THE MAN WHO LEARNED TO DANCE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 57, 30 November 1929, Page 28

THE MAN WHO LEARNED TO DANCE

♦ » • A Hindu who had been unfortunate, and was compelled to borrow it sum of money in order to save bis small home from ruin, was unable to pay back the required sum on the date that bad been fixed, and, being afraid to meet the money-lender, who came day after day, he used to go out ami hide in the jungle till the fellow had been and gone. Jt was the coldest season of the year, and the man felt so chilly that he built u fire, mid when it burned down huddled up close to It. but when he made the lire up with fresh fuel he would move farther away to avoid the fierce heat.

The moneylender came two or three times, and, not being successful in finding the man nt liojne, lie asked his wife what her husband was doing. “Ob,” said she, “he Is doing the to-and-fro dunce I” “Whatever is that?” replied the usurer, “I should like to learn it myself, ’’ The next day, therefore, the borrowor wits (it home, and offered to teach tlie money-Jemier tlie to-aud-fro dance if be would forgive him tho fleht. This was agreed to in front of witnesses, whereupon the two men went awuy to tho jungle. “You must wear only a loin-cloth ps I am doing,' said tlie peasant. And then he lit a big fire, at which both men sat down, But very soon the heat was so tierce that they had to move hack, Thon Die fire burnt down, and the men felt cold, so they moved nearer to the embers. Tho peasant piled on more fuel, and ns the flumes rosn the men once more drew back.

“When lire we going to start the to-and-fro dance?" asked the moneylender. "You arc learning It now.” replied the other, “Here we are, going to and fro quite nicely, and 1 must say you make a very intelligent pupil." Of course, the moneylender protested; but. the witnesses wore called, and agreed that he had received his money's worth, for tho art-angomeut Imd been faithfully carried out by the peasant.