Wichita eagle., 1888-06-21
TARA.

earliest recollection was of the tinkling
bells on the necks of the focks. She used
to lie awake at night listening to their
music, and wondering whether they, too,
came from the distant stars ike herself,
for her mother had told the little girl that
she had come to them from the brightest
star that was visible through the chinks
f the cottage wall.
Her brothers were named for the things
c the earth to which they belonged. but
Sc. the youngest and dearest, was named
fc the shining place from whence she
cae-Tara. a star.
he bright eyed. gentle Tara often pom
deld these things in her mind as the
day went by, and seed time and harvest
fouwed each other. She dimly remem-
bera great ceremony in which she had
hae part, but who the other actors
wee and what it all meant she did not
kne
yhen she was 2 years old sheques-
tiosd the Bal, her mother, one day about
the ring which pierced her little nose.
''Wy did she wear ring while Soondra,
q ne,hbor's child of her own age, wore
none Was it because she came from the
starr
sign marriage The ceremony which
she duly remembered was the wedding.
Shegas married to Lalu, who was now
far ANY in his own home. did she not
rernener standing on one side Of red
screenwhile Lalu stood Oh the other side
and te family friends threw rice over
them? And when the screen was re-
moved.nd they stood face to face, the
priest the temple tied their clothing
togethe and they fed each other with
sugar, ad were declared married"
''AhP:said the Bal, 1.-The marriage pro-
cession us the grandest ever known in
our villae. Lalu rode a white horse,
which W. entirely covered with gold and
silver spagles and bells, while Lalu him
self wasalmost hidden by garlands of
flowers
Then 10 long line of carts and palan-
quins, fila with children, and behind
them the omen laden with flowers, and
the men bearing torches; while the
musicians ollowed. beating the tomtoms,
and slngin the marriage chant
"Did Tia remember none of this?
Wen, 1t ha taken place when she was
years old Ind they had then given her
the nose rile-the sign of wife-and
Laiu had goe back to his own village in
Baroda, 300 lies away, to await the time
when this tile bride should be old
enough to coe to him"
Then the Ri charged the child that she
should go epry day to the temple and
make offerins of flowers and fruit to
Moroba. and Iur meltsd butter over him,
ind beseech ha not to allow her to be-
rome that vii thing, a widow. If the
husband, who she did not remember
having seen, aould die, she would be
counted as the uRty cause of his death,
hnd would be tIated as such.
The little wiftfollowed her mothers in
functions reGgiusly She searched the
belds for the fai1st and choicest flowers,
and carefully teded and watered her
tulsi bush, so tina the god should have
Its most fragrant lessons; and she poured
melted butter owe his grinning face until
1t trickled down nd lay In little pools
upon the stone for of the temple; and
this was her petitio: "Shri Moroba, be
pleased TO have co1assion upon poor lit
tie Tara. and do Mt let her become a
widow. Spare the lie of her far off Lalu,
and permit him TO boone the father of
many sonsl"
She learned to grintthe grain end bake
the chapatties, so that she might please
the Sassu, her mothe-in-law, when she
should be taken TO her ,ouSe In far away
Baroda
How Tara shuddered >hen she thought
of the Sassu. and of the i1le. Tot far dis
tant now. when she mustleave the gentle
Bal. her mother. and become the slave of
the mother -in-law in whoe presence she
might not speak without prmissioni
at the village well, whsher she went
morning and evening with her water lar
deity poised on her head. sc questioned
the other girls of her ownage as to the
time when they We're to e to their Sas-
sus' houses. and whether tley were not
looking forward TO the time With fear and
trembling
And SO the time went by. SIC sang her
little song as she turned the milestone to
grind the grain. and rolled the ,picy curry
which always garnished the rie at their
evening meal The focks wereherded at
night. and their bells still mademusic to
Tara's ears in the low rooted cottage
where she slept The seasons ONE and
went until Tara was II years cd, when
Ramji. her father. announced tat the
little wife must DOW be taken to lar hus-
bands house.
Embaji, her eldest brother, was to go
with her. and on a fine morning. Just at
the close Of the long rains, they started
on their journey across the country car
rying TsraIs silken bridal robes and ena-
ments and the little dowry of muey
which had been saved for her.
Just as they left the cottage door. he
braying of donkey was heard from
field away at their right. This was god
omen. and gave them hope that they /
might proceed on their journey in safety. /
Ii the hrsying had been heard on Their |
left. they must have returned to the /
house and awaited more suspicious day.
As they descended the winding path 1
leading to the public road they watched
lest perchance lizard should
cross their track, and they still be obliged
TO turn back But no lizard appearing,
they went cheerily on their way, which |
Iay through the heart of the great city.
The streets were full of fierce looking
bearded men armed to the teeth, and little
Tara chung closely to her brother as they
slowly wendell their way through the /
,rowd
They passed num5erless mosques, where I
.he followers of the Prophet co-uld be seen /
themselves On their prayer
Jugs, with their faces devoutlg turned to-
yard Mecca. while from the many pointed |
ninarets the muezzin's call. "Allsh lila /
Allahl" rose above the uproar of the /
streets
Gilt bespangled elephants tramped ma
along. their howdahs filed with
he high born ladies' of the realm, whose
aughing voices reached the ears of the
wo strangers as they forced their way
trough the moving throng, and anon the
lken curtains Of the howdahs were dis
laced by the swaying motion Of the ele-
hants' tread