclaimed ,tuls
 ,rm4  ,juwal's answer was in her act4  
,she lifted up her small bleeding hands1
 and broke off one by one the ear-rings 
which hindered her progress1 and left   
them hanging upon the thorns4  8,see1 ,i
 am free60 she cried1 smiling1 as ,tuls 
,rm1 by a desperate effort1 also        
released himself from the briers4       
8,thou art losing thy jewels1 ,o        
beloved60 said the pitying husband4  8,i
 seek better and brighter jewels10      
replied ,juwal4 8,shall ,i regret these 
baubles if ,i ever possess the ruby of  
,pardon1 the pearl of ,purity1 and the  
diamond of ,heaven80  ,and so the two   
travellers reached at last the bottom of
 the bank1 panting1 weary1 pierced with 
thorns1 but still not seriously hurt4   
,the waters of ,baptism flowed before   
,tuls ,rm and ,juwal4 ,hand-in-hand the 
husband and wife passed through those   

clear waters1 the coolness of which     
afforded to them wondrous refreshment4  
,tuls ,rm had grasped the hand of his   
wife to help her across1 but ,juwal     
scarcely needed his help4 ,when they    
reached the opposite bank1 ,tuls ,rm    
looked at ,juwal1 and lo6 never before  
had her face shone with such heavenly   
beauty6 ,it was even as the brightness  
of the moon when the clouds have passed 
away1 and her silver light falls softly 
on earth4 ,and never to ,tuls ,rm had   
,juwal's voice sounded so sweet as when 
she exclaimed1 8,o lord of my heart6 the
 river is passed4 ,let us rejoice and   
give thanks40  ,the opposite bank was   
less steep1 though still made difficult 
of ascent by the thorns of ,persecution4
 ,but the spirit of ,tuls ,rm had now   
acquired fresh courage4 ,having once    
crossed the river which he had dreaded1 
and having found in it nothing to harm  
him1 but only refreshment1 ,tuls ,rm    
felt all his strength return4           
,cheerfully he lent his aid to the weary

 but happy ,juwal1 and the two soon     
stood at the top of the bank1 from which
 their glad eyes could see the ,cross on
 the hill4  8,our treasure is yonder1   
and it will soon be ours60 exclaimed    
,tuls ,rm4  ,scarcely had he uttered the
 words when he and his wife were        
startled by the sound of a terrible     
groan1--such a groan as is uttered only 
by one in mortal anguish or pain4       
8,look yonder1 my lord10 cried ,juwal2  
8there is a man lying beneath yon       
palm-tree4 ,perhaps he is wounded or    
dying2 hark to his terrible groans60    
,at the sound of her voice the poor     
wretch half raised himself from the     
ground1 so that ,tuls ,rm could behold  
his face4 ,distorted by pain as was that
 face1 with what surprise and distress  
did ,tuls ,rm recognize in his features 
those of his brave brother1 ,nihl       
,chand4  8,can it be6 ,yes1 surely it is
 my own brother10 exclaimed ,tuls ,rm1  
hastening towards the spot4  ,it was    
indeed poor ,nihl ,chand who1 in a state

 of weakness and suffering1 was lying   
under the tree4 ,he feebly held out his 
arms1 and was soon in the embrace of    
,tuls ,rm4  8,what ails my brother8--he 
who is twice my brother--for have we not
 both passed through the waters of      
,baptism2 are we not both ,christians80 
cried ,tuls ,rm1--8though you were a    
,christian before me40 ,christian is the
 new name given to those who have passed
 through the river4  8,oh1 call me not  
,christian60 exclaimed the miserable    
,nihl ,chand2 8,i am not worthy of the  
name40  8,what has happened2 what have  
you done80 exclaimed ,tuls ,rm with     
anxiety1 for he saw that the anguish of 
his brother was great4  ,it was some    
little time before ,nihl ,chand was able
 to tell his sad story4 ,his head       
drooped on his breast with shame4 ,his  
brother wondered that one who had so    
bravely crossed the river of ,baptism   
should now appear so weak and wretched4 
,at last ,tuls ,rm inquired1 8,could my 
brother not find the jewels1 the gift of

 our ,father1--even the ruby1 the pearl1
 and the diamond80  8,i found them2 yes1
 ,i found them10 groaned ,nihl ,chand1  
8but ,i never wore them over my heart1  
and now ,i have lost them for ever--for 
ever60 ,then the stream of his grief    
found vent in words1 and to the         
listening ,tuls ,rm and ,juwal ,nihl    
,chand thus poured forth the tale of his
 sorrow and sin3--  8,i had not long    
passed the river of ,baptism when ,i was
 joined by a stranger1 dark in face1 but
 wearing gaudy attire1 and of a smooth  
and flattering tongue40  8,methinks ,i  
know him10 said ,tuls ,rm2 8surely his  
name is ,temptation40  8,he walked by my
 side10 continued ,nihl ,chand1         
8praising my courage and zeal1 till my  
heart was lifted up with pride1 and ,i  
thought that nothing but success and    
glory could be before me4 ,i reached the
 foot of the ,cross2 there ,i found1    
according to the words of my ,father's  
messenger1 a precious golden casket4 ,on
 opening it1 ,i found within a beauteous

 ornament1--even the magnificent jewels 
joined together in one setting of gold4 
,over the ruby1 ,pardon1 were inscribed 
the words1 ,thy sins be forgiven thee4  
,round the pearl1 ,purity1 appeared     
engraved1 ,holiness1 without which no   
man shall see the ,lord4 ,and ,i beheld 
written round the glittering diamond1   
,it is your ,father's good pleasure to  
give you the kingdom4 ,never was there  
an ornament so precious or so beautiful 
as this free gift from our ,father40    
,the eyes of ,juwal sparkled at the     
description given by ,nihl ,chand4 ,tuls
 ,rm inquired1--8,why did you not at    
once1 ,o my brother1 place the treasure 
upon your heart80  8,because of the     
words of ,temptation1 treacherous       
,temptation60 exclaimed the miserable   
,nihl ,chand4 8,he persuaded me that    
though ,pardon is a precious gift1 and  
,heaven a prize that the mightiest rajah
 might covet1 yet that the pale pearl1  
,purity1 was what few would desire to   
wear4 ,temptation offered me in its     

stead a yellow stone1 which he said was 
of greater value1 and to which he gave  
the name of ,pleasure4 ,woe is me6 woe  
is me6 that ever ,i listened to the     
voice of ,temptation1 that ,i ever was  
persuaded to part with my pearl for that
 which afterwards broke in my hands1 as 
a piece of worthless glass6 ,i thought  
that ,i could give away ,purity and yet 
keep ,pardon and ,heaven4 ,i let        
,temptation take my treasure into his   
hand1 that he might separate the pearl  
from the ruby and diamond4 ,but the     
three may never be divided4 ,temptation1
 taking advantage of my worse than      
folly1 rushed suddenly away whither ,i  
had no power to follow him1 bearing with
 him all that ,i had dared so much to   
win40  8,leaving nothing with you60     
cried ,tuls ,rm4  8,leaving remorse and 
shame1 and a wretched imitation of a    
jewel1 called ,pleasure1 which ,i found 
to be utterly worthless4 ,nor have you  
heard the end of my story4 ,i wandered  
about for a while1 unwilling to remain  

by the ,cross1 yet more unwilling to    
return to the city which ,i had left    
with such bright hopes and brave        
resolutions4 ,at last ,i laid me down to
 sleep1 but from that sleep ,i was      
startled by a sharp pain4 ,the venomous 
reptile whose name is ,uljhnewale       
gunah#ch had noiselessly crept towards  
me and inflicted this wound in my       
breast20 and raising his mantle1 ,nihl  
,chand showed a dark spot1 which marked 
where the reptile's fang had left its   
deadly poison4  ,tuls ,rm and ,juwal    
beheld the wound with grief and alarm4  
8,o ,nihl60 exclaimed the brother1 8,i  
know too well what are the effects of   
the bite of the ,uljhnewale gunah4 ,no  
serpent is more to be dreaded4 ,the     
remedy is at once to cut out the wounded
 part4 ,this must be done1 and at once40
 ,and ,tuls ,rm drew forth a sharp knife
 which he carried in his girdle4 ,on the
 handle of that knife was engraved its  
name--,help from above4  ,nihl ,chand   
was a brave man1 and yet1 strange to    

say1 he shrank like a child from the    
pain which his brother thought it       
needful to inflict4 8,no1 no60 he cried1
 with an impatient movement of the hand2
 8such sharp remedies are not required4 
,do not the healing leaves of ,good     
,intentions grow abundantly in yon      
thicket8 ,it will suffice to lay them   
upon the wound2 they will soon draw all 
its poison away40  ,tuls ,rm1 distressed
 and anxious1 took out hastily from his 
bosom his ,father's letter1 and quickly 
turned over the pages1 to find if it    
gave any directions for the treatment of
 a case like that of his brother4 ,very 
grave was his face1 and earnest his     
tones1 as he read aloud the words of    
,him who is truth itself3 ,if thy hand  
offend thee1 cut it off3 it is better   
for thee to enter into life maimed1 than
 having two hands to go into hell1 into 
the fire that shall never be quenched3  
where their worm dieth not and the fire 
is not quenched4  8,what is the meaning 
of those terrible words80 inquired ,nihl

 ,chand1 who trembled to hear them4  8,o
 brother6 the meaning is clear10 cried  
,tuls ,rm4 8,whatever be the anguish    
which it may cost1 by the means of ,help
 from above we must part from and cast  
from us whatever is tainted by the      
poison of sin4 ,you can never have      
health1 never have peace1 nay1 your very
 life is in imminent peril1 unless      
whatever has been poisoned by the       
,uljhnewale gunah be instantly and      
thoroughly cut away40  ,poor unhappy    
,nihl ,chand looked like one in despair4
 ,even the lightest touch on the        
poisoned place gave him pain2 how could 
he then endure suffering which the knife
 would inflict8  ,juwal had taken the   
,book from the hand of her husband1 and 
now1 with a trembling voice1 read this  
sentence aloud3 ,let the wicked forsake 
his way1 and the unrighteous man his    
thoughts1 and let him return unto the   
,lord and ,he will have mercy upon him1 
and unto our ,god1 for ,he will         
abundantly pardon4  ,the words were     

words of hope1 and from hope some       
courage came back to the heart of ,nihl 
,chand4 8,i will submit10 he said2 8and 
if ,i suffer1 ,i suffer but according to
 my deserts40  ,silently but sadly ,nihl
 ,chand endured the needful anguish2 the
 part poisoned by the serpent was cut   
away1 while ,juwal1 on her knees1 wept  
and prayed for her erring brother4      
8,now1 ,o ,nihl6 you have parted with   
that which kept you from peace10 said   
the faithful ,tuls ,rm1 whose heart had 
bled for the sinner even while1 with    
,help from above1 he had inflicted the  
pain2 8now once more you may hope to    
possess our ,father's gift of ,pardon1  
,purity1 and ,heaven40  8,never60       
groaned ,nihl ,chand4 8,when ,i yielded 
to ,temptation1 when ,i gave up my      
threefold treasure1 it was lost to me   
past recovery4 ,go on1 ye happy ones6   
for the treasure may still be yours2 but
 as for me1 ,i shall carry a scar on my 
breast1 and a deep wound in my heart1 to
 my grave40  ,nihl ,chand closed his    

eyes1 for he was too faint and too much 
exhausted to speak more1 far less to    
proceed on his way4 ,the souls of ,tuls 
,rm and ,juwal were full of compassion  
for him who so bitterly repented having 
given way to ,temptation1 and who so    
mourned over the disgrace which he had  
brought on the name of ,christian4 ,tuls
 ,rm resolved to remain for a while by  
his brother1 till ,nihl ,chand should be
 refreshed by a little rest4 ,juwal1 at 
her husband's desire1 retired to the    
distance of a few paces1 leaving the    
brothers together4 ,there ,juwal knelt  
down and prayed for her husband1 and for
 herself1 and for the penitent ,nihl    
,chand4 ,then1 being very weary1 ,juwal 
dropped asleep at the foot of a         
banyan-tree4  ,in vain ,tuls ,rm strove 
to give comfort and hope to his younger 
brother2 in vain he spoke of the mercy  
freely offered to all who repent and    
cast away sin4 ,though the poisoned     
part1 by means of ,help from above1 had 
been cut away from the breast of ,nihl  

,chand1 a painful wound yet remained1   
nor could he forget the past4  8,oh6    
that ,i had resisted ,temptation10 he   
cried2 8oh6 that ,i had pressed to my   
heart the jewels of ,pardon1 ,purity1   
and ,heaven2 the poisonous reptile would
 have lost all power to injure me       
then40#ci  ,nihl ,chand was sinking     
deeper and deeper into despair1 when    
,juwal1 having arisen from sleep1       
advanced towards the brothers with      
radiant joy sparkling in her eyes4  8,o 
my lord10 she exclaimed1 addressing     
herself to her husband1 8,i have been   
sent in my sleep a strange and beautiful
 dream4 ,behold1 ,i saw ,temptation1 the
 dark enemy1 the robber of souls1       
hurrying away with the jewels of my     
lord's brother in his grasp1--even the  
ruby1 the pearl1 and the diamond joined 
in one setting of gold4 ,suddenly a     
white dove swooped down from the sky1   
and caught the jewels out of the evil   
one's hand1 and bore them away out of   
sight4 ,then ,i heard a voice1 sweeter  

than music2 and these were the words    
which it uttered3 #8,let the penitent   
who sorrows for sin1 let the penitent   
who hath put away sin1 again search for 
his forfeited treasure1 and he shall    
find it once more1 where he sought for  
it at first1 even at the foot of the    
,cross40  ,the first gleam of hope that 
had appeared on the face of the wounded 
,nihl ,chand brightened it as he        
listened to the account of the dream of 
his sister4 ,leaning heavily1 very      
heavily1 on a staff of ,prayer1 he      
struggled to his feet1 and in a voice   
faint yet resolute he said1--8,let us   
go1 and at once4 ,if ,i1 poor wounded   
sinner1 must die1 ,i will at least die  
at the foot of the ,cross60  ,onwards   
the three ,christians sped together4    
,there was small difficulty to ,tuls    
,rm1 with his knife1 ,help from above1  
in removing the earth which covered a   
golden casket4 ,the ,christian eagerly  
raised and opened it1 and ,juwal uttered
 an exclamation of delight as she looked

 on its contents4 ,there lay three      
splendid ornaments1 each containing     
three matchless jewels1 worth more than 
all the crowns of the world1--even the  
ruby of ,pardon1 the pearl of ,purity1  
and the diamond of ,heaven6  ,on his    
knees1 and with head bowed down1 as     
deeply feeling how unworthy he was of   
his ,father's gift1 ,nihl ,chand        
received his restored treasure1 and     
pressed it first to his lips and then to
 his wounded breast4 ,but no sooner had 
the jewels been placed near his heart   
than1 to his amazement as well as       
delight1 new health and strength were   
poured into his frame4 ,nihl ,chand's   
wound became perfectly healed1 and1     
springing to his feet1 he again stood   
erect1 a brave and rejoicing man2 a     
,christian strong to wrestle against    
,temptation1 and overcome it wherever he
 should meet it again4  ,and1 like ,nihl
 ,chand1 ,tuls ,rm and his much loved   
wife1 ,juwal1 the faithful and meek1    
wore over their hearts for ever the     

ruby1 the pearl1 and the diamond1 their 
sins all pardoned1 and their lives made 
pure4 ,rejoicing in hope1 patient in    
tribulation1 continuing instant in      
prayer1 the three ,christians looked    
forward to the glorious time when1      
having been faithful unto death1 they   
should receive the crown of life which  
the ,lord hath promised to them that    
love him4         99       99       99  
99       99  ,o reader6 in this story   
have you read anything of your own8 ,you
 may have crossed the waters of baptism1
 you may have received the name of      
,christian1 but have you yielded to     
temptation1 is the venom of the reptile1
 besetting sin1 whether pride1 or       
falsehood1 or the love of money1 at this
 moment poisoning your soul8 ,oh6 cut   
away and cast the evil from you1 by     
means of help from above1 or you will   
surely perish in your sin4 ,even for    
your wound there is healing1 even for   
your guilt there is pardon2 the pearl of
 purity may yet be yours1 you may yet   

inherit the kingdom of heaven4 ,the     
blood of ,jesus ,christ cleanseth from  
all sin2 the ,holy ,spirit is given in  
answer to prayer4 ,but oh1 delay not6   
for time is short1 the day of grace may 
soon be past4 ,it is the penitent       
sinner1 the faithful and the            
persevering1 who at the foot of the     
cross shall find the priceless          
treasures--the ruby1 the pearl1 and the 
diamond--,pardon1 ,purity and ,heaven6  
,,vii4  ,the ,broken ,fence4   ,on a    
high hill1 in a mountainous part of the 
,punjaub1 was built a house goodly and  
fair4 ,in this dwelt a lady1 whose name 
was ,ashley ,sahiba4 ,in her heart was  
much love to ,god1 and much love for    
poor little ,indian children4 ,under the
 care of this lady were many girls2 some
 of them were orphans1 and some of them 
had parents who lived in the plains1 and
 who wished their children to enjoy the 
cooler air of the hills4 ,these parents 
were glad to have their daughters under 
the care of ,ashley ,sahiba1 who would  

