New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-18

Damn cool breath of moss and mould,
Noontides influence manHoIa;
Glimpses of cloudless sky
SOoth me rs resting lie.
Bubble. bubble, flows the stream.
Like low music through dream.
roLK.TALEs OF BENGAL. BY the Rev. LAL n lar
DAY author Of Bengal Peasant Lie e'c' l. Hio
Do 294. Macmillan Co.
The fascinating stories in this volume are thoso
h;eh the prandmothers in India recite to the Htte
the hour when the birds are going to roost ana
eli tho forest sounds are becoming ntled lheY aie
tales weird and fantastic enough 10 tchIe '"o
nerves of the hardest little Bengali Many oil them
hear family resemblance TO the folklore OF other
countries and especially to the delightful LEGENDS Oh
the Arabian Nightk Most of them celebrate THO Ut
,,,onb of the meek and wise over the wicked ana
hauchty-each, indeed, has It's own course OF poet
ical understanding to Indian IDEAS. The VlcKoa
orec,s who oppress the good queen. the dishonest
archant and the Jealous wife, constantly getting
choir deserts through the agency of some benehcent
cod. sage animal or plant. The plot is always SIR
nlo. and tho craft of the virtuous characters IS
ALWAYS admirable. The stories are pleasantly toid'
with a playful touch here and there that addS 10
their charm The last IN the book, the tale Oh
t. The Raid Wife" is a characterize specimen
Of the two wives of a certain the younger as
the husbands favorite and she cruelty oppressed
the othar One day she tore all the hair from the
elder wile's head and drove her ont Of the house.
The elder Wife, now become completely bald de-
termned to 90 into the forest, aHd there either Die
of starvation or be deyOured by some VIA peas.
ON her way she passed by a cotton plant. She
stopped near it, made for herself broom Win some
sticks which lay about and sWert clean the ground
ronnd about the plant Ihe plant was much
pleased and gave her blessing. She Wended gu her
way and now plantan tree. She swept Tue
n'eased with her gave her a blessing. As she went
On she saw the She'd of Brahmani bull. As the
s6SG icS Sa the se BILL Being much pleased blessed her
She next q tRldSi plant. bowed herselI Gown pe-
lore it, and cleaned the place rounu ABOUT on mnlon
in her journey, she saw hut made OF branches OF
35s1s and leaves, and near II man sitting cross,
legged apparently absorbed in mediation She stood
fs,r n moment behind tho venerable mum. "Who-
ever YOU may be" he said, come before ne; 90
not stand behind mo- if yen do. will reduce you to
ashesH The woman, trembling with fear, stood
befure the mani. What is your pctlt!on 7 asked
the mani. Father NUM-" answered the woman
all-knowIng My husband does not love me, and
his other wife having torn of the ouly TUT OF mar
on my head mas aT Fatber Mum Tie t MINT con-
1inuDc sitting, said, Go into the tank which you
see yonder Plunge into Ihe water only once, ara
tank washed in it, and plunged into the water only
once according to the bidding o. the num- hen sue
got out of the water, what q change was seen IN
Ter Her head was full OF lot blacA hair, which was
40 long that touched her hceis her complexion had
become perfectly fair and she looked young ard
besutiiul. Filled with Joy and gratitude, she
r~snt to the mani and bowed herself TO the ground
The mum said to her. Rise, woman. 90 INSIDE the
INIT and you will find number OF wicker baskets,
sud bring out any you like" The woman went into
the hut and selected a understanding basket
The nRni said, Open the basAet." She opened IT,
md founl il filed with ingots of gold. pearls and
all sorts OF precious stones. The nam SAID, Wo-
mar, take that basket with you. IL VIII never get
empty When you take away the present contents
their room Will be supplied by another set, and thai
by another. and that by another, and the basket
win never become empty. Daughter go III peace"
the woman bowed herself down to tho ground in
profound but silent gratitude. and went away.
AS she returning Lomew ard with the basket
in her hand she passed by the tuids plant, whose
bottom she had swept. The tuasi plant s31 to her,
eco in peace child thy husband will love thee
warmlyo She next came TO the shed OF the Brah-
mani bull who gave her two shell ornaments which
were twined round its horns, saying, Daughter,
take these shells put them on your Wrists ana ot
whatever ornaments you wish TO obtain" She then
came the plantan tree; winch gave her onc OF IT'S
broad leaves. saying Take. child. this leaf and
when you move it you VIII get not only all sorts Of
delicious plantaus but all kinds of agreeable food"
Sho came last Of all to the cotton plant which gave
her one of its own branches saying, Daughter.
take this branch and when you shake 1t you Will
get not only all of cotton clothes but also Of
silk and purple. Snake 1t now III my presence"
She shook the branch ana fabric Of the finest
glossy silk fell on her lap. She nut On that SIX
her wrists. and the basket aud the branch aud the
leaf IN her hands.
house. when she "a beautiful woman approach
her She could scarcely believe her eyes, What
change! Tho ola DalU nag ltIDtU lnlO the very
Queen of Beauty herself The elder wife. now
grown rich and beautiful, treated the younger wife
with kindness. She gave her fine Clothes costly
ornaments and the richest vlands. But all to no
purpose. Tho younger ito cnvied tho beauty and
hair of her associate. Having beard that she cot 1t all
from Father NUM- in the forest. she started on her
tourney. She the cotton plant, but did nothing
toit; she passed by tie plantaih tree, tho shed OF
the Brahmani bull, and the tuldSi plant without
taking any notice of them. She approached the
mum. The mani told her to baihe III the tank, and
plunge only, once into the water; She gave one
plunge, at which she got glorious head of Ear and
beautifully fair complexion. She thought
second plunge would make her still more beautiful
Accordingly she plunged into the water again. ard
camo out as bald and ugly as before. She camo to
the nani and wept. The sage drove her awav,
saying, Be OF. you disobedent woman. You will
get no boon from me- She went back to her house
mad with grief. The lord of the two women re-
turued from his travels: and was struck with the
long locks ana beauty of his first wife. He loved
her dearly: and when lie her secret and untold
resources and her incredible wealth, he almost
adorcd her. They lived together happily for many
years. and had for their maid-servant the younger
woman. who had been formerly his best beloved.