Our boys in India . outside there were very few. It was a gloomy gray wallthat surrounded the city, and a gloomy gateway. Inside hecould see all sorts of bright costumes and bright colors, andhear the music and shouting, that betokened the happinessof every one engaged in the religious feast. It drew him likea magic spell. He was hurrying in, when his eye fell uponan old beggar sitting beside the gate, and a little boy closeto him. Paul was not sufficiently versed to know by the dress andposition what the old man was: indeed, he hardly looked athim a second time. But a cry of joy burst from hi
Our boys in India . outside there were very few. It was a gloomy gray wallthat surrounded the city, and a gloomy gateway. Inside hecould see all sorts of bright costumes and bright colors, andhear the music and shouting, that betokened the happinessof every one engaged in the religious feast. It drew him likea magic spell. He was hurrying in, when his eye fell uponan old beggar sitting beside the gate, and a little boy closeto him. Paul was not sufficiently versed to know by the dress andposition what the old man was: indeed, he hardly looked athim a second time. But a cry of joy burst from his lips ashe saw the boy beside him. In his own boys heart he thoughtit the prettiest face he had ever seen. That tantalizing picturethat had so often come almost into his mind, and then slippedaway again, once more appeared; and he seemed to halfremember merry times that he had had somewhere, withmerry children all about him. He ran across the road; and,sitting down on the mat close to the little black-eyed, black-. BEGGAR AND BOY. ^S OUR BOYS IN INDIA. haired boy, he touched a lock of the curling hair with hisdainty little white finger, and, looking into the childs face,in a spasm of joy he kissed the dark lips that were half openover the tiny white teeth. The child shrieked, and sprangupon the old mans knee, rubbing his lips furiously, to wipeaway the kiss. Paul stepped back, and watched him doubtfully. I didnt mean to scare you, little boy, he said apolo-getically. But I dont believe I hurt you like that. My lipsare not dirty, are they ? he asked, suddenly rememberingthat he had been eating. He wiped his mouth carefully onhis sleeve. You can put mud on your mouth, and kiss meto pay, if you like. Im sorry; but I dont think I am likeyou, for I was made white. Paul had mingled some English words with his Hindu-stani without knowing it ; and at best the boy did notunderstand much Hindustani either, for there are manylanguages spoken in India. But he understood enough toknow that
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