The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-17
Crossing MAGNIFICENT gardens.

upon the gardens and the lake. The
marble floors were inlaid with ONYX,
lapis, lazuli and agate.
/ had hardly finished my toilet, when
dignitary of the court, Haribadada,
specially charged with communications
5ctween the Rajah and myself, an
nounced the visit of mis- Sovereign.
The Rajah appeared and again shook
my hand warmly, and began to tell me
a thousand things, constantly asking
nv opinion. which l found great diff
Guilty in giving him. Then he wished
to show me the ruins of an old palace
at the other end of the gardens.
1t was veritable mass of rocks, peo-
pied only by great monkeys. At our
approach they began to scamper over
the stones, making horrible grimaces.
The Rajah laughed madly, and pinched
my shoulder in testimony of his pleas
ure. When he had had enough of this
spectacle, he dragged me through the
gardens back to my palace, and left
me, recalling to me the fact that
grand tiger hunt would take place the
next day in my honor.
| attended this hunt. then a second, a
third, ten, twenty in rapid succession.
We chased in turn all the animals that
the country produced; the panther, the
bear, the elephant, the antelope, the
hippopotamus, the crocodile and half
the beasts in all creation. l was tired
to death of the sport.
At last the ardor of the Rajah abated,
and at my earnest entreaty he left me
little opportunity to work. He con-
tented himself with overwhelming me
with presents. He sent me Jewels, cost
" garments and rare curiosities, which
Haribadada presented to me with a re-
spect apparently as profound as if had
been the Great Mogul himself, although
in his heart he thoroughly despised me.
And every day procession of SER
wants brought me on golden PLACES
portion of the royal repast; each day it
was necessary for me to appear and
take an extreme pleasure in some diver
sion especially gotten up for me.
When l was left to myself worked
or went to see the monkeys, whose So
ciety pleased me infinitely more than
that of the Rajah.
One evening. as / returned from q
walk. found before the door Of my pal
ace Haribadada. solemn as an owl. who
announced to me in mysterious tones
that gift from his Sovereign awaited
me in my chamber; and he offered his
masters excuses for not having sent it
before.
After these somewhat obscure re-
marks the ambassador bowed and dis
appeared.
| entered my room and saw, ranged
along the wall, six little girls standing
side by side. The oldest might have
been eight and the youngest six. At
first could not understand why these
youngsters had been installed in my
house; then | OWNED the delicate atten-
ton of the Prince. it was harem that
he had presented me.
felt inclined to burst into laughter
at the sight of these midgetS, who
gazed at me with their large gray eyes.
did not know what to say to them. /
wanted to send them back, but one can
not return q Sovereign's gift. l must
keep them and find place in my
home for this troop of children. Final
" | said to the oldest:
"What is your name, my child?"
She replied: "Chali."
She had the air of little mouse. I
raised her in my arms and kissed her.
Then. seating myself in Indian fashion,
| motioned to the others to range them
selves around me, and began telling
them fairy stories.
They listened attentively, and trem-
bled with excitement at the marvellous
details. When | had finished, | called
my servant, and had him bring fruits
and candies, of which they eat enough
to make themselves sick. Then l en-
trusted them to his care. directing him
to see that they were made comforta-
BILE.
For eight days 1 found real pleas
ure in playing th0 papa to these little
puppets. We played hide and seek,
pusS in the corner and blindman's buff.
which threw them into transports of
happiness. My palace was turned into
sort of nursery.
Chali was my favorite. We wandered
together among the ruins of the old
palace; we rowed together upon the
lake. and when | was at work she
would sit for hours gazing at me with
her great dreamy eyes. She was 4 gen.
tie, timid little thing. and l grew to
love her as if she had been nv own
child.
The Rajah still continued to lavish
gifts upon me.
One day he sent me curious OBJ
ject which excited in Chali the greatest
admiration. 1t was simply box made
of shells. one of those paper boxes COW
cred with little shells stuck upon the
tops and sides. Here it would cost
perhaps shilling. but there its value
was inestimable. 1t was doubtless the
first that had ever found its way into
the kingdom.
placed it upon table. and left it
there, smiling at the Importance given
this miserable little object.
But Chali could not take her eyes off
it, nor cease to admire it. She kept
asking me: ''Will YOU let ME touch ito
And when | authorised her to. she
raised the cover and shut it with the
greatest care. She careSsed it gently
with her slender fingers. and seemed to
feel at this contact, delicious JOY
which penetrated her very heart.
At last my work was finished. and it
was necessary for me to depart. l WIS
a long time in making up my mind. re-
tanned as l was by my love for my little
friend. Finally. however, had to 90.
The Rajah. in despair. arranged new
hunts and new gladiatorial combats:
but after two weeks of these amuse-
ments declared that l could remain
no longer, and he let me depart.
The adieus of Chali were heartrend-
inncr Gin,