Telan Gloucester

A zamanin takubba da periwigs da rigunan kwat masu faɗin ƙasa tare da lappets masu zanen furanni - lokacin da manyan maza suke sa ruffles, da waistcoats masu adon zaren zinariya na paduasoy da taffeta - wani tela ya taɓa zama a Gloucester.

Ya zauna a tagar wani ƙaramin shago a Westgate Street, ya nade ƙafafunsa a kan tebur, tun daga safiya har duhu ya yi.
Dukan yini, muddin haske ya kasance, yana ɗinki yana yanyanka, yana haɗa satini da pompadour, da lutestring; yadudduka suna da sunaye masu ban mamaki, kuma suna da tsada ƙwarai a zamanin Tailor of Gloucester.

Amma ko da yake yana ɗinka siliki mai kyau ga maƙwabtansa, shi kansa matalauci ne ƙwarai da gaske—wani ƙaramin tsoho mai tabarau, da fuska mai rame, tsofaffin yatsu karkatattu, da kayan sawa da suka tsufa har sun yi siriri.

Ya yanke kotunan nasa ba tare da ɓata yadi ba, daga yadin da aka yi masa ɗinkin ado; ƙanana ne sosai, ragowa da gutsattsari da suka bazu a kan teburin—“Faɗinsu ya yi ƙanƙanta don kome—sai dai waskat na beraye,” in ji tela.

A wata rana mai tsananin sanyi kusa da lokacin Kirsimeti, tela ya fara yin wata kotu—kotu ta siliki mai launin ceri, mai layi-layi, an yi mata ado da furannin pansy da wardi, da kuma falmaran satin mai launin kirim—an kawata shi da gauze da chenille na worsted kore—domin Magajin Garin Gloucester.
Tela ya yi ta aiki ya yi ta aiki, kuma ya yi magana da kansa. Ya auna silikin, ya juya shi ta nan da can, ya kuma gyara shi ya zama siffa da manyan almakashinsa; teburin duk ya cika da yanyankan launin ceri.
“Babu faɗi ko kaɗan, kuma an yanka shi a karkace; babu faɗi ko kaɗan; mayafan wuya ga beraye da ribbons ga mobs! ga beraye!” in ji Tela na Gloucester.
Sa’ad da fararen dusar ƙanƙara suka sauko suna bugun ƙananan gilasan tagar da aka yi da gubar ƙarfe suka kuma rufe hasken, tela ya gama aikin ranarsa; duk siliki da satin suna a yanke a kan teburin.

Akwai sassa goma sha biyu na kot ɗin da sassa huɗu na rigar waistcoat ɗin; kuma akwai murafan aljihu da bakin hannaye, da maɓallai duk a shirye. Don rufin cikin kot ɗin akwai tafeta rawaya mai kyau; kuma don ramukan maɓallan rigar waistcoat ɗin, akwai zaren siliki murɗaɗɗe mai launin cheri. Kuma komai ya shirya a ɗinka su tare da safe, duk an auna kuma sun isa—sai dai ana bukatar ƙwaya ɗaya tak ta nadin zaren siliki murɗaɗɗe mai launin cheri.
Tela ya fito daga shagon sa da duhu, domin ba ya kwana a can da dare; ya kulle tagar da ƙofa, ya ɗauke mabuɗin. Ba wanda yake zama a can da dare sai ƙananan ɓeraye masu ruwan kasa, kuma suna shiga suna fita ba tare da wani mabuɗi ba!
Domin a bayan allunan bangon itace na dukan tsoffin gidaje a Gloucester, akwai ƙananan matakalan ɓeraye da ɓoyayyun ƙofofin tarko; kuma ɓerayen suna gudu daga gida zuwa gida ta waɗannan dogayen kunkuntar hanyoyi; suna iya yawo a ko’ina cikin garin ba tare da sun shiga tituna ba.

Yanzu duk tsawon yini yayin da telan yake waje yana aiki, Simpkin yana kula da gidan shi kaɗai; shi ma yana son berayen, ko da yake bai ba su satin don riguna ba!
"Miyau?" in ji kyanwar lokacin da telan ya buɗe ƙofar.
"Miyau?"
Telan ya amsa, "Simpkin, za mu sami arzikinmu, amma na gaji har na zama kamar zare mai warwarewa. Ka ɗauki waɗannan ƴan tsabar kuɗi na ƙarshe, Simpkin, kuma ka ɗauki ƙaramar tukunya ta ain; ka sayi burodi na penny ɗaya, madara ta penny ɗaya, da tsiran alade na penny ɗaya. Kuma ya kai Simpkin, da penny na ƙarshe ka saya mini zaren siliki mai launin cherry na penny ɗaya. Amma kada ka rasa wannan penny na ƙarshe, Simpkin, ko kuwa na lalace kuma na gaji har na zama kamar takardar zare, domin BA NI DA SAURAN ZAREN ƊINKI."
Sai Simpkin ya sake cewa, "Miyau?" ya ɗauki groat ɗin da ƙaramar tukunyar, ya fita cikin duhu.