not only teach them to read and write   
and work1 but who would also try to     
teach them to be gentle1 obedient1 and  
pious4#dj ,ashley ,sahiba prayed much   
with the children and for the children1 
and there was not one of the girls who  
had not a place in her heart4  ,but     
there was one of the girls who was a    
cause of much trouble and sorrow to the 
lady4 ,the name of this girl was        
,ghuldasta4 ,there were two things in   
her that occasioned this trouble and    
sorrow4 ,the first thing was that       
,ghuldasta had a strange kind of        
blindness4 ,she could see1 and see well1
 every object that was but a few inches 
from her1 so that she could read1 and   
write1 and sew1--and she did these      
things as well as any other girl in the 
school2 but ,ghuldasta could see nothing
 at even a foot's distance from her     
eyes4 ,the girl never saw the path      
before her1 and therefore often stumbled
 over things that lay in her way1 and   
had many painful falls2 for ,ghuldasta  

scorned a careful walk1 and never asked 
for a guide4 ,ghuldasta had a little    
ivory box of precious ointment which had
 been sent to her by her ,father1 and   
which1 by his command1 she always       
carried in her bosom4 8,let my child    
carefully anoint her eyes with this     
ointment10 the wise ,father had said1   
8and she will soon see quite clearly1 so
 that she will not so stumble and fall40
 ,ghuldasta had the ointment always     
within her reach1 but1 strange to say1  
she never cared to use it at all2 she   
contented herself with looking at the   
outside of the box1 on the lid of which 
was written the name of the             
ointment--,self-examination mixed with  
,prayer2 whilst round the edge appeared 
the words1 ,examine yourselves1 whether 
ye be in the faith2 prove your own      
selves 7#b ,cor4 xiii4 #e74 ,ghuldasta  
had heard that the ointment would make  
the eyes smart1 and she never would put 
it on hers4 8,i can see quite well      
enough10 she would say2 8no one can read

 the ,bible better than ,i2 why should  
,i trouble myself with this             
,self-examination8 ,it would be of no   
use to me2 and ,i dislike it of all     
things40  ,after hearing that ,ghuldasta
 thus disobeyed her wise ,father's      
commands1 no one can be surprised at    
being told the second cause of ,ashley  
,sahiba's sorrow concerning the girl4   
,ghuldasta was much under the power of  
two wicked spirits1 whose names are     
,pride and ,self-will4#da ,she never saw
 them because of her blindness4 ,if she 
could have seen them1 she would have    
been frightened1 for what is so hideous 
as sin8 ,but ,ghuldasta often heard     
their voices1 and1 alas6 to her those   
voices were pleasant4 ,ashley ,sahiba   
more than suspected that these wicked   
spirits had power over her young charge2
 for1 though she could not actually see 
or hear them1 she saw the effect which  
their company had on the unhappy        
,ghuldasta4 ,often did ,ashley ,sahiba  
warn all her children3 8,o my beloved   

ones6 beware of ,pride and ,self-will1  
who often steal upon us to mislead and  
destroy4 ,they are sent by the great    
,enemy1 who wishes to ruin our souls40  
,but though so often tenderly warned1   
blind and foolish ,ghuldasta was not in 
the least afraid of listening to ,pride 
and ,self-will4  ,i have said that the  
house in which the lady and children    
dwelt was built on the top of a high    
hill4 ,the house had pleasant grounds   
around it1 in which the children could  
play4 ,all round this enclosure was a   
fence made of stakes of the choicest    
wood4 ,this fence was very needful1 as  
the hill was in some parts so steep as  
to be dangerous1 and the children might 
often have fallen down precipices but   
for this protection4 ,on every one of   
the stakes was inscribed in golden      
letters a precious text1 which glittered
 brightly in the sun1 so that the fence 
was an ornament to the place1 as well as
 a safeguard to the children4 ,the name 
of the fence was ,duty4  ,some of the   

children were exceedingly glad that     
there was this beautiful fence around   
the enclosure4 8,there are many wild    
beasts in the mountains10 they said2    
8cheetahs1 and bears1 and the terrible  
lion called ,shaitn1 who goeth about    
seeking whom he may devour4 ,but for    
this fence we should never feel safe4   
,we never wish to venture beyond it40   
,but ,ghuldasta was not one of these    
children4 ,she had always a great desire
 to wander beyond this fence2 and often 
and often did ,pride and ,self-will urge
 her to do so4  ,said ,pride3 8,you have
 nothing to fear4 ,what do you care for 
cheetahs or lions80  ,whispered         
,self-will3 8,it is very hard to be shut
 up in a small enclosure like this4     
,outside1 on the mountains1 are many    
beautiful flowers and delicious fruits4 
,when you are close to them1 you will   
see and enjoy them2 you will make       
wreaths for your hair of the flowers1   
you will feast at your ease on the      
fruits40  ,then added ,pride3 8,could   

not a brave and resolute girl such as   
you are manage to get through the       
fence80  ,it is very dangerous to listen
 to ,pride and ,self-will1 the black    
serpents that speak now as the serpent  
spake to ,eve in the ,garden of ,eden4  
,ghuldasta began to think in her heart1 
8,can ,i not contrive to break down or  
pull up a little bit of the fence1 just 
enough to let me squeeze myself through 
the opening80 ,evil thinking soon leads 
to evil doing4  ,there was one          
particular spot in the enclosure1 shaded
 from view by thick bushes1 to which    
,ghuldasta now often wandered4 ,she     
never asked any of her companions to go 
with her thither4 8,i would rather10 she
 said1 8be alone40 ,who would have      
guessed what the foolish and sinful girl
 was doing1 when she spent the greater  
part of her leisure time in this        
solitary retreat8 ,ghuldasta was1 with a
 knife1 day by day cutting away at two  
of the stakes of the beautiful fence4   
,on one of these stakes was written3    

,likewise1 ye younger1 submit yourselves
 unto the elder4 ,yea1 all of you be    
subject one to another1 and be clothed  
with humility 7#a ,peter v4 #e74 ,and on
 the second stake was written3 ,obey    
them that have the rule over you1 and   
submit yourselves3 for they watch for   
your souls1 as they that must give      
account 7,heb4 xiii4 #ag74 ,ghuldasta   
did not care to read the holy words     
inscribed on the stakes2 her only       
anxiety was to get rid of whatever      
hindered her going whither ,pride and   
,self-will made her eager to go4 ,and1  
alas6 all those days during which       
,ghuldasta was cutting and doing her    
utmost to destroy the holy fence1 she1  
with the other girls1 regularly read the
 ,bible1 sang hymns1 and knelt down to  
pray4 ,while she was obeying ,pride and 
,self-will1 and neglecting her ,father's
 commands1 every prayer and hymn from   
this girl's lips was in itself a        
grievous sin4  ,very early one morning1 
before the rest of the girls had come   

forth into the grounds1 ,ghuldasta      
finished her wicked work4 ,she had cut  
so very deep into each of the two stakes
 in the fence of ,duty1 that she was now
 able to snap them off altogether1 and  
fling them far away down the mountain4  
,she then tried to squeeze herself      
through the gap which she had made1 and 
easily enough succeeded in doing so2    
for1 alas6 wilful sinners have no       
difficulty in passing beyond the fence  
of ,duty1 when once they have broken the
 holy commands which form it4           
,ghuldasta was rejoicing in the thought 
that now she could wander whither she   
would1 with none to restrain her1 when  
suddenly she felt a firm grasp on her   
shoulder4  8,wretched1 blind girl60     
exclaimed a voice behind her1 8whither  
are you going80 ,the voice was that of  
,ashley ,sahiba4  ,ghuldasta could not  
see the look of sorrow on the face of   
her guardian1 any more than she could   
behold the love and pity in her heart2  
the girl only heard that the sound of   

the voice was angry1 and felt that the  
grasp of the hand was a tight one4      
8,wrench yourself away60 cried          
,self-will4  8,how can she speak in so  
harsh a tone8 ,how dare she call you    
wretched and blind80 exclaimed ,pride4  
,ghuldasta was not strong enough to     
wrench herself away2 but as soon as the 
lady had drawn her back through the gap 
in the fence1 the girl flung herself on 
the ground in a terribly sulky fit4 ,she
 would scarcely listen to the lady's    
earnest words of warning4  8,how unkind 
she is60 cried ,self-will4  8,how unjust
 she is60 muttered ,pride4  ,it is sad  
to relate how completely these evil     
spirits held ,ghuldasta in subjection4  
,the girl was in a fit of ill-humour1   
and showed it in every way that she     
possibly could4 ,she would not eat1 she 
would not work2 she behaved as if she   
thought that her tender friend had done 
her a cruel wrong in drawing her back   
from a perilous path4 ,ghuldasta was    
miserable herself1 and tried to make all

 around her unhappy also4 ,and yet this 
girl never looked upon herself as a     
grievous sinner4 ,she had not anointed  
her eyes with the precious ointment     
contained in the ivory box4  8,what     
shall ,i do80 thought ,ashley ,sahiba3  
8how shall ,i prevent my wilful1 blind  
lamb from wandering in ways of          
destruction8 ,she has broken down part  
of the fence2 we cannot1 with so many   
other children to care for1 watch her   
night and day4 ,i dread lest she should 
again attempt to escape and wander on   
the mountains1 where there are          
precipices and rushing torrents1 and    
where wild beasts roam about seeking for
 prey40  ,after anxious thought ,ashley 
,sahiba had the gap in the fence filled 
up by a quantity of sharp prickly thorns
 of which the name is ,punishment4 8,now
 ,i trust that my child will be safe10  
thought she4  ,on the first opportunity 
the wilful ,ghuldasta found her way back
 to the spot where she had broken a way 
through the fence2 but when she         

attempted to pass through the gap1 lo6  
sharp ,punishment stayed her4  8,cruel1 
cruel ,mem ,sahiba60 exclaimed          
,ghuldasta1 as she drew back her        
bleeding hand1 which had been hurt by   
the thorns4  8,she shall never stop you 
in this way60 cried ,self-will4  8,she  
finds fault with you because she does   
not love you as she loves the other     
girls10 muttered ,pride4 8,she is hard1 
partial1 and unjust40  ,ghuldasta       
resolved that even ,punishment should   
not stop her4 ,she remained all the rest
 of that day sulky and silent1 revolving
 in her mind by what means she could    
still get her own way4 ,even during     
prayer-time all the thoughts of the     
sinful girl were turned in this         
direction4 ,while the ,mem ,sahiba was  
reading the ,bible aloud to her         
children1 ,ghuldasta was listening to   
the whispers of ,pride and ,self-will1  
which none could hear but herself4      
,said ,pride3 8,when none are near to   
watch you1 take the thick black rug of  

,obstinacy and throw it right over the  
thorns4 ,they may hurt you a little     
still1 but they will not be able to stay
 you40  8,you will not care for a little
 pain1 so that you get your own way10   
cried ,self-will4  ,when the house was  
hushed in silence1--when all the other  
girls were sleeping1 and the weary      
,ashley ,sahiba had closed her eyes in  
repose1--,ghuldasta silently arose from 
her bed1 and felt her way to the place  
where hung the black rug4 ,bearing      
,obstinacy with her1 and moving as      
stealthily as if she were a thief1 the  
wilful girl contrived to quit the house 
and reach the spot to which she so often
 had turned her steps before4 ,ghuldasta
 flung the rug of ,obstinacy over the   
thorns of ,punishment1 and found that by
 means of it she could manage to clamber
 over1 though not without some pain4    
,ghuldasta was so much delighted at     
this1 that almost unconsciously she     
began to sing1 though in a tone too low 
to rouse any of the sleepers in the     

house1 which was at some distance4      
,ghuldasta--,o fearful mockery6--was    
actually humming a hymn when she passed 
beyond the fence of ,duty4 ,she had on  
her lips3      8,there is a happy land1 
,far1 far away40#db  ,but she was not to
 have time to sing about the 8saints10  
whose glory1 if she went on in her      
wilful course1 she never1 never would   
share4 ,ghuldasta1 though she knew it   
not1 was on the path that leadeth to    
destruction4 ,she had no right to sing  
of that happy land1 from which she was  
actually trying to shut herself out for 
ever4  ,i have said that ,ghuldasta was 
apt to walk carelessly1 and that she was
 so near-sighted that1 even in the light
 of day1 she could not see the path     
before her4 ,suddenly1 to her horror1   
the poor girl found herself plunging    
down a precipice6 ,screaming for help1  
,ghuldasta caught at the bushes to save 
herself3 they somewhat broke but they   
could not prevent her fall2 for the     
twigs gave way in her hand6             

,down--down--down1--crashing fell the   
miserable child6 ,what would she not    
have given to have felt the firm grasp  
of her ,mem ,sahiba6 what would she not 
have given to have been held fast by the
 thorns of ,punishment6--anything1      
anything that might have saved her from 
the consequences of her own blind folly6
  ,poor ,ghuldasta was senseless before 
she reached the bottom4 ,her clothes    
were rent2 her body bruised and         
bleeding2 much of her hair had been left
 on the bushes4 ,after a while she came 
to herself1 in terrible pain1 and with  
perfect darkness around her4 ,as        
,ghuldasta could only see objects very1 
very near her1 it was now to her as if  
she lay at the bottom of a well4        
8,where am ,i80 faintly murmured the    
miserable girl4 ,gradually she          
remembered all that had happened2 but   
memory was anguish4 ,her best friend1   
her much-wronged friend1 was1 she       
doubted not1 sleeping1 all unconscious  
of the misery and danger of the         

ungrateful girl whom she had warned in  
vain4 ,ghuldasta's young companions were
 slumbering in peace1 till the morning's
 light should awaken them to begin the  
occupations of the day4 ,but for her own
 pride and wilfulness1 ,ghuldasta might 
at that moment have been safe and happy 
amongst them4  ,ghuldasta longed to know
 where she was--to be able to look      
around her4 ,she thought of her ivory   
box of ointment1 which she still carried
 in her bosom4 ,ghuldasta could not move
 her arm without pain1 and she knew well
 that the ointment would make her eyes  
smart2 but lying as she was in          
helplessness and darkness in a strange  
place1 for the first time the girl      
wished to obey her ,father's command4   
,ghuldasta anointed her eyes with the   
salve of ,self-examination mixed with   
,prayer1 and the effect of that salve   
was marvellous beyond all expectation4  
,at once perfect sight appeared to be   
restored2 ,ghuldasta saw everything     
around her bathed in the light of a     

clear full moon4  ,but it was a terrible
 view that was presented to the wilful  
transgressor4 ,she saw her danger--she  
saw her sin4 ,above her was a rude      
jagged cliff1 which1 even had she been  
unhurt by her fall1 she could never have
 power to climb4 ,ghuldasta lay upon    
thorns more painful than the thorns of  
,punishment which she had thought so    
cruel1 and from these thorns she could  
not wrench herself free4  8,oh6 what    
shall ,i do6--what shall ,i do60        
exclaimed the unhappy and penitent girl1
 after she had exhausted herself by     
cries for help which no one could hear4 
8,would that ,i had never listened to   
the voices of the tempters6--would that 
,i had never broken through the fence of
 ,duty1 and left my safe and happy home6
 ,i chose my own way2 and a way of      
misery ,i have found it4 ,i was lifted  
up with pride1 and now ,i have fallen   
into the depths of despair60  ,ghuldasta
 could distinguish objects lying at no  
great distance from her1 which she at   

once recognized2 for on them golden     
letters were faintly glimmering in the  
moonlight4 ,these were the stakes from  
the fence of ,duty which she had herself
 broken and flung away6  8,likewise1 ye 
younger1 submit yourselves unto the     
elder10 faintly murmured ,ghuldasta1 as 
tears flowed fast down her cheeks4      
8,alas6 ,i would never submit2 ,i was   
never clothed in humility2 ,i would not 
obey her whom my ,father had placed over
 me2 ,i was insolent to her in my       
manner1 ,i despised her wise commands1  
,i abused her patience1 ,i grieved her  
heart4 ,i shall never1 never see her    
again4 ,oh6 will she ever give a        
sorrowful thought to her poor           
,ghuldasta6 ,no1 no2 she will be happy  
with those who love her--those who obey 
her4 ,i shall soon be forgotten by all4 
,even in heaven they will never meet1   
nor even miss1 the wretched ,ghuldasta60
 ,at the miserable thought1 the poor    
girl cried as if her heart would break4 
,hark6 what was that fearful sound in   

the distance8 ,was it not the roar of   
the lion who goeth about seeking whom he
 may devour8 ,ghuldasta could not fight1
 and she could not flee4 ,she was ready 
to faint with terror4 ,then in her agony
 the repentant sinner betook herself to 
prayer4 ,never1 never had poor          
,ghuldasta prayed before as she prayed  
on that night1 with clasped hands and   
streaming eyes6 ,her supplications were 
no mockery now--they came from a broken 
and contrite heart4  ,ashley ,sahiba1   
meanwhile1 lay asleep on her bed2 but   
even in sleep her mind was restless4    
,thoughts of her self-willed1 proud     
,ghuldasta mixed themselves with her    
dreams4 ,at last the lady suddenly      
awoke1 for it seemed as if a voice were 
whispering in her ears3 8,o shepherdess6
 where is your poor lost lamb80  ,ashley
 ,sahiba closed her tired eyes1 and     
tried to go to sleep again1 but she     
could not2 she was so unhappy about     
,ghuldasta4 ,presently she arose1 and   
knelt down and prayed for the child4    

