, 1890-07-01
SANTHAL'S RIFLE.

Santhnl was a little Indian boy, who
lived with his grandfather in a snall vii
lage on the Hooghly river, Il few miles
south Of Utterpara- They belonged to thu
very poor class Of people, and it was dill.
cult for them to get enough rice and meat
to supply their daily needs.
But when little Santhal's grandfather
was taken sick IL seemed as II one or the
other would have TO starve. The boy tried
hard to gather enough food to prevent his
old parent from suffering; but he often
had to go for long periods without any
thing to eat for himself
One day he had been less successful than
usual in gathering bamboo rice, and he re
turned to his bungalow at noon tired and
discouraged. His grandfather, from lack
OF good, nourishing food, was gradually
FILLING. The boy looked at the wan, pinched
face Of bis sick relative until the tears rolled
down his cheeks in little rivers. II his
grandfather should die he would be left
alone In the world, with no one to love or
care for him.
II will go to Utterpara and beg" he sud.
denly gnsped between his sobs. 81 will get
some medicine for grandfather"
Although he had not eaten ANYTHING
since morning. the boy stole out Of the sick
ROOM, and began his journey to Utterpara.
He buokled his belt tightly around his
waist. and then started on "A quick jog. His
journey lay along the main roadway, where
he met mHny passing pedestrians,
SanthRl did not notice any Of these. lie
looted neither 10 the right nor to the left
until he reached the English dispensary.
where he had determined TO seek aid.
The boy had never been inside OF this
foreign" building, where many of his
eountrymen were stretched out upon clean,
..laN. AAs M.
ing carefully attended to made the boy feel
%envious, and he longed to get his grand.
father inside Of the hospital.
A kindly looking man approached the
boy, As he stood near the door with wide
open eyes, and asked him his mission.
Grandfather Is SICK" Sauthal blurted
out, tears starting TO his eyes again at the
remembrance Of the one he had left be
hind HE wants medicine n food. He
will die and leave Santhal alone II you
don't come and help him"
You need food, too. my little man."
said the good doctor, as he noticed the lean.
hungry look on his face.
Santhal did not say no, for he felt faint
and weak from his run, but his eloquent
eyes pleaded for bis grandfather rather
than for himself.
Come In here" the doctor said, and
eat something before you return"
He then led the boy into au adjoining
room, where n warm dinner was quickly
spread before him. Santhal had never
seen such Injuries, and his eyes bulged out
will eager expectation. He could hardly
tell his story TO his new friend, so anxious
WINS he TO eat. The doctor watched him
with II quiet smile on his face, and manag-
ed finally to elicit from him his whole
story.
We'll. | will take some of the food TO
your grandfather in this basket" the doc
tor said, and carry him some medicine.
You can come homo later. My carriage
will only hold one. and you will nave to
walk back"
Santhal said he did not mind the walk
bone after eating such "A dinner. He
would enjoy the run bnck.
you might carry my rifle with YOU"
the doctor continued, land IL you see any
game on the way you can shoot IL. A lit
tie fresh meat will be good for your grand
father"
Now Santhal had great respect for the
English rifles, and It had always been a
great ambition of his to own one. Several
times he had handled them, and longed to
shoot one off. But they were very costly
and he doubted II he could
ever afford to get ono.
III I had one L could make n good nv-
thA ~ o'g ~
himself. "I eould go out into the jungles,
and ~ game and sell the skins. We would
mover be hungry any more then"
The thought OF carrying one OF the nice
ly polished rifles hone with him made his
heart jump with pride. He ate his dinner
hurriedly, and was ready to start nearly as
soon as tho doctor.
1t was n fine light Snider rife, made
after the most approved fashion, and
&unfhal han1lad kf m ar.f,,II. -
n glass watch. lie hurried through the
city with 1t under his arms, intending TO
look around for game as soon us he
reached the country.
In the lower part Of Utterpara the city
was thickly populated by the very poor.
and as Santhal passed through this low
quarter many admiripg glanocs were cast
ut his brightly poliahed rifle. Santhnl
walked along as proudly Us IL the rifle be-
longed to him, and in his heart he secretly
wished that something would happen so
that he could have a ohance to shoot It of.
As II to crafty his wishes the loud trum.
peting of an an"-v -ls-'
Co. -.s,nant Jdst then
startled the people in their bungalows and
on the streets. In a few minutes a terrible
cry was carried from mouth to mouth that
made many stout hearts tremblo.
A large elephant that had been taken
down to the Hooghly river had suddenly
become furious, and began to run about In
the water. The elephant driver, who had
been riding him, gave the alarm, but a
bhoyee (dooley bearer) who was attempting
to run away was caught in his trunk aud
dung into the air. The man rose to the
height of about twenty feet, and was
crushed. to death in the fall.
The elephant then ran across the bridge,
and, finding a man running there, caught
hold Of him also and dashed him against a
wall. The maddened beast then entered
the city on a swift trot. The elephant
driver had meanwhile chung to his seat
and avoided the blows OF the animals
trunk, which again and again was twirled
around his head to dislodge the driver.
The greatest excitement prevailed in the
city. Every one was fleeing from the an
gry beast, ard a great amount OF danger
was anticipated. There were no English
men around, and none of the natives were
armed with rifles. None of them were abls
to afford such luxuries.
Santhal was the only one in the crowd
hat possessed at that time one Of the dead.
AFnlra RnIvc.