Telan ya gaji ƙwarai kuma yana fara rashin lafiya. Ya zauna a bakin murhu, yana magana da kansa game da waccan riga mai ban mamaki.
”Zan yi arziki—a yanka ta a karkace—Magajin garin Gloucester zai yi aure da safiyar Ranar Kirsimeti, kuma ya yi odar riga da rigar ciki da aka yi wa ƙawanya—a lulluɓe ta da taffeta rawaya—kuma taffetan ta isa; babu abin da ya rage a tarkacen yadi fiye da abin da zai isa a yi ƙananan gyale wa beraye——”
Sai telan ya firgita; domin ba zato ba tsammani, wani abu ya katse shi, daga majalisar jita-jita a ɗaya gefen kicin sai wasu ƙananan sautuka suka fito—
”Tip tap, tip tap, tip tap tip!”
”To, me zai iya zama haka?” in ji Telan Gloucester, yana tsalle daga kan kujerarsa. Majalisar jita-jitan cike take da kwanoni da ƙananan tukwanen yumɓu, faranti masu zanen willow, da kofunan shayi da manyan kofuna.

Tela ya ratsa kicin, ya tsaya cak kusa da kabad ɗin kwano, yana sauraro, yana kuma leƙawa ta cikin tabaransa. Sai kuma daga ƙarƙashin wani kofin shayi, waɗancan ƙananan sautuka masu ban dariya suka sake fitowa-
”Tip tap, tip tap, Tip tap tip!”
”Wannan abin mamaki ne ƙwarai,” in ji Tela na Gloucester; sai ya ɗaga kofin shayin da yake a kife.

Sai wata ƙaramar berar mace mai rai ta fito, ta yi wa telan sunkuyar gaisuwa! Sa’an nan ta yi tsalle ta sauka daga kan kabad ɗin kwanuka, ta shige ƙarƙashin allon bangon ƙasa.
Telan ya sake zama kusa da wuta, yana dumama hannayensa marasa ƙarfi da suka yi sanyi, yana kuma gunaguni a ransa——
”An yanke waistcoat ɗin daga satin mai launin peach—ɗinkin tambour da ƙananan furannin rose da kyakkyawan zaren siliki mai laushi. Na yi hikima kuwa da na ba Simpkin kuɗaɗena na ƙarshe? Ramukan maɓalli guda ashirin da ɗaya na zaren twist mai launin cherry!”
Amma kwatsam, daga kan kabad ɗin kwanuka, sai wasu ƙananan sautuka suka fito:
”Tip tap, tip tap, tip tap tip!”
”Wannan abin mamaki ne ƙwarai!” in ji Telan Gloucester, sai ya juya wani kofin shayi dabam, wanda yake kife.

Sai wani ƙaramin ɓera mai ladabi ya fito, ya yi wa tela rusunawa!
Sa’an nan daga ko’ina a kan teburin ajiya aka ji ƙungiyar ƙananan ƙwanƙwasawa, duk suna ƙara tare, suna amsa wa juna, kamar ƙwarin agogo a cikin tsohon murfin taga da tsutsotsi suka huda—
”Tip tap, tip tap, tip tap tip!”
”Kuma daga ƙarƙashin kofunan shayi da daga ƙarƙashin kwano da kwanukan wanki, wasu ƙananan ɓeraye da yawa suka fito, suka yi tsalle suka sauka daga teburin ajiya, suka shiga ƙarƙashin allunan bangon ɗaki.

Mai dinkin ya zauna, kusa da wuta, yana kuka—“Ramukan maɓalli ashirin da ɗaya na siliki mai launin ceri! A gama su kafin tsakar ranar Asabar: kuma yau yammacin Talata ne. Ya dace ne in saki waɗancan berayen, waɗanda ba shakka mallakar Simpkin ne? Kash, na lalace, domin ba ni da sauran zaren dinki!”
Ƙananan berayen suka sake fitowa, suka saurari mai dinkin; suka lura da fasalin wannan rigar ban mamaki. Suka yi raɗa wa juna game da rufin taffeta, da kuma ƙananan rawunan wuya na bera.
Sa’an nan kwatsam sai dukansu suka gudu tare ta hanyar bayan allunan bangon, suna ƙugi suna kiran juna, yayin da suke gudu daga gida zuwa gida; kuma ba a bar ko bera ɗaya a kicin ɗin mai dinkin ba lokacin da Simpkin ya dawo da ƙaramin tukunyar madara!