,then softly moving along the rows of   
beds on which the children were         
sleeping1 the lady sought that of       
,ghuldasta1 and started to find it      
empty6 ,her fears were but too          
well-founded--,ghuldasta had fled6 ,that
 moment was one of the most painful     
which the lady had ever known in the    
course of her life4  ,ghuldasta1        
imprisoned by thorns1 and sorely hurt by
 her fall1 lay straining her eyes to    
catch sounds in the distance1 and       
exhausted her little remaining strength 
by weeping4 ,at last1 to her exceeding  
terror1 she saw the bushes on the cliff 
above her moving1 as if some large      
animal were forcing its way down the    
difficult descent4 ,she expected every  
moment to see the glaring eyes of a     
beast of prey2 she became silent in the 
extremity of her fear4 ,then1 from the  
very spot from whence ,ghuldasta        
expected to hear a savage growl1 came a 
dear and well-known voice3 8,my child6  
my child6 where are you80 ,ghuldasta1   

collecting all her strength1 called out 
the name of her lady2 and a glad voice  
answered from above4 ,heedless of       
weariness or danger1 ,ashley ,sahiba1 by
 help of the bushes1 was clambering down
 the cliff from the top of which        
,ghuldasta had fallen4 ,the lady was    
like the good shepherd seeking the      
straying sheep2 like the woman searching
 for the lost piece of silver2 and when 
at last she clasped her ,ghuldasta in   
her arms1 her cry of joy was like that  
of the prodigal's father3 ,this my son  
was dead and is alive again2 was lost1  
and is found4  ,ashley ,sahiba was      
followed by servants whom she had roused
 to help in the search for ,ghuldasta1  
and who had made their way down the hill
 by a longer but less dangerous path4   
,the poor girl1 clinging to her ,mem    
,sahiba1 was raised from her painful    
position1 and carried up on a litter1   
for she was unable to walk4  ,a fever   
succeeded1 caused by the sufferings both
 of mind and body endured on that night 

by ,ghuldasta4 ,under careful nursing   
she recovered from the fever1 but the   
poor girl carried on her to her dying   
day marks of her terrible fall1 and the 
remembrance of it was never effaced from
 her mind4 ,but happy was it for        
,ghuldasta that she had learned to      
anoint her eyes with the salve of       
,self-examination mixed with ,prayer2   
happy was it for her that she could say1
 ,whereas ,i was blind1 now ,i see4     
,ghuldasta had parted company with      
,pride and ,self-will2 she became daily 
more meek and lowly1 more like ,him who1
 though ,god as well as man1 deigned in 
,his youth to be subject to a mortal    
mother4 ,ghuldasta became the joy and   
crown of the faithful friend to whom she
 so long had been a cause of trouble and
 sorrow4 ,that friend taught her where  
alone she could find forgiveness for all
 her past sins1 and grace to struggle   
against them in the future4 ,blessed are
 they that mourn3 for they shall be     
comforted4 ,blessed are the poor in     

spirit3 for theirs is the kingdom of    
heaven 7,matt4 v4 #d1 #c74     ,,viii4  
,shining in the ,dark4   ,there dwelt in
 the ,punjaub a man of the name of ,bl  
,mukand1 who was very learned and       
clever4 ,he had read many hooks1 ,hindu1
 ,sanscrit1 and ,arabic1 the ,vedas and 
the ,purnas2 he had also read           
translations of many of the writings of 
the ,english4  ,bl ,mukand entered the  
shop of ,shib ,das1 the goldsmith1 and  
sat down beside him4 ,shib ,das had lost
 many friends because he had become a   
,christian1 but he had not lost the     
friendship of ,bl ,mukand4 8,i will not 
quarrel with a man because he wears not 
on his head a pugree 7turban7 of the    
same colour as mine1 or because he has  
not the same thoughts in his head as ,i 
have10 said the liberal-minded          
,punjaubi4 ,he had read and reflected   
too much to act the part of a bigot4    
,and what were the thoughts of ,bl      
,mukand on the subject of religion8     
,thus he expressed them to ,shib ,das as

 he sat in his shop4  8,i will never be 
a ,christian60 said he4 8,excepting     
yourself1 ,o ,shib ,das1 ,i think that  
of all people ,christians are the       
worst40  8,and why do you think so80    
inquired ,shib ,das4  8,i have read the 
,koran and the ,shastras1 ,i have read  
the ,vedas and the ,bible10 replied ,bl 
,mukand1 8and ,i compare the books with 
the people who severally profess to make
 such various writings the rule of their
 faith4 ,the ,mohammedan is commanded to
 fast in the ,ramadan1 and he fasts2 he 
is commanded to pray five times a day1  
and he prays4 ,the ,hindu is told to    
reverence the ,brahman2 and lo6 he is   
ready to drink the water in which the   
holy man's feet have been washed4 ,the  
,hindu makes pilgrimages and visits     
temples1 performs ablutions1 and will   
rather starve than eat that which he    
deems unclean40  8,true1 ,o ,bl         
,mukand10 replied ,shib ,das2 8but why  
call ,christians the worst of men8 ,if  
they make not pilgrimages nor observe   

long fasts1 it is because their religion
 does not command them to do these      
things40  8,but their religion does     
command them to do many things which    
they do not10 exclaimed ,bl ,mukand with
 a sneer4 8,i have read their ,bible1   
and know what is in it1 and very good   
words they are4 ,the ,bible says1 ,love 
one another2 and how many ,christians   
hate one another instead6 ,the ,bible   
says1 ,thou shalt not covet2 and where  
is the ,christian who is not greedy of  
gain8 ,the ,christians read in their    
,book that ,god is truth1 they call     
themselves ,his children2 and yet how   
many tell lies6 ,the ,mohammedan obeys  
his ,koran1 and the ,hindu follows the  
rules of his ,vedas2 but the ,christian 
reads his holy ,book1 and obeys not4    
,when his guide bids him take the narrow
 path1 he rushes off to the broad one4  
,therefore1 ,i repeat again1 ,christians
 are the worst of all men40#dc  8,you   
are somewhat unjust to them10 observed  
,shib ,das4 8,not all ,christians act in

 the manner which you describe40  8,look
 at the ,sahib log0 7,english71         
exclaimed ,bl ,mukand2 8they who think  
that they walk in light1 while all the  
rest of mankind lie in darkness6 ,see   
the ,commissioner ,sahib--has he not    
read in his ,book1 ,be pitiful1 be      
courteous2 and yet he spurns natives    
from him as if they were no better than 
dogs6 ,who is more fond of the world and
 of money than the ,railway ,sahib2 and 
look how some of the ,english soldiers  
drink1 though it is written in their    
,bible that drunkards shall not inherit 
the kingdom of heaven6 ,their religion  
may be pure as rain from the sky1 or    
stream from the mountain1 but wherein   
are they the better for it80  ,then     
,shib ,das thoughtfully stroked his     
beard and made reply3 8,if fruit grow   
not on the stone1 is it the fault of the
 rain8 if the traveller stoop not to    
drink of the stream beside him1 is it   
the fault of the river if he perish of  
thirst8 ,i repeat again that all        

,christians are not so disobedient to   
the laws of their ,book2 there are some 
whose souls are as a well-watered       
garden1 in which grow the fruits of     
holiness1 truth1 and love40  8,these    
people are very few10 muttered ,bl      
,mukand2 8,i could count on my fingers  
all whom ,i have met with4 ,as by far   
the greater number of ,christians are   
evil1 where is the advantage of becoming
 a ,christian80  ,shib ,das smiled and  
said3 8,o ,bl ,mukand1 did you ever hear
 the tradition of ,king ,solomon and the
 ,queen of ,sheba80  ,then said ,bl     
,mukand1 8,i pray you tell me the       
story40  8,it is said that the ,queen of
 ,sheba1 who came from afar to hear the 
wisdom of ,solomon1 tried thus to put it
 to proof4 ,she had flowers made by     
skilful workmen so like real flowers1   
that no man1 without touching them1     
could tell the difference between them4 
,the queen showed to ,solomon a quantity
 of true and false flowers mixed        
together4 #8,let your wisdom1' said she1

 #8discover1 without coming near them1  
which of the flowers have drank heaven's
 dews and which have not1--which are    
living and which are lifeless4'0  8,and 
what did the wise ,solomon80 inquired   
,bl ,mukand4  8,he commanded all the    
doors to be flung wide open1 so that the
 bees and other insects had free access 
to the flowers4 ,the bees settled on the
 blossoms that had life1 those in which 
heaven's dew had turned into honey4     
#8,behold1 ,o ,queen1' cried ,solomon1  
#8where there is life there is sweetness
 also4 ,there are many false flowers    
yonder1 but we soon discover the true4' 
,even so1 ,o ,bl ,mukand1 there are many
 that are called ,christians who are not
 ,christians at all1 for in their faith 
there is no life2 they have nothing of  
,christianity but the name4 ,would      
,solomon have been a wise man had he    
said at once1 #8,all these flowers are  
false'8 ,no2 he put the matter to the   
proof4 ,when you condemn all ,christians
 together1 you have not the wisdom of   

,solomon nor the discrimination of the  
bees4 ,besides10 added ,shib ,das1      
8whatever the conduct of so-called      
,christians may be1 you acknowledge that
 their religion is pure1 that their     
,book is good4 ,christians may be       
faulty1 but ,christ ,himself is         
perfect40  8,one looks for the disciples
 to be as the ,master10 observed ,bl    
,mukand4 8,the ,christian's heaven may  
exist1 and be all that the ,bible       
describes it to be2 but to me the path  
to it is so dark1 that after all my     
reading1 and searching1 and thinking1 ,i
 own that ,i cannot find it4 ,i never   
shall be a ,christian40  ,shib ,das saw 
that there was no use in arguing with   
one who refused to be convinced2        
therefore the ,christian remained       
silent4 ,and soon afterwards ,bl ,mukand
 fell asleep4  ,bl ,mukand was before   
long awakened by the sound of some one  
speaking at the front of the shop1 but  
he stirred not1 nor opened his eyes2 he 
remained as if sleeping still1 and      

listened unnoticed to the discourse of  
,shib ,das with the stranger1 whose name
 was ,karm ,illahi4  ,there was in the  
shop a scimitar with a jewelled hilt1   
which had attracted the eyes of ,karm   
,illahi as he passed along the narrow   
street4 ,at his desire it was now placed
 in his hand2 he examined the blade1 he 
looked at the ornaments on the hilt4 ,bl
 ,mukand also had1 half an hour before1 
noticed and admired the scimitar1 which 
had been1 a short time previously1      
purchased by ,shib ,das from an ,afghan 
chief4  ,the ,mohammedan1 ,karm ,illahi1
 inquired the price of the scimitar1    
which he greatly desired to possess4    
8,the price is thirty rupees10 was the  
reply of ,shib ,das4  8,i thought that  
he would have said sixty or seventy at  
least10 thought the astonished ,bl      
,mukand4 8,surely the jewels in the hilt
 are worth much more than thirty        
rupees40  ,karm ,illahi did not betray  
the joy which he really felt at hearing 
a much lower price asked than what he   

had expected4 ,again1 slowly and        
carefully1 he tried the blade and       
examined the hilt4  8,are all these     
jewels real80 he inquired of the seller4
  8,all but this sapphire in the        
centre10 replied ,shib ,das4 8,the      
imitation is so good that ,i myself was 
at first deceived4 ,were that jewel     
real1 ,i should have asked double the   
price for the weapon40  8,i will give   
you twenty rupees10 said ,karm          
,illahi--who had never yet bought       
anything without trying to lower the    
price4 ,had he been offered a hen for an
 anna1 he would have tried to get it for
 eleven pies4#dd  8,no10 replied ,shib  
,das calmly2 8,i have but one price for 
the things in my shop1 and that is the  
fair one4 ,a year ago ,i should have    
asked you at least seventy rupees for   
that scimitar1 and have sworn that every
 jewel in the hilt was real40  8,and why
 do you not do so now80 inquired ,karm  
,illahi in no small surprise4  8,because
 ,i am a ,christian10 was the simple    

reply of ,shib ,das4  ,karm ,illahi     
smiled a mocking smile1 but he drew     
forth a bag of money which he carried   
with him1 and counted out the thirty    
rupees4 ,bl ,mukand heard him muttering 
to himself as he did so3 8,this         
,christian is a fool1 for none but a    
fool would have said that the stone was 
false1 or have asked less for his goods 
than he might have hoped to get from a  
stranger40  ,not such was the thought of
 the more enlightened ,bl ,mukand4 8,if 
all men dealt with such honesty and     
truth1 this would be a happy land10 he  
said in his heart4 8,the folly of such  
men as this ,shib ,das is better than   
the wisdom of the worldly40  ,scarcely  
had the ,mussulman left the place with  
the scimitar which he had bought1 than  
,yuhanna1 a ,christian catechist1 came  
up to the jeweller's shop4 ,still ,bl   
,mukand lay perfectly quiet and         
listened1 whilst ,yuhanna exchanged     
greetings with ,shib ,das4  ,then said  
the jeweller3 8,doubtless you have come1

 ,o ,yuhanna1 for the monthly           
subscription for the church fund and the
 support of the poor40  8,yes1 ,o       
brother10 replied ,yuhanna4 8,i am going
 my rounds amongst the ,christians1 but 
as yet ,i have collected but little4    
,the funds are low1 and we have more    
sick to help and more widows to relieve 
than usual40  ,bl ,mukand1 where he lay1
 opened his eyes a little1 and he could 
see with what a look of pleasure his    
friend ,shib ,das drew four rupees from 
his store1 and gave them into the hand  
of ,yuhanna4  8,it is strange1 ,o ,shib 
,das10 observed the catechist1 8that you
 give more to the church fund than do   
even baboos in government employ4 ,you  
are not1 ,i believe1 a rich man4 ,how is
 it that when we ask for offerings to   
,god we never find your bag empty80     
8,the reason is very simple10 was ,shib 
,das's cheerful reply4 8,i am a         
,christian1 and ,i try to obey what is  
written in the ,word of my ,god         
regarding offerings made unto ,him3     

,upon the first day of the week let     
every one of you lay by him in store1 as
 ,god hath prospered him 7#a ,cor4 xvi4 
#b74 ,at least a tenth of the profits of
 my trade ,i look upon as the ,lord's1  
and not my own4 ,thus ,i ever have money
 at hand to give2 and when ,i give it1  
,i never miss it40  8,god will accept   
your gift1 and will bless you10 said the
 catechist earnestly1 ere he turned and 
went on his way4  ,and what was the     
thought of ,bl ,mukand as he lay1       
apparently asleep1 in the innermost and 
darkest part of the shop8 8,if all men  
showed such piety and charity1 this     
would be a happy land10 he said in his  
heart4 8,the poverty of such men as     
,shib ,das is better than the wealth of 
the worldly40  ,the next person who came
 to the shop was the bearer of a        
government official of rank4 ,he carried
 with him a necklace which had been     
broken in many places4 ,some of the     
precious stones had dropped from their  
setting4 ,the bearer1 whose name was    

,parduman1 showed the broken ornament to
 ,shib ,das4  8,can you mend this for   
the ,mem ,sahiba80 asked he4  ,shib ,das
 was skilful in his craft1 and he said  
that he could certainly mend the        
necklace4 ,his heart was glad1 for this 
was the first time that the poor        
,christian goldsmith had been offered   
employment by any of the ,sahib log1 and
 it seemed to him as if ,god were       
sending prosperity to his house4  8,the 
,mem ,sahiba must have her necklace back
 on ,monday10 said the bearer1 8for she 
is going to a grand ball on that night40
  8,i cannot finish the work so soon10  
said ,shib ,das1 after carefully        
examining the broken ornament4 ,a short 
time before1 he would have readily made 
a promise1 whether he had hoped to be   
able to keep it or not2 but now that    
,shib ,das served the ,god of truth1 he 
would have suffered any loss rather than
 have broken his word4  8,you have all  
to-morrow to work in10 observed         
,parduman1 the bearer4  8,to-morrow is  

,sunday1 the day set apart for worship  
and praise10 said ,shib ,das4 8,i have  
given up working on that day since ,i   
have become a ,christian40  ,then       
,parduman waxed angry1 and roughly took 
back the necklace4  8,the ,sahib and    
,sahiba are ,christians10 he cried1 8and
 they do their work or take their       
pleasure on ,sundays4 ,dost thou1 ,o    
owl1 and son of an owl1 set thyself up  
as one wiser1 or holier than they80     
8,whatever others do1 ,i have simply to 
obey what is written in my sacred       
,book10 said the ,christian3 8,remember 
the ,sabbath1 to keep it holy40  ,then  
,parduman1 who hated all ,christians1   
and most especially such as were real   
ones1 burst into a torrent of abuse4    
,every bitter and insulting epithet that
 he could think of flowed from his lips1
 as venom from the mouth of a snake4 ,bl
 ,mukand1 from his dark corner1 watched 
to see how his friend would endure the  
provocation which he was receiving4     
8,shib ,das is of a fiery temper10 he   

said to himself2 8he is also strong and 
bold4 ,he will give that foul-mouthed   
wretch sharp words back1 or something   
sharper than words40 ,bl ,mukand saw    
that the angry blood was rising to the  
cheek of ,shib ,das1 and expected a     
burst of passion to follow4 ,but the    
servant of ,christ pressed his own lips 
firmly together1 and returned not       
railing for railing4 ,he only said1 as  
his enemy1 still pouring forth abuse1   
turned to depart1 8,it is a fortunate   
thing for you1 ,o bearer1 that ,i am a  
,christian40  8,there is a strange      
change in this ,shib ,das10 thought ,bl 
,mukand4 8,i have known him in former   
days strike a man to the earth for far  
less provocation than this4 ,it is      
assuredly not cowardice that makes him  
now thus calmly endure4 ,if all men had 
the firmness and patience of this ,shib 
,das1 this would indeed be a happy land4
 ,the silent endurance of such men as   
this ,christian1 shows more true courage
 than the boldest deeds of the warrior40

