________________
A LABOUR OF LOVE
ONCE the Maharaja of Bhavnagar was on a visit to a saint. As he sat talking to him, the Maharaja noticed the shirt that the saint wore. It was stitched very skilfully; its pleats and tucks were arranged very neatly and precisely.
The tailor who had stitched it, happened to be present there. As they left the saint's presence, the Maharaja could not refrain from asking the tailor if he had made that shirt. The tailor replied with justifiable pride that he had.
"Then I would like exactly a shirt like that to be made for me. You may charge whatever you like, but mind you, arrange the pleats and tucks with the same precision and skill.”
The tailor assured him that his handiwork would be flawless. After some weeks, he presented to the Maharaja the shirt which he had stitched with the
utmost care.
The Maharaja was delighted and amazed at his skill, but examining the shirt more critically, he noticed that the pleats and tucks were not arranged with the same precision as on the saint's shirt.
He praised the tailor, but remarked, "Somehow it lacks the perfection of the saint's shirt.”
The tailor replied, "Sire, I have put all my abilities in the making of this garment. My fingers and my
SI