Simpkin ya buɗe ƙofar ya yi tsalle ya shigo, da fushin ”G-r-r-miyau!” kamar kyanwa da ta ji haushi: domin ya tsani dusar ƙanƙara, kuma dusar ƙanƙara tana cikin kunnuwansa, da kuma cikin kwalar rigarsa a bayan wuyansa. Ya ajiye burodin da tsiran naman a kan teburin ajiya, ya kuma shaƙa.
”Simpkin,” in ji tela, ”ina zarena na ɗinki?”
Amma Simpkin ya ajiye ƙaramar tukunyar madara a kan teburin ajiya, ya kalli kofunan shayi cikin tuhuma. Yana son abincin darensa na ƙaramin bera mai ƙiba!
”Simpkin,” in ji tela, ”ina ZARENA NA ƊINKI?”

Amma Simpkin ya ɓoye ƙaramin kunshi a asirce cikin tukunyar shayi, ya yi huci ya kuma yi gurnani ga telan; kuma da Simpkin yana iya magana, da ya tambaya:
”Ina BERANA?”
”Kaitona, na lalace!” in ji Telan Gloucester, sannan ya tafi gado cikin baƙin ciki.
Tsawon wannan dare duka Simpkin ya yi farauta ya kuma bincika ko'ina a cikin ɗakin girki, yana leƙa cikin kabad-kabad da ƙarƙashin bangon katako, da kuma cikin tukunyar shayi inda ya ɓoye wancan zaren; amma duk da haka bai taɓa samun bera ko ɗaya ba!
Duk lokacin da telan ya yi gunaguni yana magana cikin barcinsa, Simpkin ya ce ”Miaw-ger-r-w-s-s-ch!” ya kuma yi wasu munanan sauti masu ban tsoro, kamar yadda kuliyoyi suke yi da dare.
Domin tsohon telan talaka yana rashin lafiya sosai da zazzaɓi, yana juyawa yana mirgina a gadonsa mai ginshiƙai huɗu; kuma har yanzu cikin mafarkinsa yana ta furta a ƙasa-ƙasa—”Babu sauran zare! babu sauran zare!”
Duk wannan rana ya kasance ba shi da lafiya, da washegari, da kuma ranar da ta biyo baya; to me zai faru da rigar launin ceri? A shagon telan a Westgate Street, siliki da satin da aka yi musu ɗinki na ado sun kwanta an riga an yanke su a kan tebur—ramukan maɓalli ashirin da ɗaya—kuma wa zai zo ya ɗinka su, lokacin da aka kange taga, kuma aka kulle ƙofa sosai?

Amma hakan ba ya hana ƙananan beraye masu launin ruwan kasa; suna shiga da fita ba tare da maɓallai ko ɗaya ba ta cikin dukkan tsofaffin gidajen Gloucester!

A waje, mutanen kasuwa suka yi ta takawa da ƙyar cikin dusar ƙanƙara don su sayi geese da talotalonsu, kuma su toya paye-payen Kirsimeti; amma ba za a sami abincin dare na Kirsimeti ga Simpkin da tsohon Tela na Gloucester matalauci ba.
Tela ya kwanta ba lafiya na kwana uku da darare uku; sannan sai Hauwa’ar Kirsimeti ta zo, kuma dare ya yi sosai. Wata ya hau sama bisa rufin gidaje da murhuna, ya kuma leƙa ƙasa ta ƙofar shiga zuwa College Court. Babu haske a tagogi, kuma babu wani sauti a gidaje; duk birnin Gloucester yana barci sosai ƙarƙashin dusar ƙanƙara.
Kuma har yanzu Simpkin yana son berayensa, ya kuma yi miaw yayin da yake tsaye kusa da gado mai ginshiƙai huɗu.

Amma a cikin tsohon labarin ne cewa dukan dabbobi suna iya magana, a daren da ke tsakanin jajibirin Kirsimeti da safiyar ranar Kirsimeti (ko da yake mutane kaɗan ne ƙwarai suke iya jin su, ko su san abin da suke faɗa).
Sa’ad da agogon babban cocin Cathedral ya buga ƙarfe goma sha biyu, sai aka sami amsa—kamar amon ƙarar kararrawa—kuma Simpkin ya ji shi, ya fito daga ƙofar mai ɗinki, ya yi ta yawo cikin dusar ƙanƙara.
Daga dukan rufin gidaje da gaban rufin sama da tsofaffin gidajen katako a Gloucester, sai muryoyi dubu masu farin ciki suka fito suna rera tsofaffin waƙoƙin Kirsimeti—duk tsofaffin waƙoƙin da na taɓa ji, da kuma wasu da ban sani ba, kamar kararrawan Whittington.