  ,bl ,mukand had but a short time to   
give to such reflections1 for scarcely  
had the bearer left the jeweller's shop 
when the sound of a fearful scuffle was 
heard in the street4 ,three thieves of  
the city had gained information that    
,parduman had in his charge a necklace  
of inestimable value4 ,lurking near the 
goldsmith's shop1 these thieves had     
heard the abuse lavished by the bearer  
on the ,christian4 ,while revilings and 
curses were yet on the lips of          
,parduman1 he was suddenly felled to the
 earth by a blow4 ,being active and     
strong1 he struggled again to his feet1 
calling out loudly for help4 ,but the   
three thieves were far more than a match
 for the bearer4 ,a second time he was  
hurled bleeding to the ground1 and his  
wicked tongue might then have been      
silenced for ever1 had not the brave    
,shib ,das rushed out of his shop to the
 help of his enemy4 ,the jeweller had   
snatched up a heavy stick on hearing    
,parduman's cry for help2 and of this   

stick he made such vigorous use that the
 thieves were not only put to flight1   
but forced to leave the jewels behind   
them4  ,the care of ,shib ,das was then 
given to his wounded enemy4 ,he offered 
to bind ,parduman's hurts as kindly as  
if he had been his brother2 but the     
,hindu declined his aid4 ,shib ,das then
 brought him water to drink2 but the    
bearer refused to take it from his      
hands3 he would have thought himself    
polluted by touching with his lips the  
vessel of the ,christian4  ,bl ,mukand  
had watched the whole scene with keen   
interest4 8,if all men were generous and
 forgiving as this ,christian10--this   
was the thought of ,bl ,mukand1--8this  
would indeed be a happy land4 ,does yon 
bigoted ,hindu fear pollution from the  
touch of ,shib ,das8 ,were the bearer   
not blinded by superstition1 he would   
know that there is no caste so high and 
pure as that of the children of ,god40  
,parduman left the necklace for the     
goldsmith to repair1--perhaps from some 

feeling of gratitude towards his        
preserver1 perhaps because he feared1   
should he keep the jewels on his own    
person1 to be again attacked on the     
road4 ,with a bruised frame and bleeding
 brow ,parduman left the place1 and1 we 
may hope1 likewise with a humbled heart1
 resolved that he would not again abuse 
a man for being a ,christian1 or despise
 him for obeying the law of his ,god4   
,bl ,mukand had risen from his reclining
 posture at the first sound of the      
struggle in the street1 though he had   
not1 like ,shib ,das1 rushed out to the 
aid of the bearer4 ,bl ,mukand now1 with
 a countenance full of thought1 advanced
 towards his friend4  8,o ,shib ,das60  
he exclaimed1 8said ,i not an hour ago  
that the way to the ,christian's heaven 
was dark1 and that with all my searching
 and reading ,i was not able to find it8
 ,lo6 since ,i entered your shop a clear
 light has shone on the way40  8,what is
 your meaning1 my friend80 asked the    
goldsmith4  8,i have discovered the     

difference between the false flowers and
 the real2 between those that are       
lifeless and those that have drunk the  
rain from the sky4 ,i have seen that    
what is written in your ,bible is true1 
though the words were at first an       
unfathomable mystery to my soul3 ,if any
 man be in ,christ1 he is a new creature
 7#b ,cor4 v4 #ag74 ,i have beheld the  
well-watered garden in which grow the   
fruits of honesty and truth1 piety and  
obedience1 meekness1 forgiveness1 and   
love40  8,o my friend60 exclaimed ,shib 
,das1 8,i am in myself weak1 sinful1    
polluted2 it is only through the death  
of ,christ my ,lord that ,i am saved    
from eternal destruction4 ,it is only   
through the power of ,his ,holy ,spirit 
that ,i am enabled so much as to think  
one good thought40  8,having been saved1
 the ,christian loves2 and having loved1
 he obeys2 and in obeying he glorifies  
,god10 said ,bl ,mukand4 8,shib ,das1   
your example has done for me what all   
your words cannot do3 it has convinced  

me that the religion which produces such
 effects must be the true one2 it has   
made me resolve to become a ,christian  
also40  ,the life of every true servant 
of the ,holy ,saviour is as a lamp to   
light others on their way1 as the       
blessed ,lord showed when ,he said3 ,let
 your light so shine before men1 that   
they may see your good works1 and       
glorify your ,father which is in heaven 
7,matt4 v4 #af74     ,,ix4  ,the ,paper 
,parable4   ,three men sat conversing   
together in the evening1 when the       
glowing sun had just dipped below the   
horizon4 ,the names of these men were   
,lalla ,rm1 ,hukam ,chand1 and ,lajput  
,rai4 ,lalla ,rm was the inhabitant of a
 village1 and dwelt in a mud-built hut4 
,hukam ,chand kept a little shop in a   
crowded lane of the city of ,lahore4    
,lajput ,rai had no settled place of    
abode2 he was a sage who had travelled  
much1 had seen much1 had thought much1  
and his words were deemed words of      
wisdom4  ,the first one of the three who

 spoke was the villager1 ,lalla ,rm4 ,he
 had been revolving in his mind news    
that he had heard that day--namely1 that
 the orphan daughter of a friend of his 
had been placed in a school4 ,this was a
 cause of great displeasure to ,lalla   
,rm4  8,it is an evil thing10 said he1  
8that schools for girls are now being   
planted over our land4 ,who would be so 
foolish as to sow corn upon a pool8 ,who
 would teach letters to a cow8 ,hath the
 sheep power to acquire knowledge8      
,woman was made to toil and bear        
burdens2 she was made to labour in the  
field1 and to grind at the mill4 ,a book
 placed in the hand of a girl is as an  
ear-ring in the ear of an ass60  ,then  
spake he who dwelt in ,lahore--he whose 
wife was ever in pardah3--8,i too would 
close all schools for girls2 but not    
because1 in my opinion1 it is good for  
women to labour4 ,no3 let our wives and 
daughters keep in pardah2 and if they   
want amusement1 let them find it in     
decking themselves out with jewels4#de  

,women are quick enough in learning     
mischief without sharpening their wits  
by books4 ,to put knowledge within the  
grasp of woman1 is to put an edge-tool  
into the hand of a fool6 ,woman is only 
happy in ignorance1 and only safe in    
seclusion40  8,my friends10 said the    
sage ,lajput ,rai1 8did you ever hear   
the story of the rajah and the three    
sheets of paper80  8,no10 cried ,lalla  
,rm and ,hukam ,chand4 8,my lord1 we    
pray you1 tell us the story40  8,a great
 rajah10 began ,lajput ,rai1 8called to 
him three of his servants1 and committed
 to each of them a fair sheet of paper1 
upon which no letter had ever been      
traced4 ,the rajah told none of the     
three wherefore he had given the paper1 
but only said1 #8,use it with wisdom4'  
,but he said to himself1 #8,i will judge
 of the understanding of each of these  
my servants by the use to which he shall
 put my gift2 and he who showeth most   
wisdom shall receive a high place in my 
household4'  8,after a long time had    

passed1 the rajah again called his three
 servants2 and after they had made their
 salms1 thus he spake to the first3     
#8,to what use hast thou put that fair  
sheet of blank paper which ,i committed 
to thy charge1 for ,i wish to look on it
 now8'  8#8,i wrapped seed in it1 ,o    
your highness6' replied the first       
servant1 #8and carried it into the      
field4 ,the paper fell on the earth1    
damp with the rains1 and was marred2 my 
ox placed his foot upon it2 it was      
trampled down into the clay4 ,it is     
therefore impossible that ,i should lay 
it at your majesty's foot-stool4'       
8,then said the rajah to his second     
servant1 #8,to what use hast thou put   
that goodly sheet of blank paper which  
,i committed to thy charge1 for ,i wish 
to behold it again8'  8#8,i put the     
paper to no use whatsoever1 ,o          
maharajah6' replied the man1 with a     
profound salm4 #8,i rolled it up1 and   
put it carefully on a shelf in an inner 
apartment1 where no man could see it4   

,but the damp spotted and stained it1   
and the white ants fretted it2 the paper
 is no longer fit to be looked upon by  
the eyes of your highness4'  8,then the 
rajah turned to his third servant1 and  
said1 #8,to what use hast thou put that 
fair sheet of blank paper which ,i      
committed to thy charge8'  8,then the   
servant1 after making obeisance1 took   
from his bosom a roll1 which he then    
slowly unfolded before the rajah4 ,and  
lo6 upon the roll1 in letters of        
scarlet1 and blue1 and gold1 appeared a 
beautiful illumination1 fit for the     
walls of a palace4 ,and these were the  
words inscribed3--,who can find a       
virtuous woman8 for her price is far    
above rubies4 ,the heart of her husband 
doth safely trust in her4 ,she will do  
him good and not evil all the days of   
her life 7,prov4 xxxi4 #aj-ab74  8#8,o  
faithful and wise servant6' cried the   
rajah1 #8thou alone hast made a good use
 of my gift1 thou only hast known its   
worth4 ,thou shalt reap a rich reward2  

and the paper which thy diligence hath  
made so fair1 shall be framed in gold1  
and have an honourable place in my      
palace4'  8,my friends10 continued the  
sage1 8see ye the meaning of my story8  
,the blank sheets of paper are the minds
 of our young daughters2 and he who hath
 trusted them to your care is the mighty
 ,king1 to whom ye must one day render a
 strict account4 ,ignorance is as the   
treading down of the ox in the field1 or
 as the mould that mars the roll on the 
shelf4 ,for the soul to be without      
knowledge is not good4 ,but happy the   
father who causes to be traced on the   
mind of his young daughter lessons of   
purity1 wisdom1 and truth6 ,those       
lessons shall shine forth as in         
characters of gold2 and she who has     
learned in youth to serve and obey the  
great ,king1 shall find an honourable   
place in that heaven which ,he hath     
prepared for them that love ,him40      
,x4  ,the ,oldest ,language upon ,earth4
   ,the story goes that three old men--a

 ,mohammedan1 a ,jew1 and a             
,brahmin--seated on the ground beside a 
well1 disputed together as to which was 
the first language spoken upon earth4   
,the discussion waxed so hot1 the voices
 were raised so loudly1 that the sound  
drew to the spot a young ,englishman4   
,the youth had been out shooting2 with  
his gun in his hand1 and his game at his
 feet1 he now stood1 leaning against a  
tree1 listening to the discussion       
between the three men4  ,the            
,mohammedan1 with vehement gestures1 and
 many an oath1 declared that no language
 could equal the ,arabic4  8,is it not  
the language10 he cried1 8in which      
,mohammed 7blessed be his name67        
received the holy ,koran8 ,is it not    
that in which the ,most ,high gave laws 
to the faithful8 ,will ye1 ,o ye        
unbelievers6 cast dust on the grave of  
the ,prophet by doubting that ,arabic is
 the oldest language on earth80  ,the   
,jew shook his gray head1 and his brow  
was knit into many wrinkles as he made  

answer3 8,the language which ,abraham   
our father1 which ,isaac and ,jacob     
7peace be on them67 spake1 must be      
honoured above all other tongues4       
,surely it was heard in ,paradise1      
before ,eve plucked the forbidden fruit6
 ,the oldest and most sacred language   
assuredly is the ,hebrew40  ,then spake 
the ,brahmin1 in tones of scorn3 8,all  
languages compared to ,sanscrit are as  
the bulrush compared with the spreading 
banyan4 ,nay2 even as the banyan sends  
forth shoots1 and from those shoots1    
when they touch the earth1 spring forth 
young trees1 so other tongues spring    
from the life-giving ,sanscrit4 ,he must
 be void of wisdom1 and ignorant as a   
woman1 who doubts that the most ancient 
language is ,sanscrit40  ,the disputants
 grew so angry1 that it seemed as if to 
words might succeed blows1 when the     
young ,englishman stepped forward4  8,o 
venerable men60 he said with courtesy1  
8you have numbered many years and ,i but
 few2 yet let me arbitrate between you4 

,i know what is the most ancient and    
honourable language spoken on earth40   
8,you know60 exclaimed the ,mohammedan  
in surprise4 8,you have but down upon   
your lips2 and will you teach graybeards
 like us80  ,the ,hindu muttered to     
himself1--8,the ,sahib log think that   
they know everything6 ,they can make    
roads and bridges1 and send messages    
through wires2 but what can they tell of
 ancient languages to a ,brahmin80      
8,the language of which ,i would inform 
you is not only the one first spoken    
upon earth1 but it is the one now spoken
 in heaven10 said the ,englishman4  ,the
 three men stroked their beards1 and    
uttered exclamations of astonishment at 
the presumption shown by the youth4     
8,and yet more10 continued the youth1   
his eyes1 blue as the sky1 sparkling    
with animation as he went on1--8without 
learning to speak this language no man1 
of whatsoever nation he be1 will ever be
 suffered to enter heaven40  8,does your
 honour know this language80 asked the  

,mohammedan quickly4  8,yes1 ,god be    
praised60 the ,englishman replied4      
8,and where did you first learn it80    
asked the incredulous ,jew4  ,in a      
softened tone the young man replied1 8,i
 learned it first from the lips of my   
mother40  ,the three men glanced at each
 other in surprise2 and then the        
,brahmin inquired1 8,and what is this   
language1 ,o ,sahib80  8,the language of
 ,,truth10 said the ,englishman4  ,when 
the word was spoken1 the clouds cleared 
away from the faces of the three2 they  
stroked their beards and cried1 8,well  
said4 ,truth is the language of ,god2   
truth is the language spoken in heaven40
  8,but it must be learned upon earth10 
said the ,englishman earnestly4 8,before
 ,i came to this land1 ,i gave up       
pleasures by day and rest by night1 in  
order to learn the language of          
,hindostan4 ,were ,i not to know it1 ,i 
could not remain in the honourable      
service to which ,i belong4 ,and thus it
 is with truth1 the language of heaven4 

,god is truth itself1 and a lie is to   
,him an accursed thing4 ,it is written  
in ,his ,word3 ,lying lips are an       
abomination to the ,lord40  ,again the  
three men glanced at each other4 ,there 
was not one of them that would not have 
lied for the sake of making a few pice  
larger profit in a bargain2 lies were to
 them common as the mosquitoes which    
buzzed around their heads2 not one of   
them had ever thought of falsehood as a 
deadly sin1 abhorrent to ,god4  ,the    
,mohammedan was the one to speak first4 
8,upon what authority does the ,sahib   
affirm that the gate of heaven is closed
 against those who speak not the        
language of truth80  8,on the authority 
of ,god's holy ,word1 which cannot be   
broken10 replied the ,englishman4       
8,hear1 ,o my friends1 what is declared 
of the abode of the blessed by ,him who 
cannot utter untruth3 ,there shall in no
 wise enter into it anything that       
defileth1 neither whatsoever worketh    
abomination or maketh a lie40  8,heaven 

will be very empty1 then10 said the ,jew
 with a sneer4 8,your favoured ,saint   
,peter1 according to your own           
,scriptures1 lied thrice1 and with oaths
 and curses4 ,shall he be shut out from 
heaven1 or shall his sin alone go       
unpunished80  8,peter's sin was         
punished10 replied the ,englishman      
gravely2 8but it was ,peter's ,lord1 the
 ,master whom ,peter had denied1 who    
bore the penalty for him4 ,the blood    
that flowed from the ,saviour's wounded 
side can wash away all sin1 whether of  
thought or word or deed1 the sin of     
falsehood amongst the rest4 ,but those  
who would be forgiven like ,peter1 must1
 like ,peter1 believe and love4 ,when   
,god's ,spirit comes into the heart1 ,he
 comes to drive away evil from it2 the  
unjust becomes just1 and the proud      
becomes meek1 and the lips that often   
were stained with falsehood learn the   
language of heaven--the language of     
truth40     ,,xi4  ,stories on the ,ten 
,commandments4   ,i4--,,the ,,broken    

