The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-28

him. Then prostratiug itself, it cried
''My master, my creator, my father
for l must call you these, because you
have given me new lifel / thank you
for the gift, and if ever you are In dan
ger, or need help, think but of me and
shall be with you. But remember
what the tiger has .old you, for his
words are true. Know, that, three
days ago, was pursuing rat, which
fell into this well, where followed.
The rest you know. Save the rat, II
you will, only beware Of the silver
smith,
So saying, the king OF serpents de-
parted, and was soon out of sight
The young man again let down his
drinking vessel, and, without waiting
to be asked, drew up the rat, which,
like the tiger and the serpent, promised
to serve him, and then ran away.
Now only the man remained in the
well, and he begged for mercy.
"What do these foolish animals
say 2D he cried. "How can they judge
a man? Oh, save me, and I win re-
ward you, and bless you all my life"
AS his thirst was still unquenched,
the youth drew the man up, and again
letting down his vessel, drew up water.
When the two had drunk, the silver
smith said:
"How can show my gratitude TO
you? VIII you not come with me to
my home? 1t lies only half days
journey TO the east, from here.n
But the youth told him Of his In
tended journey TO the Ganges, and the
silversmith answered:
"Speed, then, on your wayl But II
ever you come this way again, visit me
at my house, and shall be honored to
serve my preserver."
And the man also departed.
Towards the end of the day, the
young Indian again went forward. He
soon reached his destination, and spent
ten years in the observanees of his reli-
gious rites, in bathing, praying, fasting
and meditating.
At the end of that time desire came
upon him TO revisit his brother; and
remembering his promise TO avoid the
sen coasts, he returned in the same way
that he had come.
Once more he stood by the well, and
the memories that for ten long years
had lain dormant, filled his mind again.
To test the truth OF what the animals
had said, he thought of the tiger.
Instantly it came running towards
him, and, prostrating itself, dropped at
the young Indians feet beautiful
golden crown, studded with diamonds
and rubies of priceless worth.
"Oh, my preserver, y the least cried,
''why have you so long forgotten your
And then the great king Of the beasts
humbled itself before him, and allowed
itself to be stroked and petted like the
veriest household kitten.
When the young man had dismissed
it, he thought of the serpent, and in
stantly il was before him, dropping at
his feet beautiful emerald, the size of
a robins egg. Expressing its thank
fdlnsss to its preserver, the reptile soon
crept away at his word, and the rat was
summoned in the same way, and came
with a priceless gift, as the other two
had.
When they had all departed, the
man thought;
'If these dumb animals can 50 well
kindness, why not broth
er creature? Therefore will go TO the
and out of kindness will
he dispose of these jewels for me, and
the gold 1 can better carry to my
brothers home.n
So thinking, he travelled eastward
and soon was warmly welcomed by the
In the evening, when the house was
quiet, the young man brought forth his
jewels and showed them to the silver
smith, telling him at the same time
how he obtained them. But when the
beheld them, the evil in
his nature was aroused, but he cleverly
concealed it.
That night, while his guest slept, he
stole forth on a secret errand, returning
before sunrise with band of soldiers.
And when his guest stepped without
the door in the morning 20 survey the
strange city, he was seizsd and carried
by force to the palace.
There the innocent man was brought
before the king, who hid his face and
would not look upon him, and with
out hearing or trial he was cast into
prison. Thus was his fathers prophecy
fulfilled.
But how had the silversmith this
power? We will have to go back TO
the morning of the day when the CRATE
ful animals brought their gifts to their
preserver.
1t happened that morning that the
king with his court had gone hunting
in the forest. Suddenly a tiger had
sprung forth, and while the courtiers
fled in dismay it had pursued the king
and killed him.
When the courtiers returned without
their master, the young prince, who
was now proclaimed king, would net
believe the tale they told him, but
thought his father had been murdered,
for, when search was made, his crown
and his rich jewels were not TO be
found.
Surely the prince said, ga tiger
would not eat them"
So reward was offered for the res
toration of the jewels and the eonvic-
ton OF the murderer. And thus it was
that the siIversmitb, knowing full well
the truth Of his guests story, coveted
the reward offered by the king, and
betrayed his preseryer.
The cell that the Indian. was cast
into happened to be one directly under
the pavement of the highway. Through
an iron grating above dim light pen
etrated to his quarters And what was
his hororr to see countless bodies lying
there. some dead. some owing; and It