Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-15
Tale Of the Four Deaf Men.


to leave his she,p To go in que st of it, lest
some accident should b fall them But
his hunger could not be anpeasetl; and
upon looking around he spied 7dl,iyari
or village hind, who hal come out u cut
grass for his COW near neighbNing
spring He went TO call him. though verv
reluctantly, because be knew that, though
these servants of the village are set as
watchmen to prevent theft, yet they are
great thieves themselves He hailed him
however, and requested him to give an eye
to his flock for the short time he should be
absent, and that b. would MT forget him
when he returned from breakfast.
But the man was as deaf as himself, aud
mistaking his intentions, he aDgrily asked
the shepherd, What right have you to
take this grass, which have had the trou-
BILE to cuty Go about thy business, and
let me alone!" The deaf shepherd OBJ
served the repulsive gestures If the hind,
which he took for q signal Of acquiescepce
in his request, and therefore briskly ran
toward the village. fully determined to
give his wife a good lesson for her neg
lect. But when he approached his house,
he saw her before the door, rolling in vic
lent pain, brought on by eating over night
too great q quantity Of raw green peas.
Her sad condition, and the necessity he
was under tn provide breakfast for him.
self, detained the shepherd long than he
wished, while the small confidence he had
in the person with whom he left . sheep,
accelerated his return to the utmost
Overjoyed to see his flock peaceably
feeding near the spot where he left them,
he COUNTED them over and found there was
not single SHEEP missing: lie Is an
honest fellow, "quoth he, "this Talaiyari
the very jewel of his race! | promised
him q reward, and he shall hsveit. There
W as a lame beast in the q ck, well enough
in other respects. which he hoisted on his
shoulders, and carried to tn place where
the hind was, and courteously offered him
the mutton, saying
"You have taken great care Of my sheep
during my absehce. Take this ole for
your trouble s-..f.
at" says the deaf hind, al break your
sleeps legsl III be hanged IL went near
your flock since you have been gone, or
stirred from the place where l now am. :"
yes, said the shepherd, II is a good
and fat mutton, and will b. treat to you
and your family or friends.
ldsC not VIM bNDliNu thS
aiyari in a rage, that | never went near
thy sheep! And yet thou wilt accuse NE
of breaking that ones leg Get about thy
business or l will give thee good beat
ingl"
And, by gestures, he seemed determined
to put his threat in execution. The aston
ished shepherd got into passion also and
posture of defiance. They were
Just proceeding to blows, when n man on
horseback came up To him they both
appealed to decide the dispute b. tween
them; and the shepherd, laying hold OF
the bride, requs sted the horseInan ~
alight just moment, and to settle the
difference between him aud the beggarly
Talaiyari. IL have offered him pr, sent
of sheep, says he, e. because | thought
he had done me a service; and, In requItal
he will knock me down The villsger
Was at the same time pr ferring his com
plant. that the shepherd would accuse
him Of breaking the leg of his sheep, when
he had never been near his flock.
The hOrseman, TO whom they both ap'
pealed. happen, d to tie as deaf as they
and did not understand word that eitheI
of them said But, seeing them both ad.
dressing him with vehemencr, he made q
sign for them TO listen to him, and Their
frankly told them that he 'nfessod the
horse he rode on wa. not his own. II
was q stray that | found on the rood.
quoth he, "snd being at loss, | mounted
him for the sake of expedition. Ii he bt
yours, take him. II not, pray let NE pro
coed, as am really in great haste.
The shepherd and the village bird. each
imagining that the horseman had decided
in favor of the other, became more violent
than ever but accusing him whom they
had taken for their Judge Of p.r,iality.
At this crisis, there happened To come
up An aged Brahman. insta ttly they all
crowded around him shepherd, Talaiyari,
and horseman; each claiming his inter
position, and decision in his favor All
spoke together; every OLt telling his own
tale. But the Brahmap had lost his hear.
ing also. II know" said he, you want
to compel me to return home TO her
,meaning his wife,; but do you know
her character, In all the legios OF the
wicked ones, defy you TO find one that j.
her equal 10 wick dness. Since the time
first bought her, she has mad M commit
more sins than it will be in my power t
expiate in thirty generations | am going
on pilgrimage 10 Kasi tBepares), where
will wash myself from the innuinerabIe
crimes have been led into from the hour
In which had the misfortune To make
her my wife, Then will wear out the
rest of my days on aims in strange
land
While they were all four ven ing theil
exclarnaiions, without healing word, thu
horse stealer perceived some people ad
vancing toward them with great speed
Fearing they might be the owners OF thu
b ast, he dismOuHted AID took to his heels
The shepherd, seeing it was growing late
went 70 look af,er hi. flock pouring on
jurisdictions, ~ he trudged. Oh all arbiira
tors, and bitterly complaining that all JUS
tic. had depart, d from the earth TheI
he bethought himself Of snake that hac
crossed his path In the moruing. as h'
came out of the sheepfoh, spl which
might account for the troubles be had tina
day experienced The Talaiyari re unnec
tn his load Of grass. and, ilding the lams
she. o there, he took it On his shoulder, u
punish the shepherd for the vexs'ion h'
had givrn him, and the aged Brahmar
4 Il. 4, ~bn tfru hat sly.x.