,,bridge4  ,hossein said to his aged    
grandfather ,abbas1 8,o grandfather1    
wherefore are you reading the ,gospel80 
,abbas made answer1 8,i read it1 my son1
 to find the way to heaven40  ,hossein1 
smiling1 said1 8,the way is plain       
enough4 ,worship but the one true ,god1 
and keep the ,commandments40#df  ,the   
man whose hair was silvered with age    
made reply3 8,hossein1 the ,commandments
 are as a bridge of ten arches1 by which
 the soul might once have passed over   
the flood of ,god's wrath1 and have     
reached heaven1 but that the bridge has 
been shattered4 ,there is not one       
amongst us that hath not broken the     
,commandments again and again40  8,my   
conscience is clear60 cried ,hossein    
proudly4 8,i have kept all the          
,commandments2 at least1 almost all10 he
 added1 for his conscience had given the
 lie to his words4  8,and if one arch of
 a bridge give way under the traveller1 
doth he not surely perish in the flood1 
my son1 though the nine others be firm  

and strong8 ,but many of the arches of  
thy bridge are broken2 yea1 the very    
first is in ruins40  8,not the ,first   
,commandment--,thou shalt have none     
other god but ,me4 ,i have never broken 
that60 exclaimed ,hossein indignantly4  
8,i have never worshipped any god but   
one--the ,almighty1 the ,invisible1 the 
,all-merciful4 ,that arch in my bridge1 
at least1 is whole and entire40  8,the  
being whom we love above all others1 and
 whose honour we most desire1 the being 
whom we obey in all things1--is not he  
the one whom we worship in the temple of
 the heart80 inquired the old man4      
8,surely2 for that ,being is our ,god60 
exclaimed ,hossein4  ,he of the silvery 
beard slowly rose from his seat4 8,come 
with me1 ,o youth10 said he1 8and ,i    
will show thee whom thou dost worship in
 the temple of thine heart40  8,no man  
can show me ,him whom ,i worship60 cried
 ,hossein in indignant surprise2 8for   
the one true ,god is invisible1 and ,i  
worship none but ,him40  8,come with    

me10 repeated ,abbas2 and he led the way
 to a tank of water clear and pure1 in  
which the surrounding buildings and     
trees were reflected as in a mirror4    
,hossein followed his grandfather       
wondering1 and saying to himself1 8,age 
hath made the old man as one who hath   
lost his reason40  ,when the two reached
 the tank1 ,abbas said to his grandson1 
8,look down into the clear water1 and   
behold him whom thou dost love above all
 others1 whose honour thou dost most    
desire1 whose will thou dost ever obey4 
,o ,hossein1 my son6 is he not to thee  
in the place of the one true ,god80     
,hossein looked down1 and behold6 there 
was his own image reflected in the clear
 water4  8,he who loves ,self more than 
,god hath broken the first law10        
continued ,abbas2 8for is it not        
written3 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy 
,god with all thy heart1 and with all   
thy soul1 and with all thy mind1 and    
with all thy strength3 this is the      
,first ,commandment8 ,hossein1 this arch

 of thy bridge is broken2 thou canst not
 pass to heaven upon it40  8,and can    
you80 exclaimed ,hossein with           
impatience4  8,no1 my son10 said the old
 man meekly2 8,i have long ago seen that
 this1 as well as other ,commandments1  
has been broken by me1 a sinner4 ,there 
never was but one ,man1 and ,he the     
,holy ,one of ,god1 with whom the bridge
 of obedience was perfect and           
entire40#dg  8,if your bridge be broken1
 how do you hope to reach heaven at     
all80 inquired ,hossein4 8,how can you1 
or any one else1 escape being swallowed 
up in the flood of ,god's wrath80  8,by 
clinging to ,him who cast ,himself into 
the raging torrent that ,he might bear  
all those who believe in ,him safe to   
the shore of heaven60 exclaimed ,abbas  
with fervour4 8,thou hast looked down on
 thyself1 thy sinful self1 ,o ,hossein2 
now look upwards to ,christ1 the        
spotless ,one1 who can save thee from   
self and sin4 ,my hope of heaven is firm
 and sure1 for it is founded on this    

sacred word3 ,god so loved the world    
that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1  
that whoso believeth in ,him should not 
perish1 but have everlasting life40     
,,ii4--,,the ,,burning ,,hut4           
,sheosahai1 the ,brahmin1 stood in his  
straw-thatched cottage1 gazing on the   
image of ,krishna1 the dark god1 which  
for centuries he and his fathers had    
worshipped4  ,his young son1 ,sheo ,deo1
 who from his birth had been paralyzed  
in his limbs1 lay on his mat near1 and  
thus addressed his father3--  8,o       
father1 the time for pujah 7worship7 has
 come6 ,why do you not prostrate        
yourself before ,krishna80  ,sheosahai  
made reply3 8,my son1 ,i was at the mela
 7fair7 yesterday1 and there was a man  
preaching2#dh and ,i stood to listen1   
and his words have troubled my soul4 ,he
 said that thousands of years ago the   
mighty ,god came down upon a mountain in
 fire and smoke1 and that from the midst
 of the fire and smoke a terrible voice 
gave this command1--,thou shalt not make

 unto thyself any graven image1 or the  
likeness of any thing that is in heaven 
above1 or that is in the earth beneath1 
or that is in the water under the earth3
 thou shalt not bow down thyself to     
them4 ,i would fain have cast dust at   
the speaker2 and yet his words clung to 
my soul1 for he spake as one who knows  
that he speaks the truth40  8,was the   
great ,god of whom he told the ,god of  
the ,christians80 asked ,sheo ,deo1 who 
had heard something of their religion   
before4  8,the same10 replied his       
father4 8,and the preacher went on to   
say that in ,england1 thousands of years
 ago1 men bowed down to idols1 and      
worshipped the work of their own hands2 
and then the people were feeble and few4
 ,but the nation has long since cast    
away idols1 and now men read their holy 
,book1 and pray to the ,lord ,jesus     
,christ2 and therefore ,england is      
mighty1 and a blessing rests on the     
land40  8,o father6 do you not fear the 
wrath of ,krishna when he hears you     

repeat such words80 cried ,sheo ,deo1   
looking up in alarm at the painted      
image4  ,sheosahai made no reply2 he    
turned and slowly left the hut4 ,perhaps
 the thought arose in his heart3 8,has  
,krishna power to hear them80  ,after   
his father's departure ,sheo ,deo lay   
still on his mat1 from which he could   
not move1 and often he gazed up at the  
idol1 and turned over in his mind the   
strange words which his father had      
heard4  ,presently there came on a      
terrible storm4 ,the thunder roared     
above like the noise of a thousand      
cannon1 and fierce lightnings flashed   
from the darkened sky2 the whole earth  
seemed to tremble with the fury of the  
great tempest4  8,was it in a storm like
 this10 thought ,sheo ,deo1 8that the   
awful voice was heard from the mountain1
 ,thou shalt make no graven image80     
,then came a more terrible crash than   
,sheo ,deo had ever before heard2 and   
the moment after there was the smell of 
burning1 and then the glare of fire     

above4 ,lo6 the lightning had struck the
 hut1 and the thatch was blazing over   
the head of the wretched boy1 who1      
paralyzed as he was1 could not even     
crawl out of the burning dwelling4  ,the
 red light glared on the image of       
,krishna2 to the terrified ,sheo ,deo it
 seemed almost as if the idol had life6 
8,help me--save me6 ,oh6 save thy       
worshipper1 great ,krishna60 he cried2  
while the heat around him grew more and 
more fearful1 even as that of a furnace4
  ,but the image stirred not1 heard not4
 ,the sparks were kindling upon it4     
,then1 in the agony of his terror1 the  
poor ,hindu bethought him of the        
,christian's powerful ,god4 ,even in the
 presence of his idol he clasped his    
hands and uttered the cry1 8,o ,lord    
,jesus ,christ1 if ,thou canst save me1 
oh6 save me60  ,at that moment          
,sheosahai burst into the blazing hut4  
,the ,brahmin looked at his helpless boy
 lying on the mat1 and then on the idol 
which he had so long worshipped4 ,he had

 no time to save both2 which should he  
leave to the devouring flames8 ,only one
 day previously the ,hindu might have   
hesitated in making his choice1 but he  
did not hesitate now4 ,he caught up his 
son in his arms2 he bore him forth from 
the fiery furnace4 8,if ,krishna be a   
god he will save himself10 muttered the 
,brahmin4  ,the hut was soon burned to  
ashes1 and the idol lay a heap of       
cinders within it4  ,sheo ,deo lived2   
and in the following year1 after much   
instruction from the missionary1 he and 
his father received the water of        
baptism1 believing that which is written
 in the holy ,scriptures3 ,this is life 
eternal1 that they might know ,thee1 the
 only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ whom
 ,thou hast sent4   ,,iii4--,,the       
,,marks ,,on ,,the ,,sand4  ,a          
,mohammedan youth1 ,hakim ,al by name1  
on his return from a journey through    
,arabia1 visited his friend ,yuhanna1   
the ,christian4 ,though the two held not
 the same faith1 there was much         

friendship between them4#di ,they sat   
together under a ppul tree1 and ,hakim  
,al1 with great animation1 gave to      
,yuhanna an account of all that he had  
seen in his travels4 ,for a long time   
,yuhanna had all the listening1 and his 
friend had all the talking4 ,in almost  
every sentence uttered by ,hakim ,al1 he
 brought in the name of ,allah 7,god72  
if he were but describing how a mule    
stumbled1 or what evil fare he had had  
at an inn1 he called ,god to bear       
witness to what he said--even if he were
 laughing when the holy name was on his 
lips4 ,yuhanna had a stick in his hand1 
and every time that ,hakim ,al uttered  
the sacred name1 ,yuhanna with the stick
 made a mark on the sand4 ,hakim ,al at 
last noticed with surprise this act of  
,yuhanna4  8,what are you marking80 he  
cried4  8,debts10 was the brief reply4  
8,you have many10 laughed ,hakim ,al1   
again using the name of the ,highest2   
and again ,yuhanna drew a line on the   
sand4  ,then ,yuhanna1 turning1 asked a 

question3 8,you have visited many holy  
shrines and sacred tombs in your life1  
,o ,hakim ,al60 said he2 8did you ever  
take off your slippers before           
entering80#ej  ,hakim ,al was so much   
astonished at the question1 that more   
loudly than ever he uttered the name of 
,allah4 8,do you count me as an unclean 
swine80 he exclaimed2 8do you doubt that
 ,i always take off my slippers on such 
occasions8 ,never without due reverence 
do ,i approach that which is holy40     
,yuhanna pointed to the marks on the    
sand4 8,o my friend60 said he1 8fifteen 
times within the last hour have you     
shown no reverence for that which is    
most holy40  8,what is your meaning80   
exclaimed the astonished ,hakim ,al1    
again lightly using the sacred name of  
,god4  ,once more ,yuhanna made a mark  
on the sand4  8,is a building made by   
the hands of men more to be reverenced  
than that sacred name before which the  
angels bow80 said ,yuhanna gravely4 8,is
 not every time that that name is taken 

in vain marked down1--not on sand1 where
 it can be lightly effaced1 but in that 
book of remembrance which is kept by the
 ,highest8 ,o my friend6 it was the     
voice of the ,almighty ,himself that    
gave the command3 ,thou shalt not take  
the name of the ,lord thy ,god in vain1 
for the ,lord will not hold him         
guiltless that taketh ,his name in vain4
 ,this command was written first by the 
finger of ,god on the table of stone    
committed to ,moses40#ea  8,are you     
,christians then so careful how you take
 the name of ,god on your lips80 asked  
,hakim ,al1 rising somewhat angrily from
 his seat4  8,we1 of all men1 should be 
most careful10 replied his friend1 8for 
in the prayer taught by the ,lord ,jesus
 ,christ to ,his servants1 the very     
first petition to ,god is1 ,hallowed be 
,thy name4 ,if we use that name without 
reverence1 our very prayer becomes a    
mockery1 and we are convicted of sin    
before ,god4 ,solemn was the warning    
given by our ,lord3 ,every idle word    

that a man shall speak1 he shall give   
account thereof in the day of judgment40
  8,who then can stand in the day of    
judgment80 asked ,hakim ,al with a      
troubled countenance1 as with his foot  
he hastily erased the marks on the sand4
  8,none can stand but those who can    
plead not their own righteousness1 but  
the righteousness of another10 replied  
,yuhanna1 looking upwards4 8,like the   
prophet ,isaiah ,i have often cried3    
,woe is me6 for ,i am undone1 for ,i am 
a man of unclean lips2 but when ,i think
 of the blood that was shed by ,christ  
on the cross for sinners1 to my heart   
the answer comes3 ,lo6 this hath touched
 thy lips1 and thine iniquity is taken  
away1 and thy sin purged4 ,there is no  
condemnation to them that are in ,christ
 ,jesus40   ,,iv4--,,the ,,beautiful    
,,garden4  ,there was a certain man who 
had a young son1 ,azfur ,al by name1    
whom he greatly loved1 and whom he daily
 loaded with favours4 ,one day this     
father said unto ,azfur ,al1--8,come    

with me into the garden which ,i have   
purchased and prepared that it may be a 
goodly possession for you1 ,o my son60  
,the father then led the way to a       
beautiful garden1 in which were all     
kinds of flowers1--some lovely in       
colour1 some sweet in scent4 ,the garden
 was divided into seven portions2 and   
the flowers in the seventh portion were 
white as snow on the tops of the        
mountains4  8,now1 my son1 take your    
pleasure in six portions of this        
garden10 said the father2 8but the      
seventh ,i have kept for myself4 ,let   
not your foot wander over the border2   
enjoy the scent of the flowers from a   
little distance1 but lay not a hand upon
 them4 ,behold6 they are mine1 and in   
abstaining from touching them your      
obedience to me shall be shown4 ,it is  
my love for you1 ,azfur ,al1 that makes 
me thus reserve the seventh portion4 ,to
 the white flowers which blossom there  
on the plants will succeed a delicious  
fruit1 to look upon which will be       

pleasure1 and to eat which will be      
health4 ,the seventh portion is to be to
 you even a greater blessing than the   
other six2 but now ,i call it mine1 so  
trespass not on the ground reserved40   
,after a while the father departed for a
 time to a distant place1 leaving his   
young son behind him4  ,from morning    
till night ,azfur ,al amused himself in 
the garden2 he gathered the flowers at  
his pleasure1 and formed wreaths of the 
fairest blossoms1 red1 yellow1 and blue2
 but his eyes often wandered to the     
forbidden ground on which his feet were 
never to tread4  8,why should ,i be tied
 and bound down to these six portions of
 the garden80 cried ,azfur ,al4 8,i do  
not like the scent of those white       
flowers2 if ,i pulled them up1 ,i could 
put in their place golden flowers that  
,i like much better4 ,as for the fruit  
of which my father spoke1 ,i do not     
believe that it ever will come2 at      
least1 ,i cannot wait for it4 ,a hard   
and unreasonable thing it is1 to shut me

 out from a seventh part of my garden40 
,so ,azfur ,al ran into the forbidden   
ground1 trampling down the plants1 and  
crushing the fair white blossoms1 and   
some he tore up by the roots4 ,then he  
tried to put in their place plants that 
had golden flowers2 but they flourished 
not1 but withered1 and the seventh      
portion of the garden was soon covered  
with weeds1 and became a desolation6    
,when the father returned his wrath was 
great4 8,azfur ,al60 he cried1 8thou    
hast broken my command1 thou hast       
trespassed on the seventh portion of the
 garden which ,i reserved for myself1   
and hast destroyed the flowers which    
would have borne precious fruit4 ,thou  
hast forfeited all right from henceforth
 to possess any part of my garden40     
99       99       99       99       99  
,this story is a parable4 ,the garden is
 the garden of ,time1 and the seventh   
portion is the ,sabbath which the       
,heavenly ,father hath reserved for     
,himself1 as we read in ,his holy ,word3

 ,remember the ,sabbath day to keep it  
holy4 ,six days shalt thou labour1 and  
do all thy work3 but the seventh day is 
the ,sabbath of the ,lord thy ,god3 in  
it thou shalt not do any work1 thou1 nor
 thy son1 nor thy daughter1 thy         
man-servant1 nor thy maid-servant1 thy  
cattle1 nor thy stranger that is within 
thy gates3 for in six days the ,lord    
made heaven and earth1 the sea1 and all 
that in them is1 and rested the seventh 
day3 wherefore the ,lord blessed the    
seventh day1 and hallowed it4  ,the     
white blossoms that grow in this garden 
are the blossoms of ,prayer1 and        
,praise1 and ,perusal of the ,holy      
,scriptures4 ,the fragrance of them is  
as the fragrance of the ,garden of      
,eden4 ,but the full sweetness of the   
fruit which follows will be enjoyed in  
heaven1 where the hymn of praise on     
earth will be changed for the song of   
the ,lord's redeemed3 ,the kingdoms of  
this world are become the kingdoms of   
the ,lord and of ,his ,christ1 and ,he  

shall reign for ever and ever6          
,v4--,,the ,,blind ,,mother4  ,nand     
,kishore was driven from his home       
because he had become a ,christian4 ,his
 dearest friends would not eat with him1
 or suffer him to cross their           
thresholds2 his younger brother seized  
on his small property2 and1 worst of    
all1 his widowed mother1 ,harmuzi1      
beating her breast1 cursed her          
first-born1 who had been to her as the  
apple of her eye4 ,then the soul of     
,nand ,kishore was sorely smitten2 in   
great grief he turned from the door of  
what had been his home from his         
childhood4 ,but he remembered the words 
of the ,saviour for whose sake he had   
given up all3 ,if any man love father or
 mother more than ,me1 he is not worthy 
of ,me4 ,blessed are they that are      
persecuted for righteousness' sake3 for 
theirs is the kingdom of heaven4        
,harmuzi had in her anger cursed her    
first-born1 but her heart clung to him  
still4 ,great was her grief when1 a year

 afterwards1 she heard a report of the  
death of ,nand ,kishore4 ,and ,harmuzi  
had other sore trials3 blindness        
gradually came upon her1 till at last   
all the light of heaven to her was      
darkened4 ,and her son ,mohendro showed 
her no love or respect4 ,he had married 
a proud woman1 who despised her poor    
blind mother-in-law1 and made her life  
bitter with cruel words4 ,mohendro more 
than once even struck#eb his afflicted  
mother2 and ,harmuzi was treated as a   
slave in the house which had once been  
her own4  8,ah6 my poor ,nand ,kishore  
would not have behaved to me thus60     
sighed the unhappy mother1 when she     
remembered him whom she had cursed1 only
 because he had done what he felt to be 
right4  ,harmuzi's cruel daughter-in-law
 grudged her even the food which she    
ate4 8,thou canst not grind the corn1 or
 bring water from the well10 she said2  
8and yet thou dost devour our substance4
 ,go out into the street and beg6 ,when 
passers-by look on your blind eyes1 they

 may at least put a handful of grain    
into your vessel40  ,hungry and sad1 and
 bowed down by sorrow1 poor ,harmuzi1   
wrapped in her chaddar1 sat at the      
corner of a street1 with a brass vessel1
 called a bartan1 beside her1 and held  
out her thin hand for alms4 ,she had sat
 there for hours1 whilst many passed by 
her1 but as yet she had received nothing
 from any one1--not so much as a word of
 pity4 ,at last ,harmuzi heard a slight 
sound1 as if something were being poured
 into her bartan2 and when she put forth
 her hand to feel1 lo6 the vessel was   
full of rice4 ,then some one gently took
 the blind woman by the hand1 and raised
 her1 and led her back towards the house
 of the undutiful son4 ,harmuzi blessed 
the kind stranger again and again1 and  
asked ,vishnu to load him with          
blessings4 ,he who led her spake not a  
word in reply1 but left her at the      
corner of a street that was nigh to the 
house of her undutiful son4  ,the next  
day ,harmuzi was again driven forth by  

