Indian Antiquary Vol 10

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 57

FEBRUARY, 1881.]
"Sir Bumble," snapped the one span mannikin.
FOLKLORE IN THE PANJAB.
"Upon my word," said the soldier's son, "if you are all the box contained, I'm glad I didn't trouble to carry it further."
"That's not polite," returned the mannikin, "perhaps if you had carried it the full nine miles you would have found something better. It doesn't matter, however, for I'm quite good enough for you, and I shall serve you faithfully according to my mistress' orders."
"Serve me! Then I wish you would serve me with some dinner, for I'm mighty hungry. Here are two rupees to pay for it." No sooner had the soldier's son said this, than with a boom! bing! Sir Bumble whizzed away through the air to a confectioner's shop in the next town. There he stood, the one span mannikin with the span and a quarter beard, behind the preserving pan, and cried in ever so loud a voice, "Ho! ho! Sir confectioner, bring me sweets."
The confectioner looked about but could not see any one. Sir Bumble was so small he was quite hidden by the preserving pan, so he cried still louder: "Ho! ho! Sir confectioner, bring
me sweets."
Then when the confectioner looked about in vain for his customer, the mannikin got angry, and ran and pinched him on the legs and kicked him on the foot, saying-"Impudent knave, do you mean to say you can't see me? why I was standing close beside the preserving pan."
The confectioner apologised humbly, and brought out his best sweets. Sir Bumble chose about a man of them, and said, "Here, tie them up in something, and give them into my hand. I'll carry them home."
"They'll be a good weight," smiled the confectioner.
"What's that to you ?" snapped Sir Bumble, "do as I bid you, and here is your money." He jingled the two rupees in his pocket.
"All right, sir," said the man cheerfully; so he tied up the sweets, and placed the big bundle on Sir Bumble's hand, and lo! with a boom! bing! he whizzed off with the rupees still in his pocket.
He alighted at a corn-dealer's shop, and standing behind a basket of flour, cried loudly, "Ho! ho! Sir Baniah, bring me flour."
⚫man, 80 lbs.
Badshahzadt Phal, Princess بادشاہ زا دی پهول
41
Then the corn-dealer looked about for his noisy customer, but could see no one. Sir Bumble cried again: "Ho! ho! Sir Baniaḥ, bring me flour." And when the man didn't answer, he flew into a violent rage, and ran and bit him in the leg, and pinched and kicked him, exclaiming : "Impudent varlet, do you mean to say you can't see me? why I was standing close beside you behind that basket."
The corn-dealer apologised humbly, and asked Sir Bumble how much flour he wanted. "Two mans," ," said the mannikin. "Two mans, neither more nor less. Tie it up in a bundle, and I'll take it home."
"Your honour has a cart with you doubtless, or a beast of burden, for it will be heavy."
"Do as I bid you," shrieked Sir Bumble stamping his foot, "and here is your money." He once more jingled the two rupees in his pocket. So the corn-dealer tied up the flour in a bundle, and placed it in Sir Bumble's hand, when whizz! buzz! the mannikin flew off with the rupees still in his pocket.
The soldier's son was just wondering what had become of the one span mannikin, when with a whirr he alighted, and wiping his face and panting, said: "I hope I've brought enough, but you men have such terrible appetites."
"More than enough," laughed the lad when he saw the huge bundle.
Then Sir Bumble cooked the bread, and the soldier's son ate three cakes and a handful of sweets; but Sir Bumble gobbled up all the rest, saying at each mouthful, "You men have such terrible appetites."
After that the soldier's son and his one span servant travelled ever so far till they came to the king's city. Now the king had a daughter called Princess Blossom, who was so lovely, and tender, and slim, and fair, that she only weighed five flowers.
5
Every morning she was weighed in golden scales, and always the scale turned when the fifth flower was put in, neither less nor more.
Now it so happened that the soldier's son caught a glimpse of the lovely, tender, slim, and fair Princess Blossom, and he fell dreadfully in love with her. He would not sleep, or eat his food, and said all day to his faithful man
Flower or Blossom; also Phalasddi, i. e, born of a flower! blossom.-R. C. T.