THE VISIT OF A SILVERSMITH, AND 
ITS RESULTS. 
requirements were made known, the tattan would 
suspend all other work, all the silver and gold was 
tossed aside, as being of no importance at all, as com- 
pared with master’s pewter tea-pots, and that very 
afternoon all the articles would be brought up to the 
bungajlow, repaired, and presented by himself for 
master’s approval. After a satisfactory inspection, mas- 
ter would say, ‘‘ What is to pay ?” On hearing this 
question, the tattan would start back, as if in a 
state of extreme astonishment and alarm, just as if, 
instead of, what to all of us is rather a pleasing 
question, as it implies a wish on the part of the ques- 
tioner to pay us something, he had heard some very 
bad news, or had been asked to fay. He then put 
his fingers over his mouth, and whispered through 
them, Master don’t think me that sort man. I 
live on master’s ground, make money by his coolies, 
and my duty is to do all his work for nothing, and 
thank him for asking me to do, if” — “ Very well,” he re- 
plies, ‘ ‘ I am much obliged to you, you can go,” but before 
he goes, he assures master, that any work he wishes to 
have done, even jewellery — here he looked at the kitchen 
out-houses— if not taking up very much time he wished 
no payment at all, and master told him, he would be 
sure and remember his offer. During the course of 
next day, ting, ting, tinkle, is heard in the ve randah 
of the bungalow, as master is sitting, writing, and 
master on looking out, sees the silversmith’s wife walk- 
ing up and down in front, occasionally pausing and look- 
ing into all the windows. He feels annoyed at this rude 
impertinence, walks out and asks her what she wants. 
She tells him that both herself and the tattan, have 
no rice, nothing to eat, and he must give them a 
bushel. He feels done, for, as the silversmith would 
take no wages for repairing his tea-pots and candle- 
sticks, how can he refuse to give him the rice ? Only, the 
value of the rice would be about six or seven shillings, 
and, had he made a charge for the work performed, it 
could not have been more than two or three. It passed 
quickly through his mind, that, as the silversmith made 
no charge for the work he had done, it would be 
rather a mean action on his part to refuse, or make 
him pay for, the rice ! So he gave the order on the 
storekeeper, and handed it to the woman, who imme- 
diately departed, and drew the rice. AfUr she had done 
this, she returned to the bungalow and said, “ I want 
payment for the work the tattan has done for you : the 
eharge is two rupees.” Master replied that he. had, offered 
to pay him, but payment was refused ; besides, she had 
got more than the value in rice. But the woman said that 
^he rice was altogether a different matter, and would be 
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