her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut. She should continue
to worship Shukra in this way every Friday for a whole year, and in
the end the goddess would certainly do something for her. The Brahman
woman thought the advice good, and every Friday she worshipped Shukra
and had a married friend to dine with her just as her neighbour had
advised her.

Now the Brahman woman had a rich brother living in the same town,
who one day invited one thousand Brahmans to dine. At the same
time he invited all the townspeople with the single exception of
his sister. The poor lady thought that she must have been left out
by accident, and that there would be no harm in going, even although
uninvited. She put on her silk dining-clothes, and, taking her children
with her, went off to the dinner. She seated herself close to her
children, and was eating away when her brother came round serving
ghee. When he saw his sister he shouted at her, "You have neither nice
clothes nor nice jewelry. You have made me a laughing-stock by coming
as you have come. I shall not turn you out, but do not come to-morrow."

Next day she did not want to go, but her children, who had enjoyed
the previous day's feast, persuaded their mother to take them again
to her brother's house. Once more she went and sat down with her
children among the rows of feasters. Her brother saw her as before
when he came round serving the ghee. He shouted at her, "A beggar
woman must, I suppose, act like a village sow, and will not go away
although told to. But do not come to-morrow. If you do, I'll have you
turned out." Next day, however, she again went with her children to
her brother's house. But near the entrance his servants caught her
and turned her out before she could eat anything. She went home sad
and hungry and prayed to Shukra. Now the goddess had been pleased