THE VISIT OF A SILVERSMITH, AND 
ITS RESULTS. 
certain demand would be made for advances, the hard, 
and severe countenance would relax into a radiant smile, 
as the silversmith’s wife passed by, to visit her hus- 
band, for the sound of the tinkling bells on her neck 
and little ankles suddenly dispelled the gathering gloom, , 
‘‘Music hath charms,” and what music can be 
more charming than the ting, ting, tingle, of the 
anklet bells ! Her toes were covered with 
rings, to such an extent, that, in order to understand 
what their appearnce was, you would require to sup- 
pose, they had all been cut off, and silver ones screw- 
ed in their place. Another cause, which rendered 
the silversmith’s wife such an object of envy, was 
her- command of money : she seemed always to have 
plenty, and, like most in the same position, well knew, 
also, how to make it more. For, in consideration of 
a high payment of ready cash, when any great gather- 
ing of the coolies took place, on their high days and 
holidays, she would lend out her ornaments for the 
occasion ; not only this, but she would take from her 
husband’s box, ornaments belonging to others, which 
they were unable to remove until they could pay for 
them, and hire them out for a day or two, payment 
in advance, very likely, even to the owners them- 
selves, who would say, ‘‘To-morrow is Sunday, I am 
going to Gampola, and am ashamed to be seen with- 
out my ornaments.” The silversmith would say, “ Pay, 
and take them.” It would then be explained, that 
no pay could be forthcoming till pay-day. “ Well, the 
tattan would say, pay two shillings a day for the 
three days you want them, and it must be paid first, 
take them away, and bring them back on expiration of 
the time, which was always done, and it used to be a 
frequent excuse with women, on making their ap- 
pearance without ornaments, to say, the “tattan” 
had them. Women might sometimes be seen, who 
had no jewellery of their own, strutting about 
with hired or borrowed ones from the silver- 
smith, and women might sometimes be seen who had 
plenty of ornaments kept in pledge at the jeweller’s, 
with their arms quite bare of them, and just fancy 
their feelings of rage and jealousy, on perceiving their 
own property worn by another, probably an enemy, or 
a rival ? It must just be swallowed, however, for they 
could not quarrel with the tMtchn. Well did he know 
this, he knew his power, and used it too. Even master 
himself would take advantage of the presence of the 
tattan^ the handle, spout, or lid of a metal tea-pot 
might have become broken, a cruet-stand, a spoon, a 
candlestick, might require repairs, which the silver- 
smith could easily and neatly solder, As soon as thesq 
