The dinner was now prepared, and laid out on the plates, and the old tricks about to be played. Rooshkulum, as with the others, could not find fault, for, fool as he was, he knew the consequences. As he went out with the old lady, she too inquired his name.
“Why, really,” said he to her, “mine is a name that no one, I venture to say, was ever called before. All my brothers and sisters died, and my father and mother thought that perhaps an unusual queer kind of name might have luck, so they called me ‘Mehane.’”
And, reader, if thou understandest not our vernacular, know that “Mehane” signifies in English “myself.”
They spent some hours, as usual, in the garden, and Rooshkulum returned tired and exhausted. But when he expected to get his supper, and when she again brought him out, and ate the fine hot buttered cake before his very eyes, it was more than flesh and blood could stand. However, he pretended not to mind it in the least, but was very civil to the old lady, amusing her by his silly stories. “And now, ma’am,” said he, “let’s walk a little way down this sunny bank before we go in.”
Certain it was that the sun did happen to shine on the bank at that very time, but it was to what were growing on it that he wished to direct her close attention; for when he came to a certain place where there was a cavity filled by a rank growth of nettles, thistles, and thorns, he gave his charge such a shove as sent her sprawling and kicking in the midst of them, uttering wild shrieks, for the pain was great.
But Rooshkulum had no notion of helping her out, and ran into the house, which was some distance away, desiring the farmer to run, for that his mother would walk there, and had fallen into a hole, from which he could not get her out. And then the farmer ran, and cried, “O, mother, where are you? what has happened?”
“Alas, my son! here I am down in this hole! Help me out! I am ruined, disfigured for life!”
“And who is it,” said the farmer, “that has dared to serve you thus?”
“O,” said she, “it was Mehane! Mehane a veil Mehane!” (Myself has ruined myself!)
“Who?” said the farmer, as he helped her out.