The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-05

But Gunga wasted her husbands wages in buying
fine clothes for herself and for her baby. Ram. while
Anunda saved all the money she could for the benefit
OF her husband and their baby, Sta
After years, when the two little girls
about five years old, Gunga's husband reproached his
wife constantly because by her extravaganza he
stin poor, while Anundas husband had been able to
purchase and goats with the money which she
had saved
Gunga could bear her husbands reproach longer,
She became violently jealous of her sister, whom both
the praised, and last she resolved to kill her.
So day, when the sisters drawing water from
the taiao, or large deep tank, the edge of which
part, where she seemed to drown But the god
krishna changed her that her soul went into the
day, when the two children bathed there alone
lfor Gunga was afraid to battle again in that tank).
the old tortoise to little Sta, and gave her
good things to eat which made her very strong and
plump
Gunga asked her daughter: what makes your
cousin SO plump. while your SO lean? Do not
give her only the scraps while you have always the
best food, much you eat"
Little Rami then told her mother about the tortoise
which fed her cousin and Gungas anger was great
She told her daughter to feign sickness and to ask
her father (when he inquired about her healthy to
flesh
Sta heard and ran in distress to the tank Finding
the tortoise she cried: "Oh mother, they will kill
you to make food for my cousnp
Never mind" said the tortoise. II know they will
and to you only small bone. Take that bone and
plant in the yard and visit the place for three days
Everything happened as the tortoise foretoid She
killed and made into broth The
by Gunga and her child; and bore given to
Sita who concealed it and at nigh. planted it in the
garden. Next day she prayed and wept there; and
her tears fell upon the ground to her great astonsh
ment young mango-tree six feet high from the
earth. On the second day the Tree twenty feet
high and when the child prayed with her little
round the stem, the green flowers opened on the
branches. On the third day the tree full grown
and Sta came to her prayers under its
shade the fruit ripened and the leaves rusted and
whispered kind words to her from her mother.
Sta brought her basket and held it under the
while the beautiful ripe fruit fell into it Then she
took the basketfu her and cousin. Gunga
then the tree but fruit fell into her basket
and when she sent man to pick the mangoes they all
withered in his hands.
So the farmers told the women and children: Let
pick this fruit but Sta for it is plain that the
gods have given her this tree for herself"
There never such tree in the world. Every
day in the year it furnished her with large basket
of ripe mangoe of which she to the family,
and the rest she sold
Her father kept the money for her, and when the
children grew to young madens there were many oers
of marriage for the pretty Sta who quite rich;
but none for her cousin Ram
cut down the tree Hsr husband WA. as yerv angr h.
it could not be helped there nothing for it but
to use the wood to feed the FIRE
Sta managed to cluster of green leaves
from the tree, and this she bound up with beautiful
bunch of flowers and sorrowing, cast it into the river
The god ptied her devotion and the flowers
oated down the stream voice called to her: Return
tomorrow" Now she knew that this mortal
voice which spoke to her; the next day she returned
and another offering of flowers upon the stream;
and before they touched the water, hand rose out
Sta perceived HORSEPOWER floating the stream
such flower before, for it shone
like the moon and .sparkled the stars.
The girl then knew that the gods had helped her
again TO recover her mother in another form; for
when she entered the stream the glorious flower
approached her and rested her shoulder, where il
spoke sweet, mothery words to her.
The fame of the flower went into all the country.
and thousands came to see 1t; but no one except
Anundas child could approach it, for when any one
else tried to touch it. it closed its leaves and vanished
under water But Gunga was happy. because there
were no more suitors for her niece, now that the
mango-tree was dead.
At last the Prince heard of the wondrous flower.
and TO the river to it, He sent in his
to pluck t-but in vain. The whole army went after
it, but of them could touch the lotus. At
last the Prince said: Il will make any my vzir
pucks it, l will give her handsome dowry; and IL
maiden brings IT to me, will make her my wife"
So Sta covered herself from head foot in a vel.
and walked up to her waist into the river The flower
Immediately shone brighter then ever, and approached
the girl In the water. When the soldiers il
approaching they rushed in gather it; but it again
receded until the Prince ordered them to come out
and leave the veied woman alone. In another
minute the flower IN her hand, and she sti1 veied
stepped of the river and offered the lotus to the
Prince.
He took the flower, and as he did so he raised her
veil excairing: Here is blossom still beaut-
full than the enchanted lotus !"
Then he married the maiden. and they placed the
flower in golden a bracket between their
thrones and there the flower bloomed all their happy
lives
Sta, the Princess. did not punish her cruel Aunt
Gunga, because of her affection for her uncle
and for her little cousin; but she gave them pension
and them live fertile island, that Gunga
should not come hurt her
The Princess took good of her father, and
when her eldest grew to be twenty years old he
piously performed the obseques of the old man. who
died at that time.
And If you look at the carved ivory thrones in the
palaces of Travancore, you how the magic
lotus is carved on them all. which shows that the