Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-14
AEMPHIs, TENN: FRIDAY EVENING, MAY IA, 1875.

first to succumb TO the yrant death. and
was placed in his coffin not with the two
hundred yen though, for the old woman,
with the failing OF her sex. changed her
mind and retained the money. thinking
it would be far more sensible to spend it
in procuring masses, requiems and offer.
ings of flowers and perfumes for the de-
parted She therefore entrusted the
money to. a kucho OF the village, with
instructions to use it as above
stated But this kucho tempted by
the filthy lucre, did not have the
masses sung, sacrifices offered, etc, but
kept the money. 10 the hope Of the old
lady following her husband. This, how
ever, she fatty refused to do, and con-
tinued robust and healthy, mouth after
month, until short time ago, when the
kocho, weary of the delays Of King
Death. thought to assist the aged female
in her journey to a better Tor worse)
world, and sent her, with touching in
quiries as to her health, few tempting
cakes, well dosed with poison. The old
woman, after conveying her thanks to
the kocho, offered the cakes to her ia
mented' husband; that is, she placed
them on, the shelf, for he also was ION
the shelf, and had been for some time.
Just then, ghost-like form appeared be-
fore her, with face red as beet-root, body
of immense size, q large grotesque orna-
ment, in the shape of a pair Of horns,
protrlding from his head, and huge
sword girt about his loins. Moreover,
this strange object was clothed in a
priests coat; and when be had remained
sufficiently long for the old lady to re-
cover from the alarm which the first
sight Of him created, he thus addressed
her; II am Yenma Daio Judge of
criminals in the ploce af darkness)
You did not place the 200 yen in the
coffin Of your dead husband, according
to promise; wherefore he is distressed,
and is suffering intensely on account Of
the extreme difficulty of his journey.
could not bear to here bis groans
and muttered inprecations, so /
have come to receive the
money for him. Give it to me quickly"
The astonished woman, after confessing
that she had kept the money for sacri-
fees and offerings, adding that she
would 20 Immediately and bring the
money it was all in charge of the
kocho. The yenma, however, stopped
her, saying: II am the king of hell,
and have come here secretly and would
not like the people of this world to see
me. / must hide myself whilst | am
waiting. The woman, taking in the
situation at glance, put him in large
box which had been kept at one time
for clothing, telling him that If he
should feel hungry he would find some
cakes on the shelf. She went to the
kocho and told what had taken place.
The kocho, being suspicious that 1t was
some trick Of the old womans, said he
would 90 back with her and see who
this strange parsonage was, and would
then give her the money. On reaching
home the woman pointed to the large
box, which the kccho opened, but started
back with horror on seeing the yenma
daio lying nearly dead, vomiting blood,
his body being quite blue. The old
woman ran to the shelf and found that
all the cakes we're gone.
Kocho confessed his guilt and re-
ceived condign punishment and now
comes the most probable part of the
story. The victim Of the poison was
not the yenma daio, but wicked fellow
in the peighborhood who knew the story
Of the 200 yen and had designs upon it.
From this story two good morals may
be deduced: Do not save your money
too long, aAd do not eoyet that belong
ing to your neighborS.