The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-11

AAAAAA~~ASS~sy
came very sick, and dropped into state
of apparent coma; thus giving the i'm.
preston that it was dead. But it revived
little yesterday. and may possibly re-
cover. Certainly every care should be
taken Of it; for Drawer fight has never
been made by so helpless an animal
against so deadly an animal,
Complicated Japanese Story.
The following curious story, says the
japan, Gazette, though savoring Of the
improbable, is vouched for by q native
journal: Near Kawagoye, in Kumagaya
Ken, lived an old couple, man and wife,
who had worked hard for manya years
farming, and had put by 200 gen for a
rainy day. One day during the course of
last year the old man remarked to his
better half that they were over sixty
years of age and must die soon, and
asked what they should do with their
earnings. Neither OF them liked the idea
Of leaving the money they had earned by
the sweat Of their brcws for other people
to spend SO it was agreed that when
one of them should die the survivor
should place the money in the coffin with
the body, to pay the expenses Of the
journey of both to the other world, the
one on demand, the other in advance.
The husband was the first to succumb to
the tyrant death, and was placed in his
coffin, not with the 200 gen, 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 per-
fumes for the departed. She, therefore,
entrusted the money to a kocho Of the
village, with instructions to use it as
above stated. But this kocho, tempted
by the filthy lucre, did not have the
masses sung, sacrifices offered, ETC., but
kept the money. in the hope Of the old
lady following her husband. This, how
ever, she fatty refused to do, snd con-
tinued robust and healthy, month 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 Cor worse)
world, and sent her, with touching in
quiries as to her health, a few tempting
cakes, we'll dosed with poison. The old
woman, after conveying her thanks to
the kocho, offered the cakes to her ''la-
mented' husband; that is, she placed
them on the shelf, for he also was ''on the
SHELF and had been for some time. Just
then, ghost-like form appeared before
her, with face rel as beet-root, body of
immense size, large, grotesque orna'
ment, in the shape Of a pair Of horns, pro.
truding from his head, and huge sword
girt about his loins. More.
over, this strange object was clothed in a
priests coat; and when he 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 f: II am Yenma Daio 0udge Of crimi
nails in the place Of darkness.) You did
not place the 200 yen in the coffin Of
your dead husband, according to promise
wherefore he is distressed, and is suffer
ing intensely on account of the extreme
difficulty Of his journey. l could no.
bear to hear his groans and muttered i'm
precautions, so have come to receive tn,
money for him. Give it to me quickly
The asst ,nished woman, after confessin|
that she ha l kept the money for sacrifice
and offerings, adding that she would g
Immediately and bring the money; it wa
all in charge of the kocho. The yenma
however, stopped her, saying, II am tn
king of hell, and have come here, secretly
and would not like the people of thi
world to see me. l must hid
myself whilst I am waiting.' TIL
woman, taking in the situation at
glance, put him in large box which ha
} been kept at one time for clothing, tel
ling him that if he should feel hungry h
would find some cakes on the shelf. Sh
went to the kocho and told what ha
taken place. The kocho being suspicion
that it was some trick of the old woman
said he would 60 back with her and SCI
who this strange parsonage was, ant
would then give her the money. O.
reaching home the woman pointed t
the large box. which the kocho opened
but started back with horror on seem
the yenma daio lying nearly dead, vomi'
ing blood, his body being quite blue. TIL
7 old woman ran to the shelf and feun
5 that all the cakes were gone.
7 Kocho confessed his guilt and receive
7 condign punishment, and now comes tn
: most probable part Of the story. Til
$ victim of the poison was not the yenm
. daio, but a wicked fellow in the neighbo1
: hood who knew the story of the 200 We
! and had designs upon it.
n From this story two good morals ma
e be deduced: Do not save your money to
: long, and do not covet that belonging
h your neighbors.
Some little excitement is going on
London about vice which threatens
e become a fashion in the HIGHEST circles