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THE STORY OF LELHA.
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awake for one hour, and sothe Indarpuri Sadoms came nightly and devoured all the buds that should have burst into flower in the morning, so that not one solitary blossom was to be seen. For this reason the raja again began to sulk, and no one dared to say anything to him.

At this juncture Lelha’s mother went from her own house to a shop to buy rice. The shopkeeper refused to supply her. He said, “The raja is sulking, and she comes here to buy rice. I will not weigh it, so go.” Lelha’s mother went hastily home, and encountered Lelha returning from a stroll. Lelha usked for food. He said, “Oh! mother, give me cooked rice quickly.” She rebuked him, and said, “The raja is sulk-ing. The shopkeeper refused to give me rice, how can I give you food? I am a prey to grief, and here my young gentleman is hungry. Go to the raja.”

Lelha did as his mother ordered him, and went to the apartment where the raja was, and called several times, “Oh! father, get up.” At length the raja asked, “Who are you? Do not irritate me. Go away at once.” Lelha replied, “I am your humble slave and son, Lelha.” His father said, “Where-fore have you come here? Lelha, Go home, or else I shall beat you. What do you want here? If you go, go at once, if not, I shall have you chastised.” Lelha replied, “ Because you, Oh! raja, are sulking. The shopkeeper in the bazaar refused to sell to my mother rice, saying, ‘something is amiss with the raja. I cannot let you have it.’” The raja then said, “Go, and bring the shopkeeper here.” To which Lelha replied, “ Why are you sulking? If you do not tell me, it where better for me to die here. I cannot leave you. I have come here fasting, not having eaten anything to-day.” The raja said, “ Your four brothers have not been able todo anything, and what can I hope from telling you about it, Lelha?” Lelha replied, “It is still possible that I may accomplish something, but although