JOGADHYA UMA

    “Shell-bracelets ho!  Shell-bracelets ho! 
      Fair maids and matrons come and buy!”
    Along the road, in morning’s glow,
      The pedler raised his wonted cry. 
    The road ran straight, a red, red line,
      To Khirogram, for cream renowned,
    Through pasture-meadows where the kine,
      In knee-deep grass, stood magic bound
    And half awake, involved in mist,
      That floated in dun coils profound,
    Till by the sudden sunbeams kissed
      Rich rainbow hues broke all around.

    “Shell-bracelets ho!  Shell-bracelets ho!”
      The roadside trees still dripped with dew,
    And hung their blossoms like a show. 
      Who heard the cry?  ’Twas but a few,
    A ragged herd-boy, here and there,
      With his long stick and naked feet;
    A ploughman wending to his care,
      The field from which he hopes the wheat;
    An early traveller, hurrying fast
      To the next town; an urchin slow
    Bound for the school; these heard and passed,
      Unheeding all—­“Shell-bracelets ho!”

    Pellucid spread a lake-like tank
      Beside the road now lonelier still,
    High on three sides arose the bank
      Which fruit-trees shadowed at their will;
    Upon the fourth side was the Ghat,
      With its broad stairs of marble white,
    And at the entrance-arch there sat,
      Full face against the morning light,
    A fair young woman with large eyes,
      And dark hair falling to her zone,
    She heard the pedler’s cry arise,
      And eager seemed his ware to own.

    “Shell-bracelets ho!  See, maiden see! 
      The rich enamel sunbeam kissed! 
    Happy, oh happy, shalt thou be,
      Let them but clasp that slender wrist;
    These bracelets are a mighty charm,
      They keep a lover ever true,
    And widowhood avert, and harm,
      Buy them, and thou shalt never rue. 
    Just try them on!”—­She stretched her hand,
      “Oh what a nice and lovely fit! 
    No fairer hand, in all the land,
      And lo! the bracelet matches it.”

    Dazzled the pedler on her gazed
      Till came the shadow of a fear,
    While she the bracelet arm upraised
      Against the sun to view more clear. 
    Oh she was lovely, but her look
      Had something of a high command
    That filled with awe.  Aside she shook
      Intruding curls by breezes fanned
    And blown across her brows and face,
      And asked the price, which when she heard
    She nodded, and with quiet grace
      For payment to her home referred.

    “And where, O maiden, is thy house? 
      But no, that wrist-ring has a tongue,
    No maiden art thou, but a spouse,
      Happy, and rich, and fair, and young.” 
    “Far otherwise, my lord