The Adventures of Tamar

A story for children

Said Tamar, as he hung his long staff on a branch of the oak and leaned his back against its trunk:

I forgot to tell you, Nono, what I heard about Lama, the sister of Renn... She told me of it herself. She said:

"I was living with my mother and my brother Renn in happiness and contentment, and my mother would always talk of our future, especially the future of dear Renn, who excelled among the boys of the quarter in his intelligence and his diligence...

My mother intended to send my brother to a big school, to learn the higher sciences and obtain the greatest diploma; but she left the two of us, to look after each other.

And I began to care for my brother in her place: I would send him to school, and pay his fees and the price of his books from the work of my needle — until the day came when I fell ill... My pain was made worse by thinking of my little brother; I would pass night and day thinking of him, without arriving at any solution...

One morning — the pains had left me, and I was waiting to be discharged from the hospital —

I sat up in bed, looking out the window at the gardens and the singing sparrows, and talking to Nani, my faithful little dog, who had kept me company the whole time and always slept at the door of my room... I talked to her a great deal, for she was the only one near me, and I asked her: where shall I get the money to pay the doctor, and the hospital?.. And I saw Nani leap onto the bed, then throw herself upon my breast and murmur, saying:

— Do not grieve, my little mistress; you are happier than you think!..

— What are you saying, Nani?.. What are you saying!..

— I know that no harm will come to you, for you are a good girl; you love all people, and you love merriment and life!..

Nani said this, and bent over my hand, sniffing it and passing her soft red tongue over it,

then she jumped off the bed and vanished from my sight.

It was as if Nani knew the unseen, for she had hardly left the room when the doctor came in and said:

— How is my sweet little one today?

— Very well... thank you for your care, doctor!..

— I have important news I want to tell you before you leave this place!..

— Important news... what is it, doctor?..

The doctor sat down on the chair beside me, then went on with his words, saying:

— Listen, Lama... Do you remember the hour you entered the hospital? Renn came up to me that day and said: "Take care of Lama, doctor... I want you to cure my sister for me, and I will undertake to pay all the expenses..."

And he kept his word: he set to working and toiling and gathering money. His love and his sacrifice taught me a new lesson, so I decided not to take a single piaster of his clean money. I bought him a money-box in which I stored up the piasters, until there is now a sum sufficient to enter him in school at the beginning of the coming school year!...

The doctor fell silent a moment, then spoke again:

— And I too have decided to take no money for my treating you, Lama.

Then he went away a little while and came back carrying the money-box full of coins, and set it in my hands, saying:

— This will be the finest surprise for your little brother!..

And I felt tears of joy flowing from my eyes as I thanked the doctor for his beautiful deed... I wiped them away, and saw before me Nani, waving her tail and putting out her tongue in sign of delight."

Tamar finished his story, took up his staff, then bade me farewell and set off to finish that day's journey!...