Da farko, kuma da mafi ƙarfi, zakaru suka yi kuka:
“Uwargida, tashi, ki gasa pai ɗinki!”
“Oh, dilly, dilly, dilly!” Simpkin ya numfasa.
Kuma yanzu a wani ɗakin sama a ƙarƙashin rufi akwai fitilu da sautukan rawa, kuma kuliyoyi suka zo daga ɗaya gefen hanya.
“Hey, diddle, diddle, kyanwa da fidila! Duk kuliyoyin Gloucester—sai ni kaɗai,” in ji Simpkin.
A ƙarƙashin gefen rufin katako, tsuntsayen starling da sparrow suka rera waƙar pai na Kirsimeti; jack-daws suka farka a hasumiyar Cathedral; kuma ko da yake tsakiyar dare ne, throstles da robins suka rera waƙa; iska ta cika sosai da ƙananan sautukan tsuntsaye masu ƙyalli.

Amma duk wannan ya ɗan fusata Simpkin matalauci mai yunwa!
Musamman ma, wasu ƙananan muryoyi masu kaifi daga bayan ragar katako sun ba shi haushi. Ina tsammani jemagu ne, domin kullum suna da ƙananan muryoyi—musamman a lokacin baƙin sanyi, sa’ad da suke magana cikin barci, kamar Tailor of Gloucester.
Sun faɗi wani abu mai ban mamaki wanda ya yi kama da—
”Buz, in ji ƙuda shuɗi, hum, in ji kudan zuma,
Buz da hum suke kira, mu ma haka muke yi!”
sai Simpkin ya tafi yana girgiza kunnuwansa kamar yana da kudan zuma a cikin hularsa.

Daga shagon tela a Westgate wani haske ya fito; kuma da Simpkin ya lallaba ya matso don lekawa ta taga, sai ya ga ciki cike da kyandirori. Ana jin ƙananan ƙarar almakashi, da ƙarar zaren ɗinki; kuma muryoyin ƙananan beraye suna raira waƙa da ƙarfi da farin ciki—
”Tela ashirin da huɗu
Sun tafi kama katantanwa,
Mafi jarumi a cikinsu
Bai kuskura ya taɓa wutsiyarta ba,
Ta fito da ƙahonunta
Kamar ƙaramar saniyar Kyloe,
Ku gudu, teloli, ku gudu! ko kuwa za ta kama ku duka yanzu!”
Sa’an nan ba tare da tsayawa ba, muryoyin ƙananan berayen suka ci gaba kuma—
”Ki tace oatmeal na uwargijiyata,
Ki niƙa fulawar uwargijiyata,
Ki saka shi cikin chestnut,
Ki bar shi ya tsaya awa guda——”

“Miyau! Miyau!” Simpkin ya katse, kuma ya karce ƙofar. Amma mabuɗin yana ƙarƙashin matashin kai na telan, bai iya shiga ba.
Ƙananan berayen kuwa suka yi dariya kawai, suka gwada wata waƙa dabam—
“Ƙananan beraye uku sun zauna don su kaɗa zare,
Kyanwa ta wuce sai ta leka ciki.
Me kuke yi, ƙananan maza na masu kyau?
Muna yi wa manyan maza riguna.
In shigo in yanke zarenku?
A'a, Miss Pussy, za ki cije kawunanmu!”
“Miyau! Miyau!” Simpkin ya yi kuka. “Hey diddle dinketty?” ƙananan berayen suka amsa—
“Hey diddle dinketty, poppetty pet!
’Yan kasuwar London suna sa ja mai haske;
Siliki a wuyan riga, da zinariya a gefen ƙasa,
Haka ’yan kasuwa suke tafiya cikin farin ciki!”

