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PREFACE
teller does the same—with repeating the following formula:—
- Thus my story endeth,
- The Natiya-thorn withereth.
- "Why, O Natiya-thorn, dost wither?"
- "Why does thy cow on me browse?"
- "Why, O cow, dost thou browse?"
- "Why does thy neat-herd not tend me?"
- "Why, O neat-herd, dost not tend the cow?"
- "Why does thy daughter-in-law not give me rice?"
- "Why, daughter-in-law, dost not give rice?"
- "Why does my child cry?"
- "Why, O child, dost thou cry?"
- "Why does the ant bite me?"
- "Why, O ant, dost thou bite?"
- Koot! koot! koot!
What these lines mean, why they are repeated at the end of every story, and what the connection is of the several parts to one another, I do not know. Perhaps the whole is a string of nonsense purposely put together to amuse little children.
LAL BEHARI DAY.
Hooghly College,
February 27, 1883.
February 27, 1883.
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