Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-07-15
THE SAHlB'S GOODS.

IHE SAHlDS GUUDS.
! am the bearer. My master is an
English sahh, and not country born,
Like many who live in the city. where
fore he trusts in me, and govern his
household Further, he is not close
listed. but leaves his money lying
about, SO that it is ready to my hand.
Truly, he is a master in every way to
be desired, for does he not know good
tobacco from bad, and smoke those
cigars that | myself most approve of?
speak openly. for this whereof write
will never meet tho sallib's eyes. Who
Is it that sews up the holes in the sa-
hib's socks when they want mending
but /? Who is it that holds the sahib's
head. tlrst Oh one side and then on the
other side, when through exceeding
slcthfuiness he lies in bed and lets the
barber shave him? All these things
and more--do do! / am the sahib's
right hand; without me can he do moth
ing.
Certainly it Is true that the sahib
that Is only when the money runs
short by reason of the many heavy ex-
penSes have had to meet In mine own
household. But. though he is good
master, there are some things l cannot
approve Of In him, for what bearer can
look with favorable eye upon the
young sahibs whom lie honors with his
friendship? Are they not as roaring
lions, and is not their presence to be
mistrusted in any house? Truly, they
have been whelped in wickedness, and
have delighted in rascally conduct
from their youth upward. DO l not
remember the day when four Of them
entered during the sahib's absence,
and, having thrust me aside, did theJ
not do many strange things to the fur
niture and to the sahib's most private
goods? Then, having written letter
and pasted 1t upon the door, they took
their departure. And when the sahib
returned, which was before l could ar
range the house as I approved of, he
was ON the point OF beating me for the
confusion which prevailed ON every
hand, but before he could do so his eye
fell upon the letter the young sahibs
had left pasted ON the door. and then
he laughed and said that this was
marching order! Such is the way l
am vexed by the sahib's friends.
say these few things that all men
may know how stand, and that they
may see how hardly l have been
treated.
1t was one evening. shortly after our
return from the hills. and just before
the approach Of the winter. that the
Presence called to me, and, having
told me that he was going to eat din.
ner at the magistrate sahib's house and
would not be back before midnight, he
babe me sit in the veranda and await
his return. Now, the khansama (th1
butler) was that very evening enter
tanning many friends in the babbourchi
khana. which Is the cooking house; so,
having reflected that the sahib was
thoughtless. and therefore could not IN
derstand that the veranda WAS not !;
pleasant place to sit In after the fall of
the night, l closed all the doors care
fully, and. having exhorted the chow
kidhar to keep strict watch lest thieves
should pass that way and steal what
they listed, | wendell my way to the
babbourchi khana. Truly. we were q
merry company, and had many things
to say to each other as we smoked our
hookahs and ate such sweets as the
bunma tthe grocer) had sent around as
reward for our having been silent
on the matter of the short weight and
the inferior quality Of the articles with
which he supplied the sahib. Then
suddenly i'll the midst Of the converse
there came to our ears from over the
mud wall OF the compound the sound
Of tamtams and of much shouting and
singing, and as we looked forth we saw
that It was marriage procession and
that there was a great crowd and the
glare of many torches.
Now, l recollected that this must BIZ
the marriage Of one Khudah Bux. whose
mother had sewn the wedding gar
ments that my uncle's wife's sister hat
worn; therefore. having looked to see
that the chowdikhar was diligent il
his watch, invited the khansana ant
his friends. and together we Went Il
the bridegroom's house. All! it was
open house, and such was the liberal
hy that prevailed that we stayed unit
about half an hotlz Of the time OF thu
saliib's expected return. But as W.
turned to leave noticed a man hiding
away In a dark corner, as II he Stunned
our sight, wherefore hailed him forth
ard, behold, u was the chowkidhar
who had left Ms post.
.laise up!' ! cried. seizing him b,