Rabindranath Tagore

“ Women from our dairy village do come and draw their water from the river; but then it isn't everyone who has a red saree to put on. But, my dear child, surely you must have been there for a walk some time.
Amal
Really, Dairyman, never been there at all. But the first day doctor lets me go out, you are going to take me to your village.
Dairyman
I will, my child, with pleasure.
Amal
And you'll teach me to cry curds and shoulder the yoke like you and walk the long, long road?
Dairyman
Dear, dear, did you ever? Why should you sell curds? No, you will read big books and be learned. ”

“ Uncle, why won't you let me go about?
Madhav. Doctor says it's bad for you to be out.
Amal. How can the doctor know?
Madhav. What a thing to say! The doctor can't know and he reads such huge books!
Amal. Does his book-learning tell him everything?
Madhav. Of course, don't you know!
Amal [With a sigh] Ah, I am so stupid! I don't read books.
Madhav. Now, think of it; very, very learned people are all like you; they are never out of doors.
Amal. Aren't they really?
Madhav. No, how can they? Early and late they toil and moil at their books, and they've eyes for nothing else. ”

“ It isn't sad. When they shut me in here first I felt the day was so long. Since the King's Post Office I like it more and more being indoors, and as I think I shall get a letter one day, I feel quite happy and then I don't mind being quiet and alone. I wonder if I shall make out what'll be in the King's letter?
Gaffer. Even if you didn't wouldn't it be enough if it just bore your name? ”

“ Amal, my dear, I bow to nothing in sea or mountain; but if the doctor joins in with this uncle of yours, then I with all my magic must own myself beaten.
Amal. No. Uncle shan't tell the doctor. And I promise to lie quiet; but the day I am well, off I go with the Fakir and nothing in sea or mountain or torrent shall stand in my way.
Madhav. Fie, dear child, don't keep on harping upon going! It makes me so sad to hear you talk so.
Amal. Tell me, Fakir, what the Parrots' Isle is like.
Gaffer. It's a land of wonders; it's a haunt of birds. There's no man ”

“ Madhav. He is the son of a man who was a brother to my wife by village ties. He has had no mother since infancy; and now the other day he lost his father as well.
Gaffer. Poor thing: and so he needs me all the more.
Madhav. The doctor says all the organs of his little body are at loggerheads with each other, and there isn't much hope for his life. There is only one way to save him and that is to keep him out of this autumn wind and sun. But you are such a terror! What with this game of yours at your age, too, to get children out of doors! ”

“ Now listen, since that hill stands there upright as a barrier, it means you can't get beyond it. Else, what was the use in heaping up so many large stones to make such a big affair of it, eh!
Amal. Uncle, do you think it is meant to prevent your crossing over? It seems to me because the earth can't speak it raises its hands into the sky and beckons. And those who live far and sit alone by their windows can see the signal. But I suppose the learned people—
Madhav. No, they don't have time for that sort of nonsense. They are not crazy like you. ”

“ Amal. The headman? Whereabouts is he?
Watchman. Right down the road there; see that huge palm-leaf umbrella hopping along? That's him!
Amal. I suppose the King's made him our headman here?
Watchman. Made him? Oh, no! A fussy busy-body! He knows so many ways of making himself unpleasant that everybody is afraid of him. It's just a game for the likes of him, making trouble for everybody. I must be off now! Mustn't keep work waiting, you know! I'll drop in again to-morrow morning and tell you all the news of the town. [Exit]
Amal. It would be splendid to have a letter from the King every day. ”

“ Madhav. You know, brother, how hard all this getting money in has been. That somebody else's child would sail in and waste all this money earned with so much trouble—Oh, I hated the idea. But this boy clings to my heart in such a queer sort of way—
Gaffer. So that's the trouble! and your money goes all for him and feels jolly lucky it does go at all.
Madhav. Formerly, earning was a sort of passion with me; I simply couldn't help working for money. Now, I make money and as I know it is all for this dear boy, earning becomes a joy to me. ”

“ I do; I go to him for my alms every day.
Amal
Good ! When I get well, I must have my alms too from him, mayn't I?
Gaffer
You won't need to ask, my dear, he'll give it to you of his own accord.
Amal
No, I would go to his gate and cry, "Victory to thee, King!" and dancing to the tabor's sound, ask for alms. Won't it be nice?
Gaffer
It would be splendid, and if you're with me, I shall have my full share. But what'U you ask?
Amal
I shall say, "Make me your postman, that I may go about lantern in hand, delivering your letters from door to door. Don't let me stay at home all day! ”

