Well, I think I've begun feeling the monotony of writing about the same things that I have discussed a million times before with my friends. Let's get a breather now. I'm going to write about 'Mrs. Packletide's Tiger', a short story that I read sometime back (okay, it was in my English textbook last year).
The story is about one Mrs. Packletide who wants to kill a tiger, just to outshine her arch-rival Loona Bimberton, who has flown eleven miles in a plane with an Algerian aviator. Loona earned the awe and attention of the entire elite society for this feat. Mrs. Packletide hopes to turn the tide, literally speaking, and hopes that by shooting a tiger, she can gain more popularity in her society.
You could say Mrs. Packletide was a master strategist, as she had planned the whole journey to fame in complete detail. She would kill the tiger, host a party supposedly in Loona's honour, and then let a tiger-skin rug take up most of the foreground. Within days, she would be the talk of the town, and then she would present Loona a tiger-claw brooch on her birthday just to rub it in.
With such heroic plans, our hunter sets off to a village with a paid companion, Miss Mebbin. The villagers had been offered the meagre amount of one thousand rupees, which for them was a fortune. In return, the villagers took wonderful care of the 'venerable herd-robber', so that he might not stray from the grounds or die before the great event.
At last, Mrs. Packletide arrived to shoot the tiger. She was given a comfortable platform to crouch on while she waited for the old tiger to wander in. A goat with a loud bleat had been placed at a suitable position to attract the tiger.The creature finally ambled into view, and crept toward the goat softly, but steadily.
As soon as it was in the desired position, Miss Mebbin urged Mrs. Packletide to shoot, and the latter promptly obeyed.
There was a loud sound and the tiger jumped and fell over. Loud rejoicing erupted from the villagers and they started celebrating. After all, they had gained a thousand rupees!
It was Louisa Mebbin who brought to notice the fact that the goat was in death throes from a fatal bullet wound, while the tiger lay still, but had no sign of a bullet in it.
Apparently, the goat had been shot, and the tiger had collapsed of heart attack upon hearing the sudden report of the rifle. But the best part is yet to come.
The truth of the incident remains a secret, and as long as they received their reward, the villagers did not care about the fact that the wrong animal had been shot. The reporters interviewed Mrs. Packletide, who achieved her desire of outshining Loona Bimberton. But that success came at a huge price. Miss Mebbin, who was very shrewd, blackmailed Mrs. Packletide into buying her a weekend cottage that she liked. It was at the cost of revealing the truth which would make our hunter look like a grand old fool, which she could not afford. Thus, Mrs. Packletide was forced to accede to Louisa Mebbin's demands.
Miss Mebbin had the last laugh: 'Louisa Mebbin's pretty week-end cottage, christened by her "Les Fauves," and gay in summer-time with its garden borders of tiger-lilies, is the wonder and admiration of her friends.'
The story is about one Mrs. Packletide who wants to kill a tiger, just to outshine her arch-rival Loona Bimberton, who has flown eleven miles in a plane with an Algerian aviator. Loona earned the awe and attention of the entire elite society for this feat. Mrs. Packletide hopes to turn the tide, literally speaking, and hopes that by shooting a tiger, she can gain more popularity in her society.
You could say Mrs. Packletide was a master strategist, as she had planned the whole journey to fame in complete detail. She would kill the tiger, host a party supposedly in Loona's honour, and then let a tiger-skin rug take up most of the foreground. Within days, she would be the talk of the town, and then she would present Loona a tiger-claw brooch on her birthday just to rub it in.
With such heroic plans, our hunter sets off to a village with a paid companion, Miss Mebbin. The villagers had been offered the meagre amount of one thousand rupees, which for them was a fortune. In return, the villagers took wonderful care of the 'venerable herd-robber', so that he might not stray from the grounds or die before the great event.
At last, Mrs. Packletide arrived to shoot the tiger. She was given a comfortable platform to crouch on while she waited for the old tiger to wander in. A goat with a loud bleat had been placed at a suitable position to attract the tiger.The creature finally ambled into view, and crept toward the goat softly, but steadily.
As soon as it was in the desired position, Miss Mebbin urged Mrs. Packletide to shoot, and the latter promptly obeyed.
There was a loud sound and the tiger jumped and fell over. Loud rejoicing erupted from the villagers and they started celebrating. After all, they had gained a thousand rupees!
It was Louisa Mebbin who brought to notice the fact that the goat was in death throes from a fatal bullet wound, while the tiger lay still, but had no sign of a bullet in it.
Apparently, the goat had been shot, and the tiger had collapsed of heart attack upon hearing the sudden report of the rifle. But the best part is yet to come.
The truth of the incident remains a secret, and as long as they received their reward, the villagers did not care about the fact that the wrong animal had been shot. The reporters interviewed Mrs. Packletide, who achieved her desire of outshining Loona Bimberton. But that success came at a huge price. Miss Mebbin, who was very shrewd, blackmailed Mrs. Packletide into buying her a weekend cottage that she liked. It was at the cost of revealing the truth which would make our hunter look like a grand old fool, which she could not afford. Thus, Mrs. Packletide was forced to accede to Louisa Mebbin's demands.
Miss Mebbin had the last laugh: 'Louisa Mebbin's pretty week-end cottage, christened by her "Les Fauves," and gay in summer-time with its garden borders of tiger-lilies, is the wonder and admiration of her friends.'
Hi Varsha,
ReplyDeleteThere's a surprise waiting for you in the link below:
http://ideaassortment.blogspot.in/2013/11/the-power-of-appreciation.html