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TALE SEVEN
THE FORTUNES OF SHRIKANTHA
There was once a lad, the son of a Brahman, who was neither very poor nor very rich, very good nor very bad, very wise nor very foolish, but who had the kindest heart in all the world. His name was Shrikantha, and he lived long ago in India. When he was old enough to do as he liked, he sold all that he had and bought three pieces of cloth goods, very fine and handsome, and with these he was minded to trade and make his fortune. He bade his parents good-by and started forth to journey to a near-by city where he thought he might trade to the best advantage.
He had not gone far before he came upon a band of cruel boys who were tormenting a little mouse.
"Stop!" said Shrikantha, in anger.
