The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-05-28
THE PEACH BOY.
A IArANRsK PARRY STORY.

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wood in the forest. leaving his old wife at
home.
A little before noon the good woman
went 10 the creek To wash clothes, when.
To her establishment, she saw fine. large
beach floating upon the water directly in
front OF her. She picked il up but did not
eat II at once, but thought she would save
II and share IL with her dear old man AT
dinner. SO she put ii safely away in the
cupboard.
At noon, when her husband came home.
she cooked him "A nice dinner. While they
We're sitting at the table. She thought Of
the peach she had found IN the creek. and
went To get il. When she opened the door
OF the cupboard, TO her great surprise she
saw dear little baby coming out of the
peach.
"Oh, wonderful.-oh. wonderful"
was all the Old woman could say.
The old man, hearing the exclamation.
Immediately went 10 see what was the
matter. He was as much astonished as
his wife at the sight of the baby.
:" IL is very good, dear wife" said he.
for We have no child of our own; so we
viii take this one, and bring it up as
ours"
So she took the baby. and wrapped it
carefully, and put it into basket. and
placed il by the window.
In few days the child grew so large
that il was impossible 10 keep II in the
basket. 30 she took strong string. and
tied one end TO the baby and the other 10
milestone, TO keep it from getting away.
But, Notwithstanding. the child was so
strong that il went about through the
woods with the milestone, and did'a great
deal of mischief.
H. L.. ~ l.
the size of giant, and worked with all a
giants strength. helping the old man to
work upon his little farm.
About this time the daughter OF the
japanese King had been stolen by an Oni
IAN imp, and carried far away 10 an iron
castle on the Oni's island, where she was
imprisoned and tormented by fierce and
ugly creatures.
The chief OF the Onis often tried to per-
suade her TO marry him and become his
queen, but she would not accept the Oni's
throne. But the ON persisted in wooing
her. and tried in many ways TO make her
consent.
When all his attempts had failed. he be-
came much exaspt rated. and began 10 tor
ment her even more than he had done be-
fore. She was sometimes ordered 10 carry
wafer i'm basket TO fill tub and another
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chcstnuts and again she was forced 10
kindle fire without matches or wood:
and sometimes the Oni would send her
out to buy things for him. and would not
give her any money.
All these torments she gladly bore,
rather than be the wife of such "A monster.
The Oni. however, promised her If she
would perform any OF the tasks which he
had given ner to do. he would set her free.
and send her back TO her father.
80 this beautiful princess tried her best
to do rs she was bid. but all in vain. As
II was impossible for her to comply with
his wishes. he tried to force her again TO
be his queen.
While she was suffering by the cruel
tasks that had been imposed on her, and
was expecting every day to be forced to
marry the Oni. her father was trying to
devise some plan by which he might take
his daughter from the castle of this cruel
snitor, as it had been reported 10 him that
she was in the possession OF the Oni, in
the Oniga Shnia (Imps' Land
lie searched among his soldiers. but
could not find any one who would under
take this perilous enterprise. However,
he heard that there was a child IL his
kingdom who, though only few years
old. was yet very strong, and "a large as
giant, and was able and willing 10 UNI
dertake the Kings design TO rescue his
daughter from the 0niga Shnia.
Who do you suppose that child was 2
Do you think he was a Japanese Yes,
he was by birth. but not by race. He was
called Monirtaro (peach-child), because he |
came out Of a peach and was no other
than the child that the old woman had
found In the cupboard, where she had put |
the peach that she had taken from the
river.
when the old King heard Of this won
derful child, who was so young, and yet |
so very strong. he sent one Of his servants |
to bid him come TO his palace at once. so |
the child obeyed the Kings order and
went to the palace, and was carried into |
the Kings private chamber
The King asked him IL he would bring
back his daughter from the Oniga Shnia |
The peach-chd told him he would try to /
DO il, as he did not feel at all afraid OF the |
Oni. Then the King promised him that il |
he should succeed, he would give him his /
daughters hand In marriage as. a reward |
for his great service.
Early the next morning. the peach-child /
assembled all the warriors together that
were to accompany him on his expedition
to Oniga Shnia, and made them speech,
and he promised to reward all that would
serve the Kings cause faithfully in the ex-
petition against the Oni. They were to
have three rice biscuits apiece.
Then all agreed to obey the commands
Of the peachchild, who Mt once assumed
control Of these loyal warriors, and the
journey was commenced.
When the whole army reached the Oni-
GA Shnia. all the Onis made great pre-
paration TO give the peach-boy's warriors
battle.
Next morning, both armies met on the
great plains OF the Oniga Shnia, where /
they fought terrible battle, until nigh