River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-05-14
A Complicated japanese story.

y
Japan Gazette, though savoring Of the
improbable, is vouchcd for by native
journal: Near Kawagoye, in Kumagaya
Ken, lived an old couple, man and wife,
who had worked hard for many years
farming, and had put by 200 gem for
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 mast 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, and con-
tinued robust and healthy, month after
month, until a short time ago, when the
kOchO, weary of the delays Of King
Death, thought to assist the aged female
in her journey to better Tor worse)
world, and sent her, with touching in
quiries as to her health, frv tempting
cakes, well dUsed with poison. The old
woman, after conveying her thanks to
the kOch0, 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 before
her, with face rel as beet-rOot, body of
immense size, large, grotesque orna-
ment, in the shape of n pair of horns, pro.
truding from his head, and a huge sword
grit about his loins. More
over, this strange object was clothed in
priest 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: Il am Yenma Daio Judge 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. could not
bear to hear his groans and muttered inn
precautions, 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 sacrifices
and offerings, adding that she would go
Immediately and bring the money; it was
all in charge Of the kOcho. The VIENNA,
however, stopped her, saying, 81 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 az one time for clothing, tel
ling 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 IT was some trick Of the old woman's
said he would 60 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 kocho opened.
but started back with horror on seeing
the yenma daio lying nearly dead, vomit.
ing blood, his body being quite blue. The
old woman ran 60 the shelf and found
that all the cakes were gone.
Kocho confessed his guilt and received
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 neighbor.
hood who knew the story Of the 300 ven
and had designs upon il.
From this story two good morals may
be deduced DO not save your money too
long. and do not coyet that belonging to
your neighbors.
--.John Sheridan, father Of Lieut.. Gen.
| Sheridan died AT his residence in Som.