her daughter-in-law to beg1 and felt her
 way slowly to the same spot where the  
merciful stranger had found her4 ,this  
time she had not to wait so long4 ,again
 was her bartan filled with rice1 again 
the same gentle hand led the blind woman
 back2 and she blessed him who had      
showed her mercy4 ,but the stranger     
spake no word in reply4  ,and this went 
on for many days4 ,the supply of rice   
never failed1 and ,harmuzi knew not that
 he who filled her bartan often himself 
hungered that she might be fed4 ,harmuzi
 marvelled that she never heard the     
sound of the stranger's voice4 8,he hath
 been smitten with dumbness10 she said  
to herself4  ,one day poor ,harmuzi1    
with bruise marks on her face1 sat in   
her usual place2 she was bitterly       
weeping1 for the hand of her wicked     
younger son had been lifted up against  
his blind and helpless mother4 ,at the  
sight of ,harmuzi's bruises and tears1  
he who had so long restrained himself#ec
 could keep silence no longer4  8,o     

mother--mother60 he cried4 ,harmuzi knew
 the voice of her lost ,nand ,kishore1  
and suddenly rising and stretching out  
her arms1 she fell on his neck weeping4 
8,o my beloved60 she cried1 8is it thou8
 ,how is it that thou hast so long fed  
and cared for her who1 in an evil hour1 
cursed her own first-born son80  8,dear 
to my soul60 replied ,nand ,kishore1 8do
 you not know that ,he who said1 ,he    
that loveth father or mother more than  
,me1 is not worthy of ,me1 also gave    
this command1 ,honour thy father and thy
 mother1 that thy days may be long upon 
the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth
 thee80   ,,vi4--,a ,,dangerous         
,,village4  ,padre ,ware1 a missionary1 
revisited a village in which four heads 
of families1 whose names were ,nihal1   
,tara ,chund1 ,chanda ,lal1 and ,lala1  
had received the gospel1 and been       
baptized4 ,after an absence of six      
months ,padre ,ware returned to the     
village1 hoping to find the four        
,christians firm in the faith1 and      

glorifying by their holy lives the      
,saviour whom they had promised to      
serve4 ,alas6 great was the sorrow of   
,padre ,ware to find that ,satan had    
sown the seeds of discord and hatred    
amongst the little band who should have 
loved one another1 even as ,christ had  
loved them4 ,nihal had a quarrel with   
,tara ,chund about a bit of land2       
,chanda ,lal's wife had said bitter     
things against ,lala's4 ,none of the    
four would speak with his neighbour4    
,even the coming of ,padre ,ware was a  
fresh cause of bitterness4 ,each one of 
the four men asked the missionary to    
abide in his house2 the ,englishman     
could not go to the one without         
offending the other three4 ,where ,padre
 ,ware had hoped to find love and peace 
and joy1 he found anger1 hatred1 and    
strife4  ,under the shade of a          
banyan-tree sat ,padre ,ware1 with his  
,bible in his hand2 and thither1 to meet
 him1 came ,nihal1 ,tara ,chund1 ,chanda
 ,lal1 and ,lala1--but they sat on the  

ground as far apart as they could from  
each other4 ,many of the villagers stood
 at a little distance to see the        
missionary1 and listen to his words2 but
 none of these villagers wished to      
become ,christians1 for they said       
amongst themselves3 8,padre ,ware1 when 
he was here before1 told us that ,god is
 love1 and ,christ's religion a religion
 of love2 but behold these men who have 
been baptized1 they will not so much as 
eat together60  ,padre ,ware looked     
sadly upon the four converts who were   
thus bringing dishonour on the name of  
,christians4 ,for a few moments he      
lifted up his heart in prayer for them1 
and then he spoke aloud3--  8,it is the 
desire of my heart that all may be peace
 and love between you4 ,nihal is the    
oldest amongst you3 let us all go to his
 house1 and take a meal together1 in    
token that all again are friends40  ,but
 ,tara ,chund shook his head and cried1 
8,never will ,i cross the threshold of  
,nihal60 ,and ,chanda ,lal and ,lala    

looked fiercely at each other1 and      
muttered1 8,we never will eat together40
  ,then said ,padre ,ware to the four3  
8,i have been for twelve years a        
missionary4 ,i have gone in and out     
amongst the people2 ,i have never       
refused to go to the house of him who   
invited me1 nor to eat with any who was 
willing to eat with me4 ,only once was  
,i in a great difficulty3 ,i went to one
 village where several were ready indeed
 to receive me1 but ,i knew that they   
all were murderers40  8,all murderers60 
exclaimed the astonished ,christians4   
8,that was an evil place indeed40       
8,what was ,i to do80 asked ,padre      
,ware4  ,all the four answered as with  
one breath1--8,get out of that village  
as fast as your honour could40  ,then   
,padre ,ware opened his ,bible1 and     
slowly read3 ,whosoever hateth his      
brother is a murderer1 and ye know that 
no murderer hath eternal life abiding in
 him4  ,there was a great silence1 and  
then the missionary went on3--8,o my    

friends6 ye know that ,god hath         
commanded1 ,thou shalt not kill2 and    
,his ,word hath shown us that this      
command reaches even to the thoughts of 
the heart4 ,ye call yourselves servants 
of that ,saviour who loved ,his enemies1
 prayed for ,his enemies1 died for ,his 
enemies2 but oh6 remember that they who 
come to ,him for pardon and life1 must  
also follow ,him in holiness and        
love1--for is it not written in the     
,scriptures of truth1 ,if any man have  
not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none  
of ,his08 7,rom4 viii4 #i74  ,again     
there was a deep silence4 ,then ,nihal  
arose from the ground1 and going up to  
,tara ,chund1 offered his hookah2#ed and
 ,tara ,chund accepted it with a smile4 
,the four ,christians embraced one      
another2 and before the evening closed  
in1 those who had been bitter enemies   
ate together as friends and brethren in 
,christ4#ee   ,,vii4--,,the ,,beautiful 
,,pardah4  ,it is quite necessary to    
give a few words of introduction to the 

following little story1 as without it   
the meaning and drift of it would be    
quite unintelligible to many ,british   
readers4 ,not all are aware that it is  
the custom of ,mohammedans of the upper 
classes to seclude their women from     
sight2 so that to allow the face to be  
seen by any man except a husband or very
 near relative is accounted a shame and 
disgrace4 ,this custom is called        
8pardah10 and it has spread beyond the  
,mohammedans to some of the ,hindus1 c4 
,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 has seen an old lady    
start from her seat as if in great      
alarm1 and hide herself behind a chair1 
because an aged gentleman had chanced to
 come in sight4 ,sometimes sufferers are
 shut out from receiving medical aid on 
account of pardah4 ,at this moment      
pardah is one of the greatest obstacles 
to baptism being received by one whom we
 believe to be quite convinced of the   
truth of ,christianity1 and whose       
husband is a noble-hearted ,christian4  
,sometimes pardah is actually kept up by

 native converts2 and this is a grievous
 hindrance to them1 and besets their    
path with needless difficulties4 ,there 
is in our mission church a little pardah
 room1 indeed1 in which women can1 if   
they wish it1 hear unseen2 but how can a
 woman in pardah ever share the ,holy   
,communion--how can she be actively     
useful amongst the heathen around her6  
,pardah is the napkin under which a few 
native converts would hide their talent1
 and one cannot but regard it rather as 
a kind of fashion1 a piece of ,oriental 
worldliness1 than a token of superior   
delicacy of mind4 ,a woman actually in  
the act of hiding her face will         
sometimes shock our feelings of         
refinement in some other way4  ,another 
little explanation is necessary4 ,the   
word 8pardah0#ef has two meanings3 one  
the state of seclusion which has been   
described2 the other1 the curtain which 
is the emblem of seclusion4 ,any curtain
 in an ,english lady's dwelling is a    
pardah1 though she is never 8in pardah0 

herself4         99       99       99   
99       99  ,waziren1 a merchant's     
wife1 came to visit ,maryam1 the wife of
 a moonshee4 ,both of the women had been
 baptized as ,christians1 but the heart 
of ,waziren still clung to many of the  
customs of her people2 she retained     
prejudices in which she had been brought
 up from her childhood4 ,waziren never  
came to church1 lest she should break   
pardah2 and would have thought it       
unseemly to meet at a meal even the     
dearest friend of her husband4 ,waziren 
cared not to learn to read2 her only    
pleasure was in her jewels1 and in      
gossip1 in which her favourite topic    
always was the faults of her neighbours4
 ,it was for the sake of talking over   
news that ,waziren now took her seat on 
the charpai 7low bed7 of ,maryam4  8,are
 the tidings true10 asked ,waziren1     
8that your next-door neighbour1 ,shadi  
,shah1 arrived last night from ,england1
 a week before he was expected80  8,it  
is quite true10 ,maryam replied4 8,it   

was a great joy to ,fatima to see her   
husband again after a six months'       
absence40  8,a great joy1 was it80 said 
,waziren sneeringly2 and she smiled an  
unpleasant smile4 8,i should have       
thought that ,fatima would have cared   
little if the absence of her husband had
 been one of six years1 instead of six  
months40  ,maryam looked almost angry1  
for she saw that evil thoughts were in  
the mind of her neighbour4 8,fatima is a
 good and faithful wife10 she replied4  
8,had ,shadi ,shah remained away for six
 years1 he would1 on his return1 have   
found her just the same as if he had    
never left her4 ,do you not know1 ,o    
,waziren6 that ,fatima has kept in      
strict pardah all the time of her       
husband's absence80  8,in pardah60      
exclaimed the astonished ,waziren4      
8,now1 for once1 ,o ,maryam6 ,i have    
found you uttering words of untruth6 ,i 
happen to know that ,fatima has been to 
church every week since her husband's   
departure4 ,i am sure that she on foot  

has visited friends2 nay1 ,i have even  
heard that she has taught in a school60 
,waziren looked duly indignant and      
shocked at such a breach of ,oriental   
customs1 though quite aware that ,maryam
 did all the things which she professed 
to think so strange4  8,fatima has done 
all this10 replied ,maryam1 smiling2    
8and yet she has kept strict pardah40   
8,you amaze me60 cried the merchant's   
wife4  8,perhaps you have never heard   
that in ,fatima's house there is a very 
fine pardah1 beautiful and perfect1     
though of great antiquity10 said        
,maryam4 8,this pardah is more valuable 
than any shawl or ,cashmere1 or piece of
 golden embroidery1 crusted all over    
with jewels60  8,i think that you must  
have lost your wits60 exclaimed         
,waziren1 more and more astonished4 8,i 
know no woman with fewer jewels than    
,fatima4 ,i am sure that she cannot love
 her stingy husband4 ,if she has such a 
splendid pardah1 she never had it from  
him4 ,pray1 have you ever seen this     

wonderful pardah80  8,yes2 and ,i have  
one just like it10 replied ,maryam1     
laying her hand on a book beside her1   
which ,waziren1 though she could not    
read it1 knew to be the ,bible4  8,you  
talk in riddles60 cried the merchant's  
wife4  ,maryam opened the ,holy ,book4  
,first1 she found out in the ,old       
,testament the seventh commandment2 and 
then she turned over to the ,new        
,testament and read aloud3 ,i will      
therefore that women adorn themselves in
 modest apparel1 with shamefacedness and
 sobriety2 not with broided hair1 or    
gold1 or pearls1 or costly array2 but   
7which becometh women professing        
godliness7 with good works 7#a ,tim4 ii4
 #i1 #aj74 ,then from another place the 
,christian woman read3 ,likewise1 ye    
wives1 be in subjection to your own     
husbands2 that1 if any obey not the     
word1 they may be won by the            
conversation of the wives2 while they   
behold your chaste conversation coupled 
with fear 7#a ,peter iii4 #a74 ,and then

 again ,maryam found that place where   
that word is written alike for men and  
women3 ,follow peace with all men1 and  
holiness1 without which no man shall see
 the ,lord 7,heb4 xii4 #ad74 8,behold10 
cried ,maryam1 closing the ,bible1 8here
 is the pardah treasured in the house   
and heart of ,fatima2 and as long as she
 keeps within it1 the ,christian wife   
requires no other60   ,,viii4--,,the    
,,bearer',s ,,dream4  ,ganesh ,das1 the 
,commissioner ,sahib's ,sardar bearer1  
sat with the ,bible on his knee2 for    
,ganesh ,das could read1 and he had been
 well instructed in the ,christian      
religion4 ,he was convinced that that   
religion is true1 but he loved it not1  
because it also is pure and holy4       
,ganesh ,das had read the commandment1  
,thou shalt not steal 7,ex4 xx4 #ae72   
his finger was now on the words3 ,exhort
 servants to be obedient to their own   
masters1 and to please them well in all 
things2 not answering again2 not        
purloining1 but shewing all good        

fidelity2 that they may adorn the       
doctrine of ,god our ,saviour in all    
things 7,titus ii4 #i1 #aj74 ,ganesh    
,das with vexation closed the ,bible and
 pushed it aside4  8,what60 he cried2   
8must ,i1 if ,i be baptized1 give up all
 cheating1 get nothing but my pay1 never
 take from my rich master one pie that  
is not lawfully mine6 ,no1 no2 this is  
more than ,i can do6 ,let others be     
,christians1--,ganesh ,das cannot break 
off from the habit of years1 and make   
himself poor for the sake of the        
gospel60  ,that night ,ganesh ,das had a
 dream4 ,he dreamed that he and many    
others stood in a slave-market1 heavily 
chained1 and the voice of wailing was   
heard around4 ,one who wore a black robe
 stood near1 and to him ,ganesh ,das    
addressed this question1--  8,why are we
 chained here8 ,what hath brought us    
into this place of shame and sorrow80   
8,o lost one60 replied the stranger1    
8thou and all around thee have been sold
 to a fearful tyrant1 who1 after ye have

 done his work1 will cast you into      
devouring flames1 for thus he always    
treats his slaves when their time of    
labour for him is ended40  8,how came we
 to be slaves8 ,what villain hath sold  
us80 exclaimed the indignant ,sardar4   
8,o man60 the stranger replied1 8no one 
is here that hath not sold himself into 
bondage2 and lo6 the money which he hath
 received in exchange for his soul is   
now the chain with which he is bound4   
,fools1 fools6 hath not ,christ said3   
,what shall it profit a man1 if he gain 
the whole world1 and lose his own soul8 
,or what shall a man give in exchange   
for his soul80 7,mark viii4 #cf47  ,even
 as he spoke there was a fearful noise  
of drums1 mingled with shrieks and      
howlings3 the tyrant was coming to the  
slave-market to claim his victims4      
,ganesh ,das in his dream trembled      
exceedingly1 for never had he beheld a  
form so horrible as that which he looked
 on now4 ,the glare of the enemy's eyes 
was as the glare of the tiger's when he 

rangeth the jungle at night for his     
prey4 ,the tyrant advanced to the first 
of the slaves1 and ,ganesh ,das saw a   
poor wretch crouching down in extreme   
terror at the feet of the               
soul-destroyer4  ,then he of the black  
robe said3 8,behold6 this wretch is a   
mighty vizier1 who became wealthy as a  
rajah through the bribes which he took4 
,look at the gold and the jewels which  
bind him now1 so that he cannot so much 
as look up60  ,ganesh ,das looked1 and  
behold the golden chains were eating    
into the very flesh of the man who had  
sold himself to the soul-destroyer4     
8,he is mine60 cried the tyrant2 8bear  
him away60  ,then he advanced to the    
slave who was next to ,ganesh ,das1--a  
man who stood with his eyes almost      
starting from his head with terror1     
whilst he vainly tried to burst fetters 
made of silver rupees4  8,this is a     
dacoit10#eg said he of the black robe2  
8he hath sold himself for the silver    
chain which thou seest40  8,he is mine60

 cried the tyrant2 8bear him away60  8,i
 shall be next10 thought the terrified  
dreamer4 ,he looked down on his own     
galling chains1 and lo6 they were formed
 of innumerable pice and pies1 the fruit
 of petty frauds for which he had sold  
his soul4 ,the destroyer approached2 the
 trembling ,sardar seemed already to    
hear the doom1 8,he is mine6 bear him   
away60 ,the poor wretch made so         
desperate an effort to burst his chains1
 that lo6 he awoke from his dream4      
,ganesh ,das still trembled1 but he was 
thankful that his day of grace was not  
yet past1 that it was not yet too late  
to escape the soul-destroyer4 ,he fell  
on his knees1 repeating words which he  
had learned from the ,bible3 ,let the   
wicked forsake his way1 and the         
unrighteous man his thoughts3 and let   
him return unto the ,lord1 and ,he will 
have mercy upon him2 and to our ,god1   
for ,he will abundantly pardon 7,isa4   
lv4 #g74 ,for the wages of sin is death2
 but the gift of ,god is eternal life   

through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord 7,rom4 
vi4 #bc74   ,,ix4--,,the ,,cracked      
,,scent-,,bottle4  ,mohendro1 the ,padre
 ,sahib's bearer1 saw that ,melo1 the   
,mem ,sahiba's new ayah1#eh had a       
troubled countenance4  8,why are you    
troubled1 ,melo80 asked he4  8,when     
dusting the ,mem ,sahiba's room10       
replied ,melo1 8,i threw down her       
beautiful scent-bottle4 ,the            
scent-bottle was cracked1 and the sweet 
water was all spilt40  8,what matters it
 to you80 said the bearer1 smiling4     
8,you have been but one day in the      
house2 put the bottle back in its place1
 and when the ,mem ,sahiba sees that it 
has been emptied and cracked1 say that  
you found it so1 and that the last ayah 
certainly did the mischief40  ,a short  
time before1 ,melo would have thought   
nothing of telling a lie2 but she was   
now a baptized ,christian1 and had been 
taught ,god's ,commandments4 ,melo knew 
that one of them is1 ,thou shalt not    
bear false witness against thy neighbour

