nicely whitewashed house which was very neat and clean inside, but situated in a very lonely place. There sat in the veranda of one of the rooms an old lady, all alone, who was making, in the twinkling of an eye, thousands and thousands of Saris.[1] The wind introduced her to Dukhu, saying that the old lady was the moon's mother, with the world's cotton at her disposal. The girl was tempted to ask for some, but was told that she must first refresh herself a little before receiving the gift. She was directed to go and bathe in a river close by, but no sooner had she dipped her head in it and drawn it up again than she was turned into a surpassingly beautiful damsel, adorned with the richest gems and ornaments of gold. On her return to the house, dishes of the choicest food were placed before her, but she did not touch them. She ate only a handful of stale rice, lying neglected in one of the corners of the room. The moon's mother then told her to go into an adjoining room where she would find an abundant stock of the best cotton in big closed chests, any one of which she might take. She did not take any of these, however, selecting a very small chest, lying apart, which she placed before her benefactress. The latter approved her choice and dismissed her, pouring blessings on her head.
On her way homewards she met her old acquaintances the horse, the plantain tree, and the cow, and they respectively presented her with a swift-winged colt, a begemmed necklace in a basketful of gold mohurs, and a calf belonging to that species which, whenever required, gives milk as sweet as nectar.
As soon as she reached home her mother, who had been restlessly awaiting her return, ran forward to embrace her. But what was the poor woman's surprise when she saw the treasures her daughter had brought. Dukhu told her bewildered mother the story of her adventures, and the latter, with a heart overflowing with joy, ran to Shookhu and her mother, recounting the good fortune that had visited Dukhu,
- ↑ The broad-bordered piece of cloth worn by a Bengali woman.
