United States or Palau ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
'In that case, he said, 'we had better begin now, and have a fair start. So without more ado they squatted down on the floor, with the brass pot full of khichri between them, and began to eat as fast as they could. 'Remember to leave some for the bear, wife, said the woodman, speaking with his mouth crammed full. 'Certainly, certainly, she replied, helping herself to another handful.
'With pleasure, said the Blacksmith, 'if you will light the fire and blow the bellows. So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so doing he fell right in to the very middle of the -fire, and was burnt! So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the khichri. Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap.
Then the King awoke from his enchantment, and his anger rose against the wicked white hind who had bewitched him so long, until he could not contain himself. So she was put to death, and her grave ploughed over, and after that the seven Queens returned to their own splendid palace, and everybody lived happily. A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have khichri for dinner.
Finally, he declared he would take the wood away again, but, as the crafty old woman had imagined, when he came to the task, he did not care, even for the sake of revenge, to carry so heavy a burden. 'I won't go away empty-handed, said he to himself, seizing the khichri pot; 'if I can't get the taste I'll have the smell!
At last, the woodman turned round and declared he would not work any more unless his wife gave him khichri to his dinner; so with a very bad grace the old woman took some rice and pulse, some butter and spices, and began to cook a savoury khichri. What an appetising smell it had, to be sure! The woodman was for gobbling it up as soon as ever it was ready.
Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the khichri hot; I'll be with you in a trice. Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the khichri.
'Would would eight hundredweight do? 'Say half a ton, and it's a bargain! quoth the woodman. 'Half a ton is a large quantity! sighed the bear. 'There is saffron in the khichri, remarked the woodman casually. The bear licked his lips, and his little eyes twinkled with greed and delight. 'Well, it's a bargain!
'The fact is, he added confidentially, smacking his lips, 'she has made such a khichri for dinner! and if I bring in a good bundle of wood she is pretty sure to give me a plentiful portion. Oh, my dear fellow, you should just smell that khichri! At this the bear's mouth began to water, for, like all bears, he was a dreadful glutton.
'If I take these pears home I shall be able to sell them for ever so much to the other bears, and then with the money I shall be able to buy some khichri. Ha, ha! I shall have the best of the bargain after all!
Please give me a sickle, For if you do so The Grass I can mow As food for the Cow; Madam Cow will give milk To the Deer sleek as silk; The pain will be borne, He will give me his horn, And I'll dig a clean rill For the water to fill; Then I'll wash beak and feet And the nice khichri eat; Though I really don't know What the Sparrow can mean, For I'm sure, as Crows go, I'm remarkably clean!
Word Of The Day