one
ran out and gave him food and molasses and copper 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, a