The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-08-05

JAPANESE NURSERY TALEs.-The Japa
nese, writes correspondent OF the Boston
Trapcller, as rude and unpoetlcai as lhc!
seem to be, have their fairies, GEM, teris,
and imps, answering to those OF when Eu'
ropean juveniles tell such wonderful tales'
Some OF these stories are very ingenious
and would bear copying into the 1alry lole
of America, while Others would DC lar from
acceptable, owing to the great dinerelicG IL.
customs and religion. do not know that
the subjoincd tales, which were toia ny
japanese nurse to the European shilo ,' o,.
Mt Hiogo, some of whom were under hGr
charge, are really part OF japanese lolh
lore. or made up for the present amllse-
ment of the children. But IN elthcr case
the children were pleased, and when tncy
reneated some Of the. stories 10 me tncy
we're very enthusiastic in the praise OF Inc
old Japanese grandmother who had thus
entertained them.
Once there was little japanese boy
dressed in nice suit of black linen, ana ne
said to himself one day, 81 Will DC great
Daimio. / will have big swords ana me
dress, and my mother and 1athcr Slt1ii pe
happy with plenty of rice ana lcWei rlnss.
But the boy was poor, and all he hau was
fins one suit of clothes. He was walking
on the side of Fusiyama one day, thinking
how he should be great, when the noun
tain shook, and great smoke-dcVils came
out of the top. The boy was afraid until 4
little fairy, awakened by the noise, rose up
at his feet. and taking him by the hand, led
him away from the mountain. When the
little shirt was about to leave, the boy said
.You know how to save inc from smoke
devils, and you must know how to make me
a great Daimio. Will you tell me" go
and pull turnip," said the fairy spirit as
she took her way back to the sacred noun
tain. So the little boy looked about him
for a garden. and when he had found one
he searched for turnip. lie soon found 4
great one with tall leaves, and he set about
digging around the roots. "No, no. sald
the turnip, "my root is deep and you can.
not dig SO low, but take hold of my head
and null, for my root will follow where my
head goes So he seized hold of the stalk
and pulled. Lo! it came up so easy that
the boy fell in the mud. "Ho, no =, laugh
ed the turnip, "you have something tc
learn if you would be a great Damlo. Men,
like turnips, pull easiest by the head, but
YOU had better leave them where they have
taken root than to venture yourself III pull
ing them up" And the little boy TOOK the
advice, and made the acquaintance of lead.
crs only. He was never, however, over
anxious to be in the company of great men,
and soon the Tycoon, seeing his great care
and wisdom, made him prince. SO he was
happy.
Once little girl was told by her mother
to make rice cakes. But the little girl
wanted to play shuttlccock, and left the
dough in the bowl. A little imp in the
shape of frog came, and when the girl was
about to hit the cork blow he threw the
dough into the air. 1t fell upon the girrS
head, and streamcd down over her Shout
ders until she was entirely covered. Her
mother came, and surprising it was all
dough, threw her into the oven and SO the
naughty little girl was baked.
One man worked in his rice and wheat
fields, while his ncighbors spent their time
i'm wrestling, drinking saki, and playin.
ball Finally winter came, and they had
no food. SO they went to the industrious
man and said "Give us rice and bread"
But the other said ono; you serve the
spirit of amusement, l serve the spirit OF
work. Go to your spirit for food, and
will 90 to mine." So they all Staryc Il.