Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10

Dit is always hest to face the creature he
had been talking about 1t was twenty
four foot crocodile, cased in what looked
like treble-Eiveted boiler plate, studded and
keele1 and crested; the yellow points of his
upper teeth just Cverhanging his beautifully
huted lower jaw. 1t was the blunt-nosed
mugger of Mugger-Ghaut, older than any
man in the village, who had given his name
to the village; the demon of the ford, be-
fore the railway bridge came-murderer.
maneater and local fetish in one. He lay
with his chin in the shadows, keeping his
place by an almost invisible ripping of his
tail. and well the jackal knew that one
stroke Of that same tail in the water could
carry the mugger up the bank with the
rush of a steam engine.
"Auspiciously met. Protector of the Poor"
he fawned, backing at every word. A
delectable voice was heard, and we came
in the hopes of sweet conversation. My
tailless presumption, while waiting here,
led me, indeed, to speak of thee. IL Is my
hone that nothing was overheard"
Now. the jackal had spoken Just 10 DC
listened to- for he knew fattery was the
best way of getting things to eat, and the
mugger knew that the jaekal had spoken
for this end and the tackal knew that the
m1gger knew, and the mugger knew that
;he jackal knew that the mugger knew.
and so they were all very contented to-
gether.
The old brute pushed and painted and
grunted up the bank. mumbling: Respect
the aged and infirmr' and all the time his
horny eyelids on the top Of his triangular
head. as ne showed his bloated. barrel body
along between his crutched legs. Then he
settled down. and, accustomed as the Jackal
was to his ways. he could not help starting,
for the hunlredth time. when he saw how
exactly the mugger initiated a log adrift
on the bar. He had even taken pains to
lie at the exact angle naturally stranded
log would make with the water, having
regard to the current of the season at the
time and place. All this was purely me-
chanical, OF course. because the mugSer
had come ashore for pleasure; but n croco-
ollie is Lever quite full. and II the jackal
had been deceived by the likeness he would
rot have lived tc phllosophize over it.
MY child l heard nothing, said the
mugger, shutting one eye. The water was
In my cars, and also W as faint with hun
ger. Since the railway bridge was built
my people at my village have ceased to
love me; and that Is breaking my heart"
'Ah, shlme!' said the jaclIal. 80 noble
a heart, tool But men are all alike to my
mind"
NAY. there are very great differences,
indeed" the mugger answered, gently.
Some are as lean as boat poles. Others,
again, are as fat as young ja-dogs. Never
would | causelessly revile men. They are
of all fashions, but the long years have
shown me that, one with another they are
very good. Men, women and children-I
have no fault to find with them. And re-
member, child, he who rebukes the world
is rebuked by the world
''FIattery is worse than al empty tin can
in the belly. But that which we nave just
heard is wisdom" said the adjutant, bring
ing down one foot.
Consider, though, their ingratitude to
this excellent one began the jackal, ten
derby.
said. They do not think for others, that
is all. But l have noticed, lying at my sta
ton below the ford, that the stairs OF the
new bridge are cruelty hard to climb. both
g.. II a al. a 4
indeed are not so worthy OF consideration,
but | am grieved-I am truly grieved-on
account of the children. Still, think. in
little while, when the newness OF the bridge
has worn away, we snail see my peoples
bare brown legs bravely splashins through
the ford as before. Then The old mugger
will be honored again.
but surely saw marigold wreaths float
Ing off the edge of the ghaut only this
noon,'' said the adjutant Marigold wreaths
are a sign of reverence all India over"
IAN error-an error. 1t was the wife OF
the sweetmeat seller. She loses her eyesfght
year by year, and cannot tell log from
me-the mugger of the ghaut 1 saw the
mistake when she threw the garland. for 1
was lying at the very foot of the ghaut and
had she taken another step l could nave
shown her some little difference. Yet she
meant well, and We must consider the spirit
of her Offering
what good are marigold wreaths when
one is On the rubbish heap?" said the jack
Il,
eye on his protector of the poor.
True but they have not yet begun to
make the rubbish heap that shall carry me.
Five times have i seen the river draw back
from the village and make new land at the
foot of the street. Five times have L seen
the village rebuilt on the banks, and 1 shall
see II built yet five times more. / am no
faithless, fsh-huntng gavlal. l, at Kasi to-
day and Prayag tomorrow, as the saying
is, but the true and constant watcher of the
ford. 1t is not for nothing. child that the
village bears my name and he who watch
es long, as the saying is, shall at last
have his reward. "
Il have watched long--very long-nearly
all my life. and my reward has been bites
and blows" said the jackal
"Ho! Ho! Ho!' roared the adtutant-
I'm August was the jackal born,
The rains fell in September;
Now such a fearful flood as this.
Says he, can't rememberv "
There is some very unpleasant popularity
about the adjutant At uncertain times he
suffers from acute attacks of the fidgetS or
cramp in his legs, and though he is more
virtuOus to behold than any of the cranes,
who are all immensely respectable, he flies
off into wild, cripple silt war dances, half
opening his wings and bobbing his bald
head up and down; while for reasons best
known to himself he Is very careful to time
his worst attacks with his nastiest remarks.
At the last word of his song he came to at
tention again, ten times adJutanter than be-
fore.
The jackal WINGED, though he was full
three seasons old, but you cannot resent
an insult from a person with beak a yard
long, and the power of driving 1t like
javelin. The adjutant was most notorious
coward, but the jackal was worse
I'VE must live before we can learn" said
the mugger, land there Is this to say.
Little jackals are very common, Child, but
such a mugger as l am Is not common.
For all that l am not proud, since pride Is
destruction; but take notice, 1T is Fate. and
against his fate one who swimS or
walks or runs should say anything at all.
l am well con tented with fate. With good
luck, a keen eye and the custom of consid-
ering whether a creek or a backwater has
outlet to it ere you ascend, much may
be done"
"Once / heard that even the Protector
of the Poor made a mistake said the
jaclial.
True; but there my Fate helped me. 1t
was before 1 had come to my full growth
before the last famine but three (by the
Right and Left of Gunga, how full the
streams used to be-in those daysD Yes,
was young and unthinkinS, and when the
flood came. who so pleased as 1? A little
made me very happy then. The village was
deep in flood, and l swan above the ghaut
and went far inland, up to the rice fields,
and they were deep in good mud. 1 remem-
Der also a pair of bracelets (glass they were,
and troubled me not little) that / found
that evening. Yes, glass bracelets; and. If