THE VISIT OF A SILVEESMITH, AND 
ITS EESULTS. 
of bringing in charcoal, when it was required, but 
this small boy, as is the manner of small boys, and 
indeed big ones too, when he saw his superior in dis- 
grace, had taken the opportunity of taking his liberty, 
and was not to be found. On hearing the request for 
more charcoal, the lady screamed out in a shrill tone 
of voice, ‘‘Podiyan” (boy), but the only answer to 
the call was the rough, gruff tone of the mann’s voice, 
as he said in a determined manner, which could ad- 
mit of no dispute, ‘‘Go yourself, quick.” The woman 
started up, took hold of the empty charcoal bag, and 
ran away up the hill to gather charcoal. While doing 
so, a heavy shower of rain came on, and wet her, 
not to, but through, the skin. When the bag was filled, 
she raised it to, and set it on, her head, and the 
charcoal that was washed out by the rain water, 
settled amongst her beautiful well kept hair, in which 
she took so much pride; it streamed down, over her 
neck and shoulders, there leaving marks, in compari- 
son with which the dusky skin, was fair indeed, as she 
entered the room with her burden, the tattan never 
looked up. The ting, ting, tingle, did not even cease, as he 
said, ‘ ‘Dry charcoal is bad, we must take the opportunity 
of this rain, in order to lay in a stock of wet. Go out, 
and bring more. ” His words, or rather order, was 
scarcely audible, for a peal of thunder crashed right 
overhead, followed by such a pelting of rain, that the roads 
and gutters were all running like streams. But, for all 
that, the order was heard, for the tattan’s wife step- 
ped boldly out into the storm without a word ; she 
did as she was told. “ After a storm comes a calm, ” 
and great peace and comfort reigned in the tattan’s 
room ; his wife completely gave up all gadding about ; 
she discovered that the house was dirty and uncom- 
fortable, so, instead of spending for a coolie to clean 
it up, she commenced doing it herself with her own 
hands. She brought in mud, clay, and sand, plastered 
all the walls, floor, and even the front verandah. A 
first-rate tidy housewife was she, when she liked, or 
had an object in view. Her object was to get back 
her clothes and ornaments, and, as her original bold 
conduct had proved unavailing, she now tried a 
different course entirely — servile submission. That night 
the tattan’s, rice and curry was particularly good ; 
it had been purposely cooked with the greatest care, 
made of the very materials of which he was fondest, 
so that he ate an unusually large quantity. He was now 
sitting gazing into a bright stick fire, which sparkled 
and crackled in the centre of the room. His wife was 
rolling about in her hands a dark-looking leap, until 
it assumed the form of a roughly made cigar ; she then 
