Lifes Handicap | Page 2

in the service of the Government.'
'Then what do you write?' said Gobind. 'Come nearer, for I cannot see
your countenance, and the light fails.'
'I write of all matters that lie within my understanding, and of many
that do not. But chiefly I write of Life and Death, and men and women,
and Love and Fate according to the measure of my ability, telling the
tale through the mouths of one, two, or more people. Then by the
favour of God the tales are sold and money accrues to me that I may
keep alive.'
'Even so,' said Gobind. 'That is the work of the bazar story-teller; but he

speaks straight to men and women and does not write anything at all.
Only when the tale has aroused expectation, and calamities are about to
befall the virtuous, he stops suddenly and demands payment ere he
continues the narration. Is it so in your craft, my son?'
'I have heard of such things when a tale is of great length, and is sold as
a cucumber, in small pieces.'
'Ay, I was once a famed teller of stories when I was begging on the
road between Koshin and Etra; before the last pilgrimage that ever I
took to Orissa. I told many tales and heard many more at the
rest-houses in the evening when we were merry at the end of the march.
It is in my heart that grown men are but as little children in the matter
of tales, and the oldest tale is the most beloved.'
'With your people that is truth,' said I. 'But in regard to our people they
desire new tales, and when all is written they rise up and declare that
the tale were better told in such and such a manner, and doubt either the
truth or the invention thereof.'
'But what folly is theirs!' said Gobind, throwing out his knotted hand.
'A tale that is told is a true tale as long as the telling lasts. And of their
talk upon it--you know how Bilas Khan, that was the prince of
tale-tellers, said to one who mocked him in the great rest-house on the
Jhelum road: "Go on, my brother, and finish that I have begun," and he
who mocked took up the tale, but having neither voice nor manner for
the task came to a standstill, and the pilgrims at supper made him eat
abuse and stick half that night.'
'Nay, but with our people, money having passed, it is their right; as we
should turn against a shoeseller in regard to shoes if those wore out. If
ever I make a book you shall see and judge.'
'And the parrot said to the falling tree, Wait, brother, till I fetch a prop!'
said Gobind with a grim chuckle. 'God has given me eighty years, and
it may be some over. I cannot look for more than day granted by day
and as a favour at this tide. Be swift.'
'In what manner is it best to set about the task.' said I, 'O chiefest of
those who string pearls with their tongue?'
'How do I know? Yet'--he thought for a little--'how should I not know?
God has made very many heads, but there is only one heart in all the
world among your people or my people. They are children in the matter
of tales.'

'But none are so terrible as the little ones, if a man misplace a word, or
in a second telling vary events by so much as one small devil.'
'Ay, I also have told tales to the little ones, but do thou this--' His old
eyes fell on the gaudy paintings of the wall, the blue and red dome, and
the flames of the poinsettias beyond. 'Tell them first of those things that
thou hast seen and they have seen together. Thus their knowledge will
piece out thy imperfections. Tell them of what thou alone hast seen,
then what thou hast heard, and since they be children tell them of
battles and kings, horses, devils, elephants, and angels, but omit not to
tell them of love and suchlike. All the earth is full of tales to him who
listens and does not drive away the poor from his door. The poor are
the best of tale-tellers; for they must lay their ear to the ground every
night.'
After this conversation the idea grew in my head, and Gobind was
pressing in his inquiries as to the health of the book.
Later, when we had been parted for months, it happened that I was to
go away and far off, and I came to bid Gobind good-bye.
'It is farewell between us now, for I go a very long journey,' I said.
'And I also. A longer