The Jatila and the Boy: A Lesson in Responsibility : หน้า 52/130

' Well now, Prince, I will give you a simile, for it is by way of a simile that some intelligent men discern the meaning of what is spoken. Once upon a time, Prince, a fire - worshipping Jatila was dwelling in a leaf - hut in a woodland spot. Now the people of a certain country - side migrated. And their leader, after spending one night near the Jatila's hermitage, went away. Then the Jatila thought : - " If I were to go to that leader's camp, I might perhaps get something useful." And rising up betimes he came to the leader's camp, and there he saw, abandoned and lying on its back a little baby. And when he saw it he thought : - " It is not fit that I should let a human being die while I look on. What if I were to carry this baby to my hermitage, and foster, tend, and rear it ? ' So he carried the baby to his hermitage, and fostered, tended, and reared it. When the boy had attained the age of ten or twelve years, it happened that the Jatila had something or other to do in the country - side. So he said to the boy : - " I want to go to the country - side, my lad ; keep up the fire ; do not let it go out. If it should go out, here is a hatchet, here are sticks, here is the fire drill, so that if you do let the fire out, you can rekindle it again." And having thus instructed the boy, the Jatila went off to the country - side. Intent upon his play, the boy let the fire out. Then he thought : - "' Father told me, ' Tend the fire, my lad ; let it not go out. If it should go out, here is a hatchet, here are sticks, here is the fire drill, so that if you do let the fire out, you can rekindle it again.' What if I were now to do so ?"