Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-05-18
made the best arrangement for the little

made the best arrangement for the little
wife.
The following week Jairam, who was
In the employ of one of the Kattiawar
chiefs, was ordered to a distant part of
the province. Then very serious ques-
ton presented itself, for Jairam must
take his family with HIM "What would
they do with Taral" They could not
take her along, and they dared not leave
her behind alone.
While they sat in the doorway dis
cussing the matter in very loud tones,
two strange women came along, and
hearing the loud voices, they stopped
and inquired what was the matter. Jai-
ram said "Here we have this girl on
our hands, and we know not what to do
with her. Her brother was taking her
to her husband in Baroda, when he was
called back to Hyderabad by the death
of his father. We promised 10 keep her
safely until his return, but we are Or
dered away, and there is no one to look
after the child"
The women said: "Why, we are on
our way to Hyderabad now, and your
best plan will be to put her in our charge
and we will take her backto her brother,
then after the funeral ceremonies are
over, he can start again with Tara"
The simple minded Jairam thought
this very good solution to the prob
lem, and at once gave the girl into their
keeping, with her silken garments, jew
elry, and money.
The women led her along quietly until
they came to wild, desolate part of the
country, when they tore off her gar
ments, seized her bridal robes, iewelry
and money, and tying her hands and
feet, prepared to kill her. Tara had no
suspicion of their purpose until they
commenced tying her, when she screamed
Justify.
Fortunately cartman was passing on
the other side of the hedge, who rushed
to her rescue, and reported the women
to the district police. They were ar
rested and brought before the English
magistrate, who was making his annual
tour in that neighborhood; Tara's prop
erty was recovered, and the women were
sent to prison.
Then Tara was left on the magistrates
hands, and he placed her under the care
of his buffers wife, expecting that her
friends would claim her as soon as he
could communicate with them. But
just at this time the magistrate was
transferred to the Ahmedpore district,
which lies one hundres miles nearer
Hyderabad.
A district magistrate lives in his tents,
and moves trough the districts with much
tent furniture and a large retinue of
servants and camp followers; so with the
buffers family went little Tara. AS soon
as they reached the city the magistrate
inquired for place of refuge where the
girl could remain uutil her frinds should
claim her. He was told that "Madam
Sahib" had a school where girls of Tara's
age were cared for, and to the "Sahib's"
bungalow the magistrate hastened at
once.
the "Madam Sahib' was very willing
to receive Tara into her school, but
thought it would not be we'll for her to
enter the boarding department, as that
would destroy the child's caste, and
make much trouble for her after her re-
turn to her friends.
So Telugu woman of Tara's own
caste was found, who promised to feed
and otherwise care for her, and she en-
tered the school as a day scholar.
And now began a new life for Tara.
Until she was brought before the magis-
trate, few days before, she had never
even seen a white person. New she was
wakened each morning by the bugle call,
and she saw troops of Highlanders and
other uniformed soldiers marching in
and around the grand old fort, with
colors flying and bagpipes playing.
She was now in a large, bustling city,
and there was nothing to remind her Of
her old home except the tinkling of the
bells as the herds were driven outside
the gates in the morning and brought
back at night
She had never thought of learning to
read. None of her family or neighbor:
could read or write, and there had never
been any necersity for such accomplish
ments.
When one of them wished to send 6
letter, he called in the village scribe tc
write it for him, and also to read the
answer when it came. Why should they
learn to read2 Their fathers and grand
fathers before them had never learned
and the ways of their fathers were gooc
enough for them"
Now here was Tara learning to reat
and write and sing and embroider. /
was delightful for her--infnitely bette
than the Sassu's house, where she woul(
be obliged to work 80 hard.
The magistrate and Lessib Sahib wrot,
to Hyderabad aud Baroda, but no answe
came. Little Tara could give no direc
tions for writing. She only knew tina
her brothers name was Limbaji, son o
Ramji, but there were many Limbaji
and Ramjis in Hyderabad, and the let
ters never reached the Limbaji TO
for whom they were intended. He
husbands name was Lalu, and he LIVED
in Baroda, but more she could not tell
and Lalu received no letter. So Tara re
mained in the school, and as she wa
diligent and studious, she made gooC
progress in her studies.
Years passed, with no tidings from
Hyderabad or Baroda, and the time hat
come when Tara's class was to graduat
from the school. 1t was great day fo
those young girls. The hall was crowd
ed with the native gentry of the city
for 1T was still a novel sight to see girl
reading and writing.
AS it happened, native chief was jus
spending little time in the city. H
had been on pilgrimage to the holy cit
of Benares, and was on his way back t,
his province in the South Marathi coun
try. Hearing that all the best peopl
would be at the school, he too came t.
gee what it was like. He was immensel,
pleased with the exercises and coult
scarcely find words to express his appre
ciatlon.