The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-02-16
THE FARMER and
THE MONEY LENDER
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FROM THE HINDoo.

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There was once farmer who suffer
ed much at the hands of money lend
err. Good harveStS or bad. the farmer
was always poor, the money lender
rich. At the last, when he hadn't a
farthing left. the farmer went TO the
money lenders house and said. "You
can't squeeze water from stone, and
as you have nothing to get by me now
you might tell me the secret of becom-
ing rich"
"My friend" returned the money
lender piously, "riches come from Ram.
Ask him."
THANK you: WILL" replied the sim
pie farmer. SO he prepared three grid
dlecakes to last him on the journey and
set out to find Ram.
First he met a Brahman, and TO him
he gave a cake. asking him to point out
the road TO Ram. but the Brahman only
took the cake and went on his way
without word Next the farmer met
a iogi or devOtee, and TO him he gave
cake without receiving any help in re-
turn. At last he came upon a poor man
sitting under tree. and. finding that he
was hungry, the kindly farmer gave
him his last cake and. sitting down TO
rest beside him, entered into cOnversa-
ton.
"And where are you gOingF" asked
the poor man at length.
"Oh, have a long journey before me-
for am going TO find RAM replied
the farmer. 81 don't suppose you could
tell me which way to g0T
perhaps l can" said the poor man
smiling. for l am Ram. What do you
want of me?"
Then the farmer told the whole story.
and Ram. taking pity on him, gave
him a conch shell and showed him how
to blow it in a particular way, saying:
Remember. whatever you wish for
you have only TO blow the conch that
way and your wish will be fulfilled.
Only have a care Of that money lender,
for even magic is not proof against
his wiles"
The farmer went back to his village
rejoicing. In fact. the money lender
noticed his high spirits at once and
said to himself, "Some good fortune
must have befallen the stupid fellow
to make him hold his head so jaunti-
w." Therefore he went over TO the
simple farmers house and cOngratu-
lated him on his good fortune in such
cunning words. pretending to have
beard all about it, that before long the
farmer found himself telling the whole
story-all except the secret Of blowing
the conch. for, with all his simplicity,
the farmer was not quite such a fool
as to tell that
Nevertheless the money lender de-
termined to have the conch by hook
or by crook, and as he was villain
enough not 10 stick at tritles he waited
for a favorable opportunity and stole
the cOnch.
But after nearly bursting himself
with blowing the conch in every con-
ceivable way he was obliged to give
up the secret as bad job. However
being determined to succeed, he went
back to the farmer and said coolly:
''Look here I've got your cOnch, but
/ can't use it. You haven't got it. so
it's clear you can't use it either. Bust
ness is at standstill unless we make
a bargain. Now. | promise TO give
back your concb and never to interfere
with your using ii on one condition,
which is this: Whatever you get from
it am to get double"
Never cried the farmer. THAT
would be the old business all over
again"
"Not at all" replied the willy money
lender. You will have your share
Now, don't be a dog in the manger. for
If you get all you want what can 1t
matter TO you If am rich or poor"
At last. though it went sorely against
the grain to be Of any benefit to mon
ey lender, the farmer was forced to
yield. and from that time, no matter
what he gained by the power Of the
conch. the money lender gained double
And the knowledge that this was so
preyed upon the farmers mind day
and night so that he had no satisfac-
ton out of anything.
At last there came a very dry season,
SO dry that the farmers crops withered
for want of rain. Then he blew his
conch and wished for a well to water
them, and 10, there was the well. but
the money lender had two-two beau
tiful new wells. This was too much
for any farmer to stand, and our friend
brooded over it and brooded over it IN
til at last bright idea came into his
head. He seized the conch, blew 1t
loudly and cried out. "Oh, Ram, wish
to be blind of one eyer And so he was
in a twinkling, but the money lender Of
course was blind Of both, and in trying
to steer his way between the two new
wells he fell into one and was drowned
Now, this true story shows that a
farmer once got the better of a money
lender, but only by losing one Of his
eyes.-St. Louis Post Dispatch