coins. Then he went back home in splendid spirits.
His wife prepared a glorious dinner, and the children
ate so much that the skin on their stomachs felt as
tight as a kettle-drum. After breakfast the old
woman said to the Brahman, “To-morrow I want
a milk-pudding for dinner.” “But,
Grandmamma,” said the Brahman, “where
shall I get the milk from?” The old woman said,
“Don’t worry about that. Just get
up and hammer down as many pegs as you can in your
courtyard. Then this evening, when the cattle
come home, call to the village cows and buffaloes
by name, and they will come to you, and if you milk
them you will get enough milk for my pudding to-morrow.”
The Brahman did as the old woman ordered him, and
that evening he called to the cows and buffaloes by
name to come to his courtyard. And from every
direction the cows and buffaloes came running up.
And behind them galloped all the little calves with
their heels in the air and their tails stuck out straight
behind them. At last the Brahman’s courtyard
was filled so full that no more cows or buffaloes
could enter. And he milked them all, and next
day his wife cooked a milk-pudding such as one would
not see again if one lived a thousand years.
And the children ate until they were so tired of eating
that they just rolled over and went fast asleep.
But that evening the old woman said, “My son,
my son, I want you to take me home.” “But,
Grandmamma, Grandmamma,” said the Brahman, “how
can I take you home, for I have had all this good
luck only because of you. Directly you go away
my good luck will vanish.” “Do not
be afraid,” said the old woman, “for I
am Parwati. If I bless you your good luck will
never vanish. Therefore you must come with me
and see me home.” But the Brahman said,
“I do not want my good luck only to continue.
I want it to increase.” The old woman said,
“If you come with me I shall give you some sand.
When you go back home, scatter it all over the house
and over your jars and your pots, and put it inside
your boxes and your cupboards, and scatter it all
over your courtyard too, and you will find that your
good luck will never be any less than it is now.”
The Brahman was satisfied with this. He worshipped
the old woman and went with her towards the tank until
she suddenly disappeared. He returned home and
scattered sand all over his house and over his jars
and his pots and inside his boxes and his cupboards,
and from that day on, his good luck never left him.
And his wealth increased, and his children increased.
And they all lived happily ever afterwards.
CHAPTER XII
Soma, the Washerwoman