| The Rats Wedding |
| Written by Administrator | ||||
Page 3 of 6 So just for the fun of the thing, and to amuse themselves at the Rat-s expense, the neatherds loosed the buffalo-s halter and began to tie it to the little animal-s tail.-No! no!- he called, in a great hurry; -if the beast pulled, the skin of my tail would come off, and then where should I be? Tie it round my neck, if you please.- So with much laughter the neatherds tied the halter round the Rat-s neck, and he, after a polite leave-taking, set off gaily towards home with his prize; that is to say, he set off with the rope, for no sooner did he come to the end of the tether than he was brought up with a round turn; the buffalo, nose down grazing away, would not budge until it had finished its tuft of grass, and then seeing another in a different direction marched off towards it, while the Rat, to avoid being dragged, had to trot humbly behind, willy-nilly. He was too proud to confess the truth, of course, and, nodding his head knowingly to the neatherds, said, -Ta-ta, good people! I am going home this way. It may be a little longer, but it-s much shadier.- And when the neatherds roared with laughter he took no notice, but trotted on, looking as dignified as possible. -After all,- he reasoned to himself, -when one keeps a buffalo one has to look after its grazing. A beast must get a good bellyful of grass if it is to give any milk, and I have plenty of time at my disposal.- So all day long he trotted about after the buffalo, making believe; but by evening he was dead tired, and felt truly thankful when the great big beast, having eaten enough, lay down under a tree to chew the cud. Just then a bridal party came by. The bridegroom and his friends had evidently gone on to the next village, leaving the bride-s palanquin to follow; so the palanquin bearers, being lazy fellows and seeing a nice shady tree, put down their burden, and began to cook some food. -What detestable meanness!- grumbled one; -a grand wedding, and nothing but plain rice pottage to eat! Not a scrap of meat in it, neither sweet nor salt! It would serve the skinflints right if we upset the bride into a ditch!- -Dear me!- cried the Rat at once, seeing a way out of his difficulty, -that is a shame! I sympathise with your feelings so entirely that if you will allow me I-ll give you my buffalo. You can kill it, and cook it.- -Your buffalo!- returned the discontented bearers, -what rubbish! Whoever heard of a rat owning a buffalo?- -Not often, I admit,- replied the Rat with conscious pride; -but look for yourselves. Can you not see that I am leading the beast by a string?- -Oh, never mind the string!- cried a great big hungry bearer; -master or no master, I mean to have meat to my dinner!- |
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