X.

THE BRAHMIN GIRL THAT MARRIED

A TIGER.

IN a certain village there lived an old Brahminwho had three sons and a daughter. The girl beingthe youngest was brought up most tenderly andbecame spoilt, and so whenever she saw a beautifulboy she would say to her parents that she must bewedded to him. Her parents were, therefore, muchput about to devise excuses for taking her awayfrom her youthful lovers. Thus passed on someyears, till the girl was very nearly grown up, andthen the parents, fearing that they would be drivenout of their caste if they failed to dispose of herhand in marriage before she came to the years ofmaturity, began to be eager about finding a bride-groom for her.

Now near their village there lived a fierce tiger,that had attained to great proficiency in the art ofmagic, and had the power of assuming differentforms. Having a great taste for Brahmin's food,