The Talisman

Anp when he returned he had much to say of the magical properties of that medicine. And Mimosa’s neighbours had much to say to her.

“Poor foolish woman, have we not told thee that all thy troubles would pass if only thou wert wise as thy husband? Look at him restored to health. And by whom? And by what? And thy little peacock, where is he? If only thou wert more wise, and hadst used good sense and followed our counsel, would he not be in thine arms now? O empty arms! O most foolish mother!

“Who but a hard-hearted woman would refuse a charm to save her dying child? Did we not tell her, did we not say again and again: ‘ Follow the customs of thy country?’?” And so it went on till Mimosa was weary of it.

For, far wiser than she, men wiser than her husband, even wonderful, learned men who wrote many English letters after their names, believed in charms and amulets and all such occult ways of securing good fortune.

It was true, and it is true. As this tale goes to press there has come by post a witness thereto in

the shape of a green-covered ten-page magazine.

It is called The World-renowned Talisman. There is a picture of the inventor and proprietor’s imposing residence with a temple alongside, as if in attendance on the house; and then comes a picture of believers coming for the talisman, and the pages are crammed with letters, not anonymous testimonials in the shamefaced manner of the West, but outspoken, explicit, and very interesting letters, signed, and with the writers’ addresses in full.

Here you see B.A.s, judges and magistrates, lawyers and station-masters, Government officials and doctors, and clergymen, and all manner of private people, anxious students, or chiefly students relieved, for with the charm the stiffest examination becomes easy. All stand forward and with frank voices tell their happy stories. A surgeon “cannot find words imaginable to extol the inevitable effects of the charm. It is soothing balm to the afflicted minds of mankind who uses it.” “My long-cherished desire of serving the Hon’ble the Maharajah Bahadur has been fulfilled. I am happy under His Highness’ good esteem.” This is from a High Court barristerat-law with a tail ten letters long after his name. The charm did it. A police officer receives honours from Government, a student passes “under great difficulties” his law examinations, so does another his Cambridge Local — he stands first in his province — and an exultant B.A. writes of his thankfulness. But scores more attest its virtues in much the same language. “I proclaim [them] by beat of the drum,” remarks one, for all are grateful, and have no false shame whatever. After all, why should they have any? What are examinations but trap-doors through which you crawl if you have luck, and in which you stick if you have not?

“I bought it for the purpose of passing the Matriculation examination. No doubt through the wonderful efficacy I have gained a very brilliant result in it.’ “I passed my Intermediate, which was hopeless to get through. I find no words to express the efficacy of your renowned charm.”

Business men rise rapidly and get large increase of pay. Unfortunates involved in litigation win their cases. (What if both sides wore it?) The charm wins in a huge lottery; twenty thousand rupees fall into the lap of its wearer, whose life it also “saves from drowning by its divine power. Even my friend who gave me the talisman passed the Cambridge Senior Local with four distinctions and first-class honours.” As for the mysterious influences of the stars, they slink away before it. “I suffered on account of bad effect of my stars, I have been subjected to the evil effects of planets,” but the charm has ended that. It has been “working like galvanic battery. Its effect in guarding the evil influence of planets is really wonderful. It bestowed on me good health and happiness. It has increased the beauty and charmingness of my body.” And the physician of two well-known maharajahs (great kings) tells how the charm acts like a spell. A tiny child just the age of Mimosa’s little peacock was saved from death through its means. And another says simply: “I was unwell, and it did cure me. I do believe there is something in it which prevents evil from doing mischief.” And so it goes on.

With this all round her, and nothing whatever that did not breathe the same spirit, Mimosa pondered long. How piercing a thorn in the heart “if only” may be! If only I had done this or that. Who does not know the pricking of that thorn? Could it be that she was wrong? Had she indeed slain, by her refusal to look this way at all, her precious little peacock? But she turned from the perplexity; there were many things that she could not understand. But one thing she knew: If her God were the true God, then He was over all. God was the true God, therefore He was over all. Therefore charms were under Him. And what need to go to the thing that is undermost, when you may go direct to Him that is higher than all?

“Nay, shall I be as one who goes to the servant when he might go to the Master of the household?” Thus did she answer herself. “And about these matters, my Father, I do not know anything. But I think it must be enough to leave them with You, my Father.” And she went on in peace.