TALES OF THE PUNJAB

FOLKLORE OF INDIA




SIR BUZZ


Once upon a time a soldier died, leaving a widow and one son. They
were dreadfully poor, and at last matters became so bad that they had
nothing left in the house to eat.

'Mother,' said the son, 'give me four shillings, and I will go seek my
fortune in the wide world.'

'Alas!' answered the mother, 'and where am I, who haven't a farthing
wherewith to buy bread, to find four shillings?'

'There is that old coat of my father's,' returned the lad; 'look in
the pocket--perchance there is something there.'

So she looked, and behold! there were six shillings hidden away at the
very bottom of the pocket!

'More than I bargained for,' quoth the lad, laughing.' See, mother,
these two shillings are for you; you can live on that till I return,
the rest will pay my way until I find my fortune.'