Burmese Sketches - Khamkoo

BURMESE SKETGnES.
34^.
he grew rich and happy. In the course of years, he was blessed
with children and he thought no more of his native land.
He had at last found a home. Well, as I said, he had contended
against many and many a hard battle in life, and he
said to himself that he would try his best to shield his dear
boy from the miseries and privations he had undergone. He
wanted him to know English —a language he said to himself,
" truly termed alchemical, In being able to transmute into
solid coins the dry facts acquired in studying it."
So Maung Po was sent to an English school, where he
studied uninterruptedly for five years. He was a sharp lad
with bright eyes and a beaming face. Boyish, full of spirit and
full of fun, he was more of an English boy, than a Burman
boy born and bred in the enervating tropics. His master
spoke highly of him and expressed a hope that one day he
would finish his academical career In flying colours. When
he was twelve, his father got about 10 days' leave for him
and had him made a koyi7t or novice. There was a grand
feast as usual. Pwes were held, and from miles around,
people cam.e to the feast. At the end of 10 days, Maung Po
came out of his noviciate. He rejoined the English school
again and the round of days and weeks went by with him
as of old.
When he was thirteen, he passed the Middle School Examination,
and became a Government Scholarship-holder of the
first school of the metropolis. In 18— he duly passed the
Calcutta University Entrance Examination. His father then
thought that Maung Po had received enough of an English
education. He wan{;ed him to turn his knowledge Into a
'bread and butter science.' '* Nothing is better" he wrote
to his son— ** than learning to be manly and independent.
During my life-time, you should learn to be self-reliant, and
to earn your own bread ; otherwise you can never call the
wealth I shall leave you your own." So Maung Po left school
with great regret, and became an apprentice In a Deputy
Commissioner's office. But he had not left school in vain.
He had received a sound education there, and been thoroughly
grounded In the principles of discipline, and had developed
his physical man by playing football and cricket. He had
also formed some life-lasting friendships there. Maung Gyi,
Maung Aung, Maung Hla—men who became in after years
he leading men in the Province, were his closest companions.
In due time Maung Po became a clerk, and in this keranidom
we will leave him for the present.