Letter

Oct. 20th, 2009 03:27 pm
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[personal profile] ismenin


Small throne room! In which Elijah first met Dom.


I couldn't resist posting this! I thought it was just charming.

Read and see if you agree.




The following is a letter written by an Indian Station Master to his boss. The language used by the Station Master shows his utmost loyalty to his employers plus his contemporary Indian ability to use flowery language.


STATION MASTER'S OFFICE,
LONDIANI.
April 4, 1905
To The Traffic Manager,
Uganda Railway,
Nairobi.

Most Honoured and Respected Sir,
I have the honour to humbly and urgently require your Honour's to relieve me of my onerous duties at Londiani so as to enable me to visit the land of my nativity, to wit, India forsooth.

This in order that I may take unto wife a damsel of many charms who has long been cherished in the heart-beats of my soul. She is of superfluous beauty and enamoured of the thought of becoming my wife. Said beauteous damsel has long been goal of my manly breast, and now am fearful of other miscreant deposing me from her loftly affections. Delay in consummation may be ruination most damnable to romance of both damsel and your humble servant.

Therefore, I pray your Honour allow me to hasten India and contract marriage forthwith with said beauteous damsel. This being done happily, I will return to Londiani to resume my fruitful official duties and perform also my natural matrimonial functions. It is dead loneliness here without this charmer to solace my empty heart.

If your Honour will so far rejoice my soul to this extent, and also as goes equally without saying that of said wife-to-be, I shall for ever pray, as in duty bound, for your Honour's life-long prosperity, everlasting happiness, the promotion of most startling rapidity, and withal the fatherhood of many Godlike and lusty children to gambol playfully about your Honour's paternal knees to heart's contentment.

If, however, for reason's of State or other extreme urgency, the Presence cannot suitably comply with terms of this humble petition, then I pray your most excellent Superiority to grant me this benign favour for Jesus Christ's sake, a gentleman whom your Honour very much resembles.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your Honour's most humble and dutiful servant, but terribly lovesick mortal withal,

(sd.) GOKAL CHAND
(B.A. (failed by God's misfortune) Bombay University and now Station Master, Londiani)

Not only did I approve of this quaint effusion, but wished Gokal Chand the best of luck with his romance and application for leave to Bombay. I knew" Cruicky" would be hugely entertained and would add this letter to his collection. Later, I heard that Gokal Chand's leave had been granted; and, when next I saw him, a purdah woman shyly peeped out at me from the depths of his quarters. I wondered if she was as beautiful as her husband claimed! I shall never know. (Foran [Cuckoo] p. 183/4)

Date: 2009-10-20 03:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] primula-baggins.livejournal.com
Oh, that is just too precious!

I wish we could've seen a photo of this beauteous damsel! :D

Nice throne room.

Date: 2009-10-20 03:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ismenin.livejournal.com
Isn't it cute?

And that's the smallest throne room. Dom was meeting Lij in private! Giggles. xxx

Date: 2009-10-20 05:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] janejanejane.livejournal.com
Breathtaking throne room! I can just imagine Dom and Lij meeting there...

The letter is wonderful :-) Thanks for sharing.

XX

Date: 2009-10-20 09:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ismenin.livejournal.com
Imagines it with you!

I think the letter is uber-kyoot! xxx

Date: 2009-10-20 06:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laeliacatt.livejournal.com
I feel like drawing curly cues (ques? queues?) all over this comment because the florid and effusive text in his missive has me all a-flutter and a-dither and...

*slaps self on face*

Ah! That's better. :D

Date: 2009-10-20 09:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ismenin.livejournal.com
Well, he did believe ib flattery, bless his little heart!

Resists temptaion to slap you, and hugs you instead! xxx

Date: 2009-10-20 07:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mews1945.livejournal.com
If that letter doesn't touch the heart, nothing will. The station master has the heart of a romantic.

The throne room is incredible.

Date: 2009-10-20 09:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ismenin.livejournal.com
I do like romance, and so do you! ;D

That is the smallest throne room in the palace! Gosh! ;D xxx

Date: 2009-10-21 02:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] verangel.livejournal.com
Oh Ru. This is such an amazing piece. I takes us to one who doesn't speak as we do, who relates differently and so reverently in his beseaching to a greater one. Its really beautifully done, as you do, but this being seperate from the story gives it a different feel totally.
I wish I could meet you. I would melt and feel totally awestruck as a Fan of your works. I would probably embarrase myself. hugs you. I love your mind. xooxox v

Date: 2009-10-21 07:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ismenin.livejournal.com
It is lovely, isn't it? Bless him! I hope he was happy with her.

Well, thank you! When you're next in the UK, come and visit. It'd be lovely to see you, too. :D xxx

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