Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-07-03
NUMBER 27.
FILTHY LUCRE IN JAPAN.


The following curious story, says the
Japan Gazette, though savoring of the
improbable, is vouched for by a native
journal: Near Kamagoye, in Kamagaya
Ken, lived an old man and woman, who
had worked hard for many years, farm
ing, and had put by 200 yens for rainy
day. One day during the course of last
year the old man remarked to his better
half that they We're over sixty years of
age and must die soon, and asked what
they should do with their earnings. The
money they had earned by the sweat of
their brows neither of them liked the idea
| of leaving 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 to pay the expenses of the
journey of both to the other world, the
one on demand and the other in advance.
The husband was the first to succumb
to the tyrant death, and was placed in his
coffin, not wi tn the 200 yens, though, for
the old woman, with the failing of her
sex, changed her mind, and retained tho
money, thinking it would be far more
sensible to spend it in procuring masses,
requems, and offerings of flowers and
perfumes Tor the departed. She therefore
intrusted tho money with Kocho of the
village, with instructions to uso it as
above stated. But this Kocho, tempted
by the filthy lucre, did not have masses
sung, sacrifices offered, etc, but kept the
money in hope of the old lady following
her husband This, however, she fatty
refused to do, and continued healthy and
robust month after month, until u short
time ago the Kocho, weary of the delays
of King Denth, thought to assist the aged
female in her journey to better-or
worse-world, and sent her, with II few
touching inquiries as to her health, few
tempting cakes we'll dOsed with poison.
The old woman, after conveying her
thanks to the Kocho, offered the cakes to
her "lamented " husband-that is, she
placed them on the shelf, for he was also
"on the Shelf" and had been for some
time. just then ghost-like form made
its appearance before her, with face rs
red rs beet-root, body Of immense size, n
large, grotesque ornament in the shape OF
n pair of horns, and huge sword girt
about his loins. Moreover, this strange
object was clothed in priests coat, and
when ho had remained sufficiently long
for the old lady to recover from the alarm
the first sight Of him created, he thus ad-
dresscdhor "Iam Yanma Dalo Uudge
of criminals in the place of darkness).
You did not place the 200 yen in the coffin
OF your dead husband, according to prom
ise wherefore he is distressed, and Is
suffering intensely on account OF tho ex-
treme difficulty Of his journey. | could
not bear to hear his groans and muttored
imprecations, so | have como to receive
the money for him. Give it mo quickly"
The astonished woman after confessing
that she had broken her promise, ex-
planned that sho had kept the money for
sacrifices and offerings, adding that she
would go and bring the money immedi-
ately it was in charge OF the Kocho.
The Ianma, however, stopped her, say
ing : :" AIN the King Of Hell, and havo
come here secretly and would not like tho
people Of this world to see me. | must
hide myself while | am waiting" Tho
woman taking in the situation nt Il 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 then
went TO the Kocho and told him what had
taken place. Kocho, being suspicious
that it was some trick OF the OH wOman's,
said he would go back with her, and SEQ
who this wonderful parsonage Tas, and
give her the money. On reaching home,
the woman pointed to the large box which
Kocho opened, bat started back with
horror on seeing Yanma Dalo, lying al
most dead, vomiting blood, his body be-
ing quite blue. Tho old woman ran to
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 position was not Yanma
Dalo, bat wicked fellow in tho neigh
borhood, who knew tho story OF the 200
yon and had designs upon it.