Suka danna hulunan yatsunsu na ɗinki don bin kari, amma babu wata waƙa da ta faranta wa Simpkin rai; ya yi shaƙa-shaƙa yana miyau a ƙofar shagon.
”Sai kuma na sayi
Pipkin da popkin,
Slipkin da slopkin,
Duka da penny ɗaya——
kuma a kan kabad ɗin kicin!” ƙananan berayen marasa ladabi suka ƙara.
”Miyau! karce! karce!” Simpkin ya yi ta cafkafe a kan bakin taga; yayin da ƙananan berayen da ke ciki suka zabura suka miƙe tsaye, dukansu suka fara ihu lokaci ɗaya da ƙananan muryoyi masu tsittsiyawa: ”Babu sauran zaren twist! Babu sauran zaren twist!” Sai suka toshe murafan tagar suka rufe Simpkin a waje.
Amma har yanzu, ta cikin ƙananan tsage-tsagen murafan, yana iya jin ƙarar danna hulunan yatsun ɗinki, da ƙananan muryoyin beraye suna waƙa—
”Babu sauran zaren twist! Babu sauran zaren twist!”

Simpkin ya fito daga shagon ya tafi gida, yana tunani a zuciyarsa. Ya tarar da tsohon telan nan matalauci ba shi da zazzaɓi, yana barci cikin salama.
Sai Simpkin ya yi tafiya a kan yatsun ƙafafunsa, ya ɗauko ƙaramin kunshin siliki daga cikin butar shayi, ya dube shi a hasken wata; sai ya ji kunya ƙwarai saboda muguntarsa idan aka kwatanta da waɗancan ƙananan ɓeraye nagari!
Da tela ya farka da safe, abu na farko da ya gani a kan bargon facin-facin, shi ne dunƙulen zaren siliki murɗaɗɗe mai launin ceri, kuma a gefen gadonsa Simpkin mai nadama yana tsaye!

”Kash, na gaji har na zama kamar zare mai warwarewa,” in ji Tela na Gloucester, ”amma ina da zaren murɗe na!”
Rana tana haskawa a kan dusar ƙanƙara lokacin da tela ya tashi ya yi ado, ya fito kan titi, Simpkin kuma yana gudu a gabansa.
Tsuntsayen starlings sun yi busa a kan bututun hayakin gidaje, kuma throstles da robins sun rera waƙa—amma sun rera nasu ƙananan sautuka, ba kalmomin da suka rera da dare ba.
”Kash,” in ji tela, ”ina da zaren murɗe na; amma babu sauran ƙarfi—ko lokaci—fiye da wanda zai isa in yi ramin maballi guda ɗaya tak; domin yau Safiyar Ranar Kirsimeti ce! Magajin Garin Gloucester zai yi aure kafin tsakar rana—kuma ina rigarsa mai launin cherry?”
Ya buɗe ƙofar ƙaramin shagon da makulli a Titin Westgate, sai Simpkin ya ruga ciki, kamar kyanwa da take tsammanin wani abu.
Amma babu kowa a wurin! Ko da ƙaramin bera mai ruwan kasa guda ɗaya ma babu!
An share allunan bene sun yi tsabta; ƙananan ƙarshen zare da ƙananan gutsattsarin siliki duka an tattare su da kyau, an kawar da su daga kan bene.

Amma a kan tebur—kai, murna! tela ya yi ihu—can, inda ya bar yankakken alharini marasa ado—can kuwa ga mafi kyawun riga da rigar ciki ta satin mai ado da aka taɓa sawa ta wani Magajin garin Gloucester.

Akwai furannin roses da pansies a kan gefunan rigar kwat; kuma an yi wa rigar ciki ado da furannin poppies da corn-flowers.
An gama komai sai ramin maballi guda ɗaya mai launin ceri, kuma a inda ake buƙatar wannan ramin maballi an makala ɗan gutsuren takarda da waɗannan kalmomi—a rubuce ƙanana sosai—
BABU SAURAN ZAREN TWIST
Kuma daga nan sa’ar Tailor na Gloucester ta fara; ya yi ƙiba sosai, kuma ya zama mai arziki ƙwarai.

Ya dinka mafi ban al’ajabi na rigunan ciki marasa hannu ga dukan ’yan kasuwa masu arziki na Gloucester, da kuma ga dukan manyan mazaje masu kyau na ƙasar da ke kewaye.
Ba a taɓa ganin irin waɗannan lanƙwasassun ƙawaye ba, ko irin waɗannan ƙarshen hannun riga da sassan ado masu rataye da aka yi wa zane da ɗinki! Amma ramukan maɓallansa su ne babbar nasara fiye da komai.
Ɗinkin waɗannan ramukan maɓalli ya yi tsabta ƙwarai—ƙwarai—ina mamakin yadda tsoho mai tabarau, da tsofaffin yatsu masu lanƙwasa, da hular yatsan tela, zai iya yin irin wannan ɗinki.
Ɗinkin waɗannan ramukan maɓalli ya yi ƙanana ƙwarai—ƙwarai—har sun yi kama da cewa ƙananan beraye ne suka yi su!