Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-11-19
THE SIX JUDGES.

queer story of a Brahmin Ia high class
Hindu, Tiger and six unusual
Judges"
Perhaps our readers may find some
lessons in it worth remembering.
Once upon time a Brahmin who
was walking along the road came up
on an iron cage, in which great IL
ger had been shut up by the villagers
who caught him.
AS the Brahmin passed by, the tt
ger called out and said to him: Broth
er Brahmin, Brother Brahmin, have
pity on me and let me out Of this cage
for one minute only to drink a little
water, for I am dying of thirst. "
The Brahmin answered: "No, Twill
not; for if let you out of the cage you
will eat me.
"Oh, father Of fmercyl" answered the
Tiger; "in truth I will not, l will
never be so ungrateful; only let me
out that I may drink some water and
return.
Then the Brahmin took pity on him
and opened the cage door, but no
sooner had he done SO than the Tiger,
jumping out, said: "Now, l will eat
you first and drink the water after
ward" But the Brahmin said:
"Only do not kill me hastily. Let
US ask the opinion of six, and if all of
them say it is just and fair that you
should put me to death, then l am
willing to die"
Very well, answered the Tiger
at shall be as you say; we will first
ask the opinion of siI."
So the Brahmin and the Tiger
walked on till they came to Banyan
tree, and the Brahmin said to it; Ban
yam tree, Banyan tree, hear and give
Judgment.
"On what must I give Judgment"
asked the Banyan tree.
This Tiger" said the Brahmin,
begged me to let him out Of the cage
to drink a little water, and he prom
ised not to hurt me if l did so, but
now that I have let him out, he wish
es to eat me. Isit just that he should
do so or not?"
The Banyan tree answered: "Men
often come and take shelter in the
cool shade under my boughs from the
scorching rays of the sun, but when
they have rested, they cut and break
my pretty branches and waDtonly
scatter my leaves. Let the Tiger eat
the man, for men are an ungrateful
race"
At these words the Tiger would
have instantly killed the Brahmin,
but the Brahmin said: Tiger, Tiger
you must not kill me yet, for you
promised that we should first hear the
Judgment of SIX.
Very well, said the Tiger, and
they went on their way.
After little while they met a
camel. "Sir Camel, Camel" cried the
Brabmin, hear and give judgment,
And the Brabmin related to him how
the Tiger had begged him to open the
cage door and promised not to eat
him if be did SO, and how he after
ward determined to break his word,
and asked if that were just or not.
The Camel replied when was
Young and strong and could do much
work my master took care Of me and
gave me much food, but now am
old and have lost all of my strength
in his service, he overloads me and
starves me and beats me without mer-
cy. Let the Tiger eat the man, ior
men are an unjust and cruel race
The Tiger would have killed the
Brahmin, but the latter said: Stop
Tiger, for We must hear the judg-
ment Of six"
So they both went together on their
way. At little distance they found
a Bullock lying by the roadside. The
Brahmln said: Brother Bullock, Bro
ther Bullock, hear and give judg-
ment.'
"On what must give Judgment
Then the Brahmin said: 81 found
this Tiger in cage, and he prayed
me to open the door and let him oat
to drink little water, and promised
not to kill me If l did so; but when l
let him out he resolved to put me to
death. Is it fair he should DO so or
not?"
The Bullock said: when l vas
able to work, my master fed me we'll
and tended to me carefully, and now
that 1 am old he has forgotten all that