 7,ex4 xx4 #af74 ,melo had resolved to  
keep a strict watch over her lips1 for  
she had learned the text3 ,lying lips   
are abomination to the ,lord 7,prov4    
xii4 #bb74 8,i am afraid to tell my ,mem
 ,sahiba a lie10 she replied4  ,the     
bearer laughed at her words4 8,why1 to  
lie comes as natural as to eat60 he     
cried4 8,the last ayah has gone away to 
,benares1 so your lie will do no harm to
 any one in the world40  ,melo thought  
to herself1 8,will it do no harm to     
myself80 ,but ,melo was but a new       
,christian2 habit is strong1 and she had
 been accustomed to tell lies from the  
time that she first could speak4 ,melo  
resolved that when her ,mem ,sahiba     
noticed the harm done to the            
scent-bottle1 she would say that the    
last ayah had done it4 ,she was timid1  
and could not bear that the ,mem        
,sahiba1 whose service she had just     
entered1 should think her careless4     
,the ,padre ,sahib had morning prayers  
in ,urdu1 and such of his servants as   

were ,christians were always allowed to 
attend4 ,it was the first time that     
,melo had ever been present at family   
worship4 ,she sat on the carpet1        
watching the ,sahib as he unclosed the  
,holy ,book4 ,on the knees of the ,mem  
,sahiba sat her little boy ,henry1 a    
lovely blue-eyed child of four years of 
age4  ,the ,sahib read about heaven2 of 
the bright happy home of those who have 
believed in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1   
and who1 believing1 have loved and      
obeyed ,him4 ,melo did not know this    
part of the ,bible at all4 ,she listened
 with delight to the account of the     
glorious place1 till the reader came to 
the following words3--,and there shall  
in no wise enter into it anything that  
defileth1 neither whatsoever worketh    
abomination1 or maketh a lie 7,rev4 xxi4
 #bg74  ,melo was startled to hear this4
 8,shall ,i be shut out from heaven80   
she said to herself4 ,but ,melo could   
not even yet make up her mind to tell   
her ,mem ,sahiba all the truth about her

 beautiful scent-bottle4  ,when prayers 
were over1 ,melo was ordered to take    
,baba ,henry into the garden2 for it was
 the cold season1 and the weather was   
not yet too hot4 ,melo loved children   
very much1 and it was with pleasure that
 she watched the gambols of the fair    
little ,english boy4  ,henry ran about  
the garden1 and in his play he forgot to
 keep to the gravel path4 ,carelessly   
running across the border1 the child    
brushed past a beautiful flower which he
 knew that his mother greatly prized1   
and in doing so broke off its head4 ,the
 child stood still at once1 and looked  
with vexation at the mischief which he  
had done4  8,oh6 mamma told me not to   
run over the border1 or to touch the    
flowers6 ,she will be so vexed60 cried  
the child1 almost bursting into tears4  
8,never mind1 ,baba ,henry10 said ,melo2
 8you need say nothing to the ,mem      
,sahiba about the matter40  ,the boy    
looked indignantly into the face of the 
ayah with his steady blue eyes4 8,if ,i 

did not tell the truth1 ,god would be   
angry10 he cried2 and off darted the    
child1 to confess everything to his     
mother4  ,melo looked after him1 and    
tears came into her eyes4 8,shall that  
little one fear ,god and speak truth80  
she exclaimed2 8and shall ,i1 who have  
given myself to the ,god of truth1 tell 
lies like a heathen8 ,o ,lord6 help me  
to put away this great sin60 ,and       
quickly ,melo followed her little       
charge1 and confessed to her ,mem       
,sahiba that she had thrown down and    
cracked her bottle4  ,and was the ,mem  
,sahiba angry8 ,no2 her words were3 8,i 
thank ,god that ,i have at last a       
servant whose word ,i can trust40       
,x4--,,the ,,fall1 ,,the ,,cheetah1     
,,and ,,the ,,cup4  ,jai ,singh1 a man  
of good family1 but poor1 stood by the  
side of the road as ,parduman1 once his 
boyhood's companion1 rode by4 ,parduman 
was mounted on an ,arab horse of great  
value1 richly caparisoned2 and two syces
 attended their master4 ,envy and       

covetousness awoke in the heart of ,jai 
,singh as he gazed4  8,why should that  
fellow have all life's honey1 and ,i he 
left the gall80 he exclaimed4 8,would   
that your horse were mine2 ay1 and the  
heavy bags of rupees also1 that have    
fallen to the lot of one less worthy    
than myself to possess them60  8,o my   
son1 beware of desiring that which is   
another's60 said ,isaac1 the aged       
catechist1 who had been a friend and    
teacher of ,jai ,singh from his         
childhood1 and who1 chancing to be near1
 had overheard the exclamation4 8,in the
 ,word of ,god it is written3 ,thou     
shalt not covet thy neighbour's house1  
thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's    
wife1 nor his man-servant1 nor his      
maid-servant1 nor his ox1 nor his ass1  
nor any thing that is thy neighbour's0  
7,ex4 xx4 #ag74  8,what matters the     
thought1 if the act be blameless80      
inquired ,jai ,singh4 8,i will never    
lift up my hand to steal or to slay40   
8,as the seed to the plant1 as the      

crocodile's egg to the living reptile1  
so is the thought of the heart to the   
deed of the hand10 answered old ,isaac4 
8,man seeth the action1 ,god searcheth  
the heart4 ,in ,god's sight he that     
hateth1 murders2 and he that coveteth1  
steals4 ,it is written in the ,bible3   
,the love of money is the root of all   
evil 7#a ,tim4 vi4 #aj74 ,dig up the    
root1 and no poisonous fruits can       
appear40  ,jai ,singh shrank from the   
purity of such a religion as this1 which
 must convict all men of sin before     
,god4 ,rather impatiently he said1      
8,unless evil be seen1 ,i deny that it  
is evil at all40  8,hear an incident of 
my life which has been to me as a       
parable10 said old ,isaac4 8,before ,i  
had one white hair in my beard1 ,i went 
on a journey in a mountainous part of   
our land4 ,going up a steep place1 my   
horse stumbled and threw me1 and ,i fell
 down a precipice2 but my dress caught  
in some bushes1 and though hurt ,i was  
able to regain the road and again mount 

my horse4 ,riding on again1 ,i had not  
gone far when a cheetah burst from the  
thicket1 and suddenly sprang upon me4 ,i
 was a strong man then1 and carried a   
sharp knife in my girdle2 after a       
struggle the cheetah was killed1 but ,i 
bear on me the marks of its claws to    
this day4 ,weary and weakened by the    
loss of blood1 ,i was forced to stop at 
the nearest house1 though it was the    
house of one whom ,i had known as a     
deadly enemy4 ,he received me with      
sullen looks1 but denied me not rest nor
 food4 ,he brought to me a cup of wine1 
and ,i drank it2 ,i knew not that there 
was poison in the cup4 ,the evil that ,i
 saw not1 ,o ,jai ,singh6 was worse than
 the more startling dangers through     
which ,i had passed4 ,i suffered more   
from the poison hidden in my frame1 than
 from the fall down the precipice1 or   
the claws of the cheetah40  8,how is it 
that you are here to-day1 if you were   
poisoned80 inquired ,jai ,singh4        
8,when1 after leaving my enemy's house1 

,i arrived at the place for which ,i was
 bound10 replied ,isaac1 8,i was in sore
 sickness and pain2 but ,i found there a
 doctor of great skill1 who gave me a   
powerful antidote1 and after much       
suffering ,i rose from my sick-bed      
healed4 ,and from the ,christian doctor 
,i also received knowledge of the only  
antidote for sin1--whether it be the    
open sin which man condemns1 or the     
poison of sin1 such as covetousness1    
lying concealed in the heart40  8,he    
taught you ,christianity10 observed ,jai
 ,singh4  8,he taught me that for all   
past sin there is one remedy freely     
offered by ,god to all who truly        
believe3 ,the blood of ,jesus ,christ   
,his ,son cleanseth us from all sin 7#a 
,john i4 #g74 ,but we need more than to 
be saved from the punishment of sin2 we 
need to be saved from its power4 ,the   
heart1 the seat of evil1 must itself be 
made pure by the ,holy ,spirit of ,god4 
,and this ,spirit is promised in answer 
to prayer4 ,let us cry1 with ,david in  

the psalm3 ,create in me a clean heart1 
,o ,god1 and renew a right spirit within
 me 7,psalm li4 #aj74 ,for thus spake   
the ,saviour of mankind3 ,if ye1 being  
evil1 know how to give good gifts to    
your children3 how much more shall your 
heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit 
to them that ask ,him80 7,luke xi4 #ac47
     ,,footnotes   #a ,a kind of large  
,oriental pipe4  #b ,one of the         
difficulties experienced in writing for 
natives is the selection of names4 ,the 
,hindus1 ,sikhs1 and ,mohammedans have  
all quite different sets of names2 and  
to give one member of a family a        
,mohammedan1 and another a ,hindu name1 
would be a very serious mistake in an   
author4 ,a government inspector of      
schools has very kindly supplied ,a4 ,l4
 ,o4 ,e4 with carefully arranged lists  
of names4  #c ,an enormous kind of fan  
swung across the room1 the motion of    
which renders the heat more supportable4
  #d ,a rupee is worth less than two    
shillings4  #e ,a name for the houses of

 ,european gentlemen4  #f ,a name       
commonly given to missionaries4  #g     
,english gentleman4  #h ,the common form
 of greeting1 meaning1 8,peace be to    
you40  #i ,note4  #aj ,as not even the  
missionaries knew in what manner a woman
 of good family would address her       
husband1 a native was consulted on the  
question4 ,in ,amritsar we have the     
advantage of having a converted ,brahman
 on the one side1 and a converted       
,mohammedan of position on the other1   
from whom we can gather information on  
such matters4  #aa ,husbandmen4  #ab ,a 
small copper coin4  #ac ,a very         
beautiful marble building in ,agra4  #ad
 ,the pugree worn by natives in the     
,punjaub1 both old and young1 is often  
formed of many yards of a very light    
material1 wrapped round and round so as 
to form a turban4 ,the pugree worn by   
,europeans as a protection from the heat
 is much smaller1 and worn in a         
different manner4  #ae ,a moonshee is a 
teacher of languages4 ,the moonshee     

employed by ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 on her first
 arrival in ,amritsar was a convert from
 ,mohammedanism1 and a noble specimen of
 the class4  #af ,a baboo is one of an  
upper class2 the title in this part of  
,india somewhat resembles our 8,mr40    
#ag ,this is no fictitious picture of   
the trials of some of the converts4  #ah
 ,a very common word used to describe   
any grand show or scene of excitement4  
#ai ,yuhanna 7,john7 is a ,christian    
name4 ,on receiving baptism1 sometimes a
 new name is adopted2 sometimes1 as with
 ,hassan1 the old one is retained4  #bj 
,title given to a native lady4  #ba     
,groom4  #bb ,native pony4  #bc ,the    
natives of ,india like to expend large  
sums on such occasions1 even if they    
plunge themselves deep into debt to     
defray the expenses4  #bd ,custom2 a    
word which has far more force in ,india 
than in ,england4  #be ,a kind of       
bracelet4  #bf ,the love of ,indian     
women for ornaments must not be measured
 by that of ,english maidens4 ,there is 

nothing very remarkable here in the     
sight of a woman wearing at one time    
twelve ear-rings1 at least as many      
bracelets1 besides necklace1 nose-ring1 
anklets1 and silver plates on her toes6 
,converts do not wear so many4  #bg ,the
 chaddar 7literally sheet7 is a garment 
not worn in all parts of ,india1 but    
very commonly in the ,punjaub4 ,it is   
something like a large veil1 made of    
muslin or some other light material1 and
 is worn in the house as well as out of 
it4 ,anything more graceful1            
picturesque1 and modest-looking can     
hardly be imagined4  #bh ,english lady4 
#bi ,those conversant with ,india need  
not be told that a fearful want of      
truthfulness prevails amongst the       
natives4 ,against this evil the         
attention of missionaries has been      
earnestly directed1 and in some cases   
with great success4 ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4     
heard since her arrival a story of a    
school in ,calcutta 7she believes1      
however1 that it was a ,eurasian        

school74 ,a prize was offered in it for 
truthfulness1 and as it would have been 
almost impossible for a teacher to have 
adjudged the prize to the satisfaction  
of all1 to the girls themselves the     
decision was left4 ,all the children    
fixed upon one of their companions as   
the most truthful girl in the school4   
,the wisdom of their choice was shown by
 the conscientious girl's declining to  
accept the prize1 for she did not think 
herself truthful enough to deserve it6  
#cj ,the first native of ,india who saw 
the translation of this little story--a 
refined and educated man--was much      
struck by the new view presented to him 
of his parental duty4 ,he actually1 very
 shortly afterwards1 punished his child 
for telling a lie4 ,the little boy was  
probably surprised at receiving         
chastisement for what is usually deemed 
such a very trifling offence2 but the   
punishment 7not a severe one7 seemed to 
have made an impression on his young    
mind4 ,soon afterwards1 on his sister   

asking him whether something which he   
had said were true1 the child1 with a   
new sense of the evil of falsehood1     
said1 8,do you not know that ,god is    
angry when we tell lies80  #ca ,the     
worshippers of various heathen deities  
may be distinguished by differently     
shaped marks on their foreheads4  #cb   
,the ,ganges is regarded as a peculiarly
 sacred river4  #cc ,in ,india1 as in   
,france1 it is very uncourteous to use  
the third person singular ,where ,i am1 
even servants are addressed as 8you40   
#cd ,in happy ,england1 the difficulty  
of crossing the river of ,baptism to    
many converts in ,india can hardly be   
appreciated4 ,to do so is to pass the   
,rubicon1 to cut the tie which connects 
the believer with all that was dear upon
 earth1 to cast away honour1 friendship1
 enjoyment2 it is indeed to take up the 
,cross6 ,one of our noblest ,punjaubi   
,christians lingered five years before  
he was given courage to cross the river4
 ,one youth was brought into court to   

declare whether it was his deliberate   
choice to become a ,christian4 ,his     
mother drew forth a knife1 and told her 
son that if he were baptized she would  
plunge it into her own bosom6 ,i have   
seen another youth who could well bear  
witness to the sharpness of the thorns  
of ,persecution4 ,his own father made   
him stand in boiling oil1 till the skin 
was burnt off his poor feet6 ,but he has
 crossed the river4  #ce ,a tendency to 
fatalism in the ,oriental character is  
one of the great difficulties with which
 missionaries have to contend4 ,it gives
 to the timid convert an excuse for     
indolence and apathy4 8,if it be ,god's 
will1 ,i shall have the blessing10 he   
thinks or professes to think 8without   
making any struggle to obtain it40  #cf 
,oriental pipe4  #cg ,probably at least 
a dozen4  #ch ,the sin which doth so    
easily beset us4--,heb4 xii4 #a4  #ci   
,let not the meaning of my little       
parable be misunderstood4 ,even the true
 believer must expect many assaults of  

,temptation1 many a struggle with       
besetting sin4 ,the pearl1 ,purity1 is  
perfected only in a brighter world4     
,nevertheless1 not only ,christ's       
imputed righteousness1 but a growing    
likeness to ,him who said1 8,learn of   
,me10 is one of ,god's free gifts to    
,his children through the indwelling of 
,his ,spirit4 ,it is particularly       
necessary to enforce this truth in a    
land like ,india1 where even sincere    
converts find it very hard to lead      
consistent lives1 after having been     
brought up in the paths of sin4  #dj    
,native ,christian parents are here     
intended1 some of whom send their       
children to schools conducted by        
missionaries4  #da ,the character of    
,ghuldasta has been drawn from ,indian  
life2 some of our little ,british       
maidens may1 however1 find that some of 
its features are by no means confined to
 girls of ,hindostan4  #db ,this hymn   
7translated7 is a great favourite in    
this country4 ,even heathen and         

