Middletown transcript., 1873-03-29
A Buddhist Legend.

In the village Of Sarvsthi thsre lived
young wife named Keessh, who At the age
Of fourteen gavo birth to a son and abe
loved him with oil the love and joy Of tbe
poasessor OF newly found treasure, lov
bis face was like gslden cloud. his eyes
fair and tender as u blue lotus. and his
smile brigh, aud beamiug like the morn
ing ligh, upon the dewy flowers. But
when the boy was able TO walk, aud could
run about the house. there came q day
when he suddenly fell sick and died.
And Keesnh. not understanding whst
had happened TO her fair. lotas-eyed boy,
clasped him TO her bosom. aud went about
the village from house to house. praying
and weeping, aud bcsecching the good
people TO give her some medicine TO cure
her baby. But the villagers and neigh
bors. on seeing her. said:
.,Is the girl mad tina, she still bears
about on her breast tho dead body Of her
child 2"
A, length holy man, plying the girlis
sorrow, said 10 himself ALAS! this
Keesah dses no, understand the Law Of
death will try to comfort her"
And be answered her. and said. my
good girl, can not myself give you any
medicine to cure your boy. but know
holy IN wise physician who can"
"Oh y said the young mother, "do
tell me who i, is, that may 60 at once to
him p
And the holy man, replied. "Hs is
called the Buddha he alone can cure thy
child"
Then Keesah, on hearing this. was
comfortcd and set gu. to find the Buddha.
still clasping to her heart the lifeless body
Of her child And when she found him,
she bowed down before him aud said
30 my lord and master do you know
of any medicine that will cure my babyf'
Aud the Buidha replied and said:
Yes, know Of one, but you must get
7 il for me
And she asked: What medicine do
you want? Tell me. that may hasten
in search Of ii
And the Ruilha said Il want only .
| few grains of mustard seed. Leave hero
the boy, ani g you aui bring them to
| ne
} Th, rirl refused 70 rart with her baby.
/ but promised 81 get the seed for HIM.
I y She was about 20 srt out. the pitt
fll Budlba rfealling her. said
My Sister tbs mustard. seed tia, re-
! quiz mu., t.tal;eu from house whsro
no chill, rar.nl, husband. wife, relative.
nr ,laye has ever died.
TIE Young mo,her replied. Very
good, MY lord = ard went her way TAX
ing her boy with her, and setting him
astridc IN her hip, with his lfele.s head
resting on her bosom Thus she went
from b. ..c to house, from palsco to hut,
begging for some grains oi niustard.ssc
The people sail 70 her Here are the
seeds take them. aud 20 thy way" But
sue frs; asked:
In this, my friend. house, has there
ever died a child, husband. n parent. or
slave II
And they ono and al replied. Lady,
what is this that thou has; said Know
e., thou not that the living are few, but
thu. the dead are many: There is no
such house ~ thou seckest
Then She went to other houses and beg
eed the grains Of mustard. sesd, which
they gladly gave her. hat 70 her ques,ioL-
ing. ono said Il have lost son , anotL-
er. Il have lost parent, ard yet an.
other. II have lost slase: and every
one aud all II them made some such re-
ply. At last, no, being able 10 discover
4 single house free from the dead when'e
she eoull obtain the l.u>iatl-seed. ard
feeling utterly faint and weary, she sat
herself down upon stone with her baoy
in her lar and, thinking sadly, said 10
herself. Alas this is n heavy task |
have undertaken. | am not tho only one
Who has lost her baby. Everywhere
children are dying parents are dying. aud
eyerywhere they tell ne that tho dead are
more numerous than the Irving Shall l
then think only Of my own sorrow -
Thinking thus, she suddenly summoned
courage to put away her sorrow for her
dead baby. and she carried him to the
, fore., and laid him down to rest under
; tree aud having covered him over With
tender leaves, aud taken her last look Of
III. loved face, she betook herself once
more to the Buddha, and bowed before
3 him.
And he said to her: ''Sister. hast thou
G found the mustard-sesd p
Il have not. my lord she replied
"fo- the people in the village tell mo
9 there is no house in which some one has
no, died for the living are few, but the
= dead are many
And where is your baby''
. Il haze laid him under n tree In the
$ forest. my lord said keesah gently
Then said the Buddha TO her: .'Yoa
: have found the grains Of mustard-s |;
G you though, that you alone bad lost .
c son, but now you have learned that tho
c law of death aud Of suffering is among all
5 living creatures, aud that hcrn there is no
permaucnoe
d On hearing this Keesah was comfort.