Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-31
The Fire-Fly's Lovers.

In Japan the night-fies emit so
brilliant light and are 80 beautiful
that ladies 60 out in the evenings and
catch the insects for amusement, as may
be seen represented on Japanese fans.
They imprison them in tiny cages made
of bamboo threads. and hang them up
in their rooms or suspend them from
the caves of their houses. At their pic
mic parties, the people love to sit on
August evenings, fan in hand, looking
over the lovely landscape, spangled by
ten thousand brilliant spots of golden
light. Each flash seems like tiny
blaze of harmless lightning.
One OF the species OF night flies, the
most beautiful of all, is a source of
much amusement to the ladies'. Hang
ing the cage of glittering insects on
their verandas. they sit and watch the
crowd Of winged visi tors attracted by
the fre-fy's light. What brings them
there, and why the fire-fy's parlor is
filled with suitors, as q queens court
with courtiers, let this love story
tell.
On the southern and sunny side of
the castle moat Of tho Fukin castle, in
Echizen, the water had long ago be-
come shallow SO that lotus lilies grew
Iuxuriantly. d :ep in the heart OF one
of the great flowers, whose "DETAILS were
as pink as the lining of sea.shell,
lived the King of the Fire Flies, Hi