,mohammedan children like to sing it1 as
 well as native ,christians4  #dc ,this 
is a natural view to be taken by one    
half persuaded1 who would make the      
inconsistencies of professed believers  
an excuse for not joining their ranks4  
,it is but fair1 however1 to the native 
,christians1 for whom this tale was     
specially written1 to say that their    
standard of morality is much higher than
 that which is adopted by their heathen 
neighbours4  #dd ,an anna is about three
 half-pence4 ,there are twelve pies in  
an anna4  #de ,the quantity of ornaments
 worn by women even of the humbler      
classes is at first surprising to a     
,european4 ,a woman will in one ear wear
 eight or ten rings1 and as many        
bracelets on each arm4 ,her feet1 also1 
are frequently adorned4  #df ,it will be
 observed by those who know the ,east   
that ,hossein was a ,mohammedan1 and not
 an idolatrous ,hindu4 ,in ,india there 
are different religions1 not only       
varying from1 but actually opposed to   

each other4 ,many ,mohammedans in ,india
 have a considerable amount of religious
 knowledge4  #dg ,abbas was1 of course1 
a native ,christian4  #dh ,these melas  
afford grand opportunities to the       
missionary1 both for preaching and      
selling books4  #di ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 has 
herself heard a ,mohammedan speak of    
,christian converts as his friends4 ,she
 is on terms of affectionate intercourse
 with ,mohammedan ladies4  #ej ,not to  
do so is a mark of great disrespect4 ,a 
native on entering a gentleman's house  
leaves his slippers at the door4  #ea   
,moses is reverenced by ,mohammedans as 
well as by ,christians4  #eb ,when my   
friend ,mrs4 ,e4 was staying in a       
,punjaubi village1 she was shocked to   
hear of one of the natives having beaten
 his mother4 ,when she said that in     
,england such a sin would be punished1  
her observation excited general         
amusement4 ,why should she be shocked at
 an event of such common occurrence8    
#ec ,the convert probably restrained    

himself lest his mother should refuse to
 accept from his polluted touch even    
food needful to save her from           
starvation4 ,but with the blind woman   
nature was too strong even for ,hindu   
prejudice4  #ed ,offering the hookah 7a 
kind of pipe7 was an alteration         
suggested by one who has intimate       
acquaintance with ,oriental customs4    
,the words originally stood3 8,held out 
his hand2 and ,tara ,chund grasped it10 
c4 ,this would have made the whole story
 unnatural4  #ee ,this little story is  
founded on what really happened in a    
village not very far from ,amritsar1 but
 the words which produced a             
reconciliation were really spoken by one
 of the four who had quarrelled4 ,a4 ,l4
 ,o4 ,e4 heard a graphic account of the 
scene from a gentleman who had been     
present4 ,that the reconciliation was   
not merely outward1 seems to be proved  
by the fact that some little time       
afterwards the four ,christian villagers
 came in a body and partook of the ,holy

 ,communion in the mission church of    
,amritsar4  #ef ,pronounced purdah4  #eg
 ,robber4  #eh ,female attendant4       
,favourite ,stories1 etc41 by ,a4 ,l4   
,o4 ,e4       ,the ,blacksmith of       
,boniface ,lane4 ,post #hvo1 cloth      
extra4 #bs4     #f;d4  ,a tale having an
 historical basis4 ,its hero is ,john   
,badby1 the ,lollard blacksmith1 who    
perished at the stake4 ,the incidents   
and characters are portrayed with all   
the freshness and picturesqueness common
 to ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4's works4            
,beyond the ,black ,waters4 ,a ,tale4   
,post #hvo1 cl4 ex4 #bs4 #f;d4  ,a story
 illustrating the truth that 8sorrow    
tracketh wrong10 and that there can be  
no peace of conscience till sin has been
 confessed both to ,god and man1 and    
forgiveness obtained4 ,the scene is laid
 chiefly in ,british ,burmah4           
,harold's ,bride4 ,post #hvo1 cloth     
extra4 ,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,an           
interesting story1 written in the       
author's characteristic style1 and      

affording instructive glimpses of the   
hardships and dangers of missionary life
 in the rural districts of ,india4      
,pride and ,his ,prisoners4 ,post #hvo1 
cloth extra4 ,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,a tale 
for the young1 partly allegorical1 to   
show the fatal effects of pride on      
character and happiness4      ,rambles  
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cloth extra1 gilt     edges4 ,price #bs4
 #f;d4  ,a rat telling his own story1   
with many facts of the natural history  
and habits of rats4      ,the ,robbers' 
,cave4 ,a ,story of ,italy4             
,illustrated4 ,post #hvo1     cloth     
extra1 gilt edges4 #bs4 #f;d4  ,a tale  
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,with tinted illustrations4      ,the   
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#hvo1 cloth extra4 ,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,a
 tale for the young1 illustrative of the
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,fairy ,know-a-,bit2 or1 ,a ,nutshell of

 ,knowledge4 ,with upwards     of #dj   
,engravings4 ,post #hvo1 cloth extra4   
,price #bs4      ,fairy ,frisket2 or1   
,peeps at ,insect ,life4 ,with upwards  
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ex4 #bs4  ,fairy teachers 7a sequel to  
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 insect life and natural history4       
,the ,holiday ,chaplet of ,stories4     
,with ,eight ,engravings4 ,post         
#hvo1 cloth extra4 ,price #bs4          
,thirty-eight short stories for the     
young4      ,my ,neighbour's ,shoes2 or1
 ,feeling for ,others4 ,illustrated4    
,post #hvo1 cloth extra4 ,price #as4  ,a
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happiness of kindness and sympathy      
towards all around us4      ,old        
,friends with ,new ,faces4 ,illustrated4
 ,post #hvo1 cl4 ex4 #as4  ,a tale for  
children1 in which some old favourite   
stories--,bluebeard1 the ,fisherman and 
the ,genii1 etc4--are introduced in an  
allegorical form1 with incidents that   
illustrate them4      ,parliament in the

 ,playroom2 or1 ,law and ,order made    
,amusing4     ,with ,illustrations4     
,post #hvo1 cloth extra4 ,price #bs4    
,the ,sunday ,chaplet of ,stories4 ,with
 ,eight ,engravings4 ,post     #hvo1    
cloth extra4 ,price #bs4  ,the          
thirty-two stories in this volume are   
suitable for ,sunday reading4 ,christian
 principles are taught in them without  
heaviness or dulness4 ,it is a good book
 for the home circle1 or for the ,sunday
 school4      ,the ,golden ,fleece2 or1 
,who ,wins the ,prize8 ,new ,edition4   
,foolscap #hvo1 cloth extra4 #as4 #f;d4 
,the ,story of a ,needle4 ,illustrated4 
,foolscap #hvo1 cloth     extra4 ,price 
#as4 #f;d4  ,a tale for the young1      
interwoven with a description of the    
manufacture1 uses1 and adventures of a  
needle4     ,stories of ,home and       
,school ,life4       ,stepping          
,heavenward4 ,a ,tale of ,home ,life4   
,by the ,author of     8,the ,flower of 
the ,family10 etc4 ,post #hvo1 cloth    
extra4 ,price     #bs4 #f;d4  ,a tale of

 girlhood and early married life1 with  
discipline and trials1 all resulting in 
good at last4 ,every girl should read   
this remarkably truthful and fascinating
 book4      ,ever ,heavenward2 or1 ,a   
,mother's ,influence4 ,by the ,author of
     8,stepping ,heavenward10 8,the     
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its leading spirit1--a wise1 loving1    
pious mother4      ,the ,flower of the  
,family4 ,a ,tale of ,domestic ,life4   
,by the     ,author of 8,stepping       
,heavenward10 etc4 ,post #hvo1 cloth    
extra4     ,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,a tale of
 home life1--the central figure being an
 unselfish1 devoted1 pious eldest       
daughter4      ,changed ,scenes2 or1    
,the ,castle and the ,cottage4 ,by ,lady
     ,,hope1 ,author of 8,our ,coffee   
,house10 8,a ,maiden's ,work10 8,sunny  
,footsteps10 etc4 ,post #hvo1 cloth     
extra4 ,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,an           

interesting story for girls1 of two     
,english orphans and their guardian1 in 
the course of which valuable moral and  
religious lessons are conveyed by some  
pleasing allegories4      ,almost a     
,hero2 or1 ,school ,days at ,ashcombe4  
,by ,,robert     ,,richardson1 ,author  
of 8,the ,story of the ,niger10         
8,ralph's ,year     in ,russia10 etc4   
,with ,seven ,engravings4 ,post #hvo1   
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,a ,thorny ,way4 ,by ,,mary ,,bradford  
,,whiting4 ,post #hvo1 cloth     extra4 
,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,a very interesting  
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,true ,hero2 or1 ,the ,story of ,amos   
,huntingdon4 ,a ,tale of     ,moral     
,courage4 ,by ,rev4 ,t4 ,p4 ,,wilson1   
,m4,a41 ,vicar of ,pavenham2     ,author
 of 8,frank ,oldfield10 8,true to ,his  
,colours10 etc4 ,small     crown #hvo1  
cloth extra4 ,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,a tale 
illustrative of moral courage1 with     
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,life4 ,by ,,grace ,,beaumont4     ,post
 #hvo1 cloth extra4 ,price #bs4 #f;d4   
,a simple and touching story of the     
blessed influence exerted by a          
,christ-like life 7,aunt ,judith's7 on  
all who came in contact with it4        
,edith ,raymond1 and the ,story of      
,huldah ,brent's ,will4 ,a ,tale4       
,by ,s4 ,s4 ,,robbins4 ,post #hvo1 cloth
 extra4 ,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,a curious   
story of the forging of a will1 in his  
own interest1 by an avaricious lawyer1  
of the immediate consequences of the    
deed1 and of the peculiar way in which  
it was discovered1 and the humiliation  
of the forger4      ,follow the ,right4 
,a ,tale for ,boys4 ,by ,g4 ,e4 ,,wyatt1
 ,author of     8,archie ,digby10       
8,lionel ,harcourt10 8,harry ,bertram10 
etc4 ,post     #hvo1 cloth extra4 ,price
 #bs4 #f;d4  ,the hero of this story is 
an ,etonian who is possessed of a moral 
nature remarkable for its strength and  
power2 and the book is written with     

sprightliness and vigour4     ,prize    
,temperance ,tales4   ,,one ,,hundred   
,,pound ,,prize ,,tale4      ,frank     
,oldfield2 or1 ,lost and ,found4 ,by the
 ,rev4 ,t4 ,p4 ,,wilson1     ,m4,a4     
,with ,five ,engravings4 ,post #hvo1    
cloth extra4 ,price #cs4 #f;d4  ,an     
interesting prize temperance tale2 the  
scene partly in ,lancashire1 partly in  
,australia4   ,,one ,,hundred ,,pound   
,,prize ,,tale4      ,sought and ,saved4
 ,by ,m4 ,a4 ,,paull1 ,author of 8,tim's
 ,troubles2     or1 ,tried and ,true40  
,with ,six ,engravings4 ,post #hvo1     
cloth     extra4 ,price #cs4 #f;d4  ,a  
prize temperance tale for the young4    
,with illustrative engravings4   ,,one  
,,hundred ,,pound ,,prize ,,tale4       
,through ,storm to ,sunshine4 ,by       
,,william ,j4 ,,lacey1 ,author of 8,a   
,life's ,motto10 8,the ,captain's       
,plot10 etc4 ,with ,illustrations4      
,post #hvo1 cloth extra4 #cs4 #f;d4     
,this interesting tale was selected by  
the ,band of ,hope ,union last year1    

from among thirty-seven others1 as      
worthy of the #ajj prize4 ,it now forms 
a beautiful volume1 with six good       
illustrations4   ,,fifty ,,pound ,,prize
 ,,tale4      ,tim's ,troubles2 or1     
,tried and ,true4 ,by ,m4 ,a4 ,,paull4  
,with ,five     ,engravings4 ,post #hvo1
 cloth extra4 ,price #cs4 #f;d4  ,a     
prize temperance tale for young persons1
 the hero an ,irish boy1 who owes       
everything in after life to having      
joined a ,band of ,hope in boyhood4     
,,fifty ,,pound ,,prize ,,tale4         
,lionel ,franklin's ,victory4 ,by ,e4   
,,van ,,sommer4 ,with ,six              
,engravings4 ,post #hvo1 cloth extra4   
,price #cs4 #f;d4  ,an interesting prize
 temperance tale for the young1 with    
illustrative engravings4   ,,seventy    
,,pound ,,prize ,,tale4      ,the       
,naresborough ,victory4 ,a ,story in    
,five ,parts4 ,by the ,rev4     ,t4     
,,keyworth1 ,author of 8,dick the       
,newsboy10 8,green and ,grey10     etc41
 etc4 ,with ,illustrations4 ,post #hvo1 

cloth extra4 #bs4 #f;d4  8,in           
construction the story is good1 in style
 it is excellent1 and it is certain to  
be a general favourite40--,,manchester  
,,examiner4  8,attractive in its        
incidents and forcible in its           
lessons40--,,liverpool ,,albion4        
,,special ,,prize ,,tale4      ,owen's  
,hobby2 or1 ,strength in ,weakness4 ,a  
,tale4 ,by ,,elmer     ,,burleigh4      
,illustrated4 ,post #hvo1 cloth extra4  
,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,replete with        
touching1 often saddening1 and          
frequently amusing incidents4           
,,special ,,prize ,,tale4               
,every-,day ,doings4 ,by ,,hellena      
,,richardson4 ,with ,six                
,illustrations4 ,post #hvo1 cloth extra4
 ,price #bs4 #f;d4  ,a prize temperance 
tale1 8written for an earnest purpose10 
and consisting almost entirely of facts4
      ,by ,uphill ,paths2 or1 ,waiting  
and ,winning4 ,a ,story of ,work     to 
be ,done4 ,by ,e4 ,,van ,,sommer1       
,author of 8,lionel ,franklin's         

,victory40 ,post #hvo1 cloth extra4     
,price #bs4 #f;d4      ,true to ,his    
,colours2 or1 ,the ,life that ,wears    
,best4 ,by the     ,rev4 ,t4 ,p4        
,,wilson1 ,m4,a41 ,vicar of ,pavenham1  
,author of 8,frank     ,oldfield10 etc4 
,with ,six ,engravings4 ,post #hvo1     
cloth extra4     ,price #cs4 #f;d4  ,an 
interesting tale--the scene laid in     
,england--illustrating the influence    
over others for good of one consistent  
,christian man and temperance advocate4 
,the ,girls' ,own ,library4   ,,five    
,,books ,,by 8,,pansy40      ,a ,new    
,graft on the ,family ,tree4 ,by        
,,pansy4 ,post #hvo1 cloth     extra4   
,price #bs4  ,a young wife goes with her
 husband to his father's country home1  
and by her tact and religious influence 
brings a blessing there4      ,esther   
,reid4 ,by ,,pansy1 ,author of 8,a      
,hedge ,fence10 8,side by     ,side10   
8,a ,new ,graft on the ,family ,tree10  
etc4 ,post #hvo1 cloth     extra4 ,price
 #bs4      ,following ,heavenward2 or1  

,the ,story of ,alfred ,reid4 ,by       
,,pansy1     ,author of 8,a ,new ,graft 
on the ,family ,tree10 8,esther ,reid10 
etc4     ,post #hvo1 cloth extra4 #bs4  
,out in the ,world4 ,by ,,pansy1 ,author
 of 8,a ,new ,graft on the     ,family  
,tree10 8,a ,hedge ,fence10 etc4 ,post  
#hvo1 cloth extra4 #bs4      ,workers   
,together2 or1 ,an ,endless ,chain4 ,by 
,,pansy1 ,author of     8,esther ,reid10
 8,a ,new ,graft on the ,family ,tree10 
etc4 ,post #hvo1     cloth extra4 ,price
 #bs4  8,the reader will find it hard to
 resist the skill of their dramatic     
narrative style1 and their vivid        
presentment of various types of         
character4 ,there are two distinct      
impressions which #8,pansy's' stories   
will leave on most people--those of the 
intense earnestness of her own          
convictions1 and of her sense of the    
need of bringing religion into all the  
details of every-day life40--,,scottish 
,,leader4      ,anna ,lee4 ,the         
,maiden--,the ,wife--,the ,mother4 ,by  

,t4 ,s4 ,,arthur4     ,post #hvo1 cloth 
extra4 ,price #bs4  ,a tale4 ,fidelity  
to the duties of one relation prepares  
for happiness in the next3 a good       
daughter will be a good wife and mother4
      ,annie ,donaldson2 or1 ,evenings  
in a ,happy ,home4 ,by ,miss            
,m',,intosh4 ,a ,tale4 ,post #hvo1 cloth
 extra4 ,price #bs4  ,christmas holidays
 in a country-house1 each evening       
enlivened by a story1 connected with one
 of a series of drawings from the       
portfolio of an artist visitor4         
,georgie ,merton2 or1 ,only a ,girl4 ,by
 ,,florence ,,harrington4 ,with         
,illustrations4 ,post #hvo1 cloth extra4
 ,price #bs4  ,a most interesting tale  
for young people1 with admirable etched 
illustrations4 ,the heroine1 8only a    
girl10 is a noble example of courage1   
spirit1 and fortitude4      ,little     
,susy's ,six ,birthdays1 and ,other     
,stories4 ,by the ,author     of        
8,stepping ,heavenward10 etc4 ,post     
#hvo1 cloth extra4 ,price #bs4  ,a      

beautiful new edition of ,mrs4          
,prentiss's well-known and charming     
stories for children4 ,it contains 8,six
 ,birthdays10 8,six ,teachers10 and     
8,little ,servants10 in one volume4     
,not ,thrown ,away1 but ,given2 or1 ,the
 ,story of ,marion's ,hero4     ,by     
,mrs4 ,g4 ,s4 ,,reaney1 ,author of      
8,daisy ,snowflake's ,secret10     etc4 
,post #hvo1 cloth extra4 #bs4  ,a clever
 and instructive story of               
self-sacrifice1 illustrated in a mother 
becoming a teetotaler in order to save  
her son1 and a talented young man       
devoting his life to lay-mission work   
among the poor of a low district in     
,london4      ,willing to be ,useful2   
or1 ,principle and ,duty ,illustrated in
     the ,story of ,edith ,allison4     
,illustrated4 ,post #hvo1 cloth extra4  
#bs4  ,this story contains the varied   
experiences of a young lady1 who1       
anxious to be of use to others1         
interests herself in ,sunday-school and 
other similar work4 ,it is an incentive 

to persistent continuance in well-doing4
   ,t4 ,,nelson ,,and ,,sons1 ,,london1 
,,edinburgh1 ,,and ,,new ,,york4