The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-20
A HINDU RING.

An indian priest was saying his even
ing prayers on the ghGut, or broad flight
Of steps which led down into the river
for the convenience of bathers The
narrow belt of thread suspended like a
sash from his left shoulder proclaimed
him to be Brahmin.
He had finished his additions and was
making small line of ashes in the
middle of his forehead, and his coun-
tenance, as he gazed at the setting sun.
was rapt in ecstatic contemplation with
the spirit he had sought and found even
amidst asensuous maze of surrounding
idOlatry.
This man was one who came as near
realizing in his proper person the nobler
aspirations of the Hindus, as it is
possible for frail humanity in any land
to incarnate the teachings of this re-
Ggious book.
tie strove, as the Vedas taught, to
''oppose to the attacks of sin heart as
dhard as diamond; to make no differ
ence between friends and enemies, and
TO exercise over each the same benevo-
renee; to expend all his energy in dis
polling the gloom of ignorance in which
mankind is plunged; to thrust far from
him every criminal impulse and practice
arts of virtue"
A terrible interruption, however. was
stealing upon his devout meditations.
was 1t written that noU was the ap-
pointed time for him to pass into another
oil those repeated births, through which
after the expiration of ages, he could
hope to enter Nirvana-the mystical
Hnion with the divine essence?
One of the deadliest serpents of India
was gliding noiselessly along the steps
toward his feet--One moment more, and
1t would be too late. Suddenly, a swift
and well-aimed missile, though only a
stone, cleft the neck of the baleful rep
tile, and writhing in hideous contortions
1t fell into the river among the aquatic
plants at the base of the ghaut.
The native turned, and in an instant
understood his deliverance. Nor was it
she first favor received from the same
source. At little distance from him
stood the American who had charge of
che mission at Agea.
With stately simplicity he stretched
out his right hand toward his preserver,
who was smiling pleasantly at him, and
pronounced the word ''astrUadan,n ~
Ibenediction). Then he thanked him
IN Hindustanee, with the fiowery rhet-
oric characteristic of his language, for
the admirable presence of mind which
had saved him; he also alluded forcibly
to the revolving ceremonies of serpent
worship sometimes practiced at the
festivals of silva. He. was tinged with
a nh Nhxy &c
the groveling superstition of Maya
worship was abhOrrent to his soul.
Hence he doublY welcomed the blow the
missionary's steady hand had dealt.
What could he do in return to reward
the foreigner who had been the manifes-
tation of the Divine will in his behalf?
1.-The sound of charitable deeds is heard
through the three worlds" Pansne to
reflect moment. the Hindu took ring
from his own finger, recited over it a
famous nanntrt, or prayer only used bv
priests, in solemn whisper the mis-
sionary could not have understood had
1T been audible, for it was in Sanscrit.
Invoking for him purity of motive, good
health and felicity after death. He
pressed this gift upon his acceptance;
u
soft accent, which suggested that for
some unexplained reason refusal might
be dangerous.
"Never part with this ringr' he added,
impresSively, 'you, nor your children
after you" The minister examined the
bauble-of what use could such an orna-
ment be to him? He decided at a glance,
it was of little or no intrinsic value,
simply dull, rusty black stone OF CON
siderable size, but devoid of artistic
beauty. He would accept it, however,
in the spirit of the Offering, as a souve-
mir of good mans gratitude; it would
be an agreeable reminder of one excep-
ton to II tive apathy and craft.
With courteous expressions of thanks
he withdrew further along the landing
place to enjoy the evening air from the
river and to taste after tropical day
that delicious repose which is the happi-
ness of the East.
Fifteen years later found the mission
airy enjoying his eternal rest after long
day of labor, and his only daughter,
Irene, far from India, far from that
white dream of architecture, the Tai
Mahal, in whose shadow at Agra her
childhood and youth had been spent
She had inherited her fathers virtues,
his poverty and the Brahmin's ring. A
lone woman now, in our own city of
philadelphia, she was visiting some
friends Of her mother until her future
should assume more definite cast; and
yet not quite alone, in spite of her
Orphanhood.
Her lover, Elmer Paulson. himself
returned Indian exile, was trying, with