TODS' AMENDMENT.

The World hath set its heavy yoke
Upon the old white-bearded folk
Who strive to please the King.
God's mercy is upon the young,
God's wisdom in the baby tongue
That fears not anything.
The Parable of _Chajju Bhagat_.

Now Tods' Mamma was a singularly charming woman, and every one in
Simla knew Tods. Most men had saved him from death on occasions. He
was beyond his _ayah's_ control altogether, and perilled his life
daily to find out what would happen if you pulled a Mountain Battery
mule's tail. He was an utterly fearless young Pagan, about six years
old, and the only baby who ever broke the holy calm of the Supreme
Legislative Council.

It happened this way: Tods' pet kid got loose, and fled up the hill,
off the Boileaugunge Road, Tods after it, until it burst in to the
Viceregal Lodge lawn, then attached to 'Peterhoff.' The Council were
sitting at the time, and the windows were open because it was warm.
The Red Lancer in the porch told Tods to go away; but Tods knew the
Red Lancer and most of the Members of Council personally. Moreover,
he had firm hold of the kid's collar, and was being dragged all
across the flower-beds. 'Give my _salaam_ to the long Councillor
_Sahib_, and ask him to help me take _Moti_ back!' gasped Tods. The
Council heard the noise through the open windows; and, after an
interval, was seen the shocking spectacle of a Legal Member and a
Lieutenant-Governor helping, under the direct patronage of a
Commander-in-Chief and a Viceroy, one small and very dirty boy, in a
sailor's suit and a tangle of brown hair, to coerce a lively and
rebellious kid. They headed it off down the path to the Mall, and
Tods went home in triumph and told his Mamma that _all_ the
Councillor _Sahibs_ had been helping him to catch _Moti_. Whereat his
Mamma smacked Tods for interfering with the administration of the
Empire; but Tods met the Legal Member the next day, and told him in
confidence that if the Legal Member ever wanted to catch a goat, he,
Tods, would give him all the help in his power. 'Thank you, Tods,'
said the Legal Member.

Tods was the idol of some eighty _jhampanis_, and half as many
_saises_. He saluted them all as 'O Brother.' It never entered his
head that any living human being could disobey his orders; and he was
the buffer between the servants and his Mamma's wrath. The working of
that household turne