“ Yes, I do, quite as much. I know all about Champa of the fairy tale and his seven brothers. If only they let me, I'll go right into the dense forest where you can't find your way. And where the honey-sipping humming- bird rocks himself on the end of the thinnest branch, I will flower out as a champa. Would you be my sister Parul?
Sudha
You are silly! How can I be sister Parul when I am Sudha and my mother is Sasi, the flower-seller? I have to weave so many garlands a day. It would be jolly if I could lounge here like you! ”

“ As I came in I found a fearful draught through your front door. That's most hurtful. Better lock it at once. Would it matter if this kept your visitors off for two or three days? If someone happens to call unexpectedly there's the back door. You had better shut this window as well, it's letting in the sunset rays only to keep the patient awake.
Madhav
Amal has shut his eyes. I expect he is sleeping. His face tells me Oh, Doctor, I bring in a child who is a stranger and love him as my own, and now I suppose I must lose him!
Doctor
What's that? There's your headman sailing in! ”

“ I hear you've fixed up with the dairyman to be a hawker of curds when you grow up; I'm afraid such business won't flourish among birds; you might land yourself into serious loss.
Madhav
Really this is too much. Between you two I shall turn crazy. Now, I'm off.
Amal
Has the dairyman been, Uncle?
Madhav
And why shouldn't he? He won't bother his head running errands for your pet fakir, in and out among the nests in his Parrots' Isle. But he has left a jar of curd for you saying that he is rather busy with his niece's wedding in the village, and he has got to order a band at Kamlipara. ”

“ DRAMATIS PERSONÆ MADHAV AMAL, his adopted child SUDHA, a little flower girl THE DOCTOR DAIRYMAN WATCHMAN GAFFER VILLAGE HEADMAN, a bully KING'S HERALD ROYAL PHYSICIAN
THE POST OFFICE ACT I [Madhav's House]
Madhav. What a state I am in! Before he came, nothing mattered; I felt so free. But now that he has come, goodness knows from where, my heart is filled with his dear self, and my home will be no home to me when he leaves. Doctor, do you think he—
Physician. If there's life in his fate, then he will live long. ”

“ Fakir, Fakir, 'sh, his trumpet! Can't you hear?
Headman
Ha! ha! ha! I fear he won't until he's a bit more off his head.
Amal
Mr. Headman, I thought you were cross with me and didn't love me. I never could think you would fetch me the King's letter. Let me wipe the dust off your feet.
Headman
This little child does have an instinct of reverence. Though a little silly, he has a good heart.
Amal
It's hard on the fourth watch now, I suppose Hark the gong, "Dong, dong, ding," "Dong, dong, ding." Is the evening star up? ”

“ Physician. He will tell you everything. [To Madhav] Will you go about and arrange flowers through the room for the King's visit? [Indicating the Headman] We can't have that person in here.
Amal. No, let him be, Doctor. He is a friend. It was he who brought me the King's letter.
Physician. Very well, my child. He may remain if he is a friend of yours.
Madhav [Whispering into Amal's ear] My child, the King loves you. He is coming himself. Beg for a gift from him. You know our humble circumstances.
Amal. Don't you worry, Uncle.—I've made up my mind about it. ”

“ Of course, I'm dying to be about for ever so long. I'll ask the King to find me the polar star.—I must have seen it often, but I don't know exactly which it is. ”

“ God bless my soul! So I'm already as bad as autumn wind and sun, eh! But, friend, I know something, too, of the game of keeping them indoors. When my day's work is over I am coming in to make friends with this child of yours. ”

“ Headman. But your child here is expecting a letter from the King.
Madhav. Don't you take any notice of him, a mere foolish boy!
Headman. Indeed, why not! It'll beat the King hard to find a better family! Don't you see why the King plants his new Post Office right before your win- dow? Why there's a letter for you from the King, urchin.
Amal [Starting up] Indeed, really!
Headman. How can it be false? You're the King's chum. Here's your letter [showing a blank slip of paper] . Ha, ha, ha! This is the letter.
Amal. Please don't mock me. Say, Fakir, is it so? ”

“ Amal [Intoning] Curds, curds, good nice curds—from the dairy village—from the country of the Panch-mura hills by the Shamli bank. Curds, good curds; in the early morning the women make the cows stand in a row under the trees and milk them, and in the evening they turn the milk into curds. ”

“ Tell him Sudha has not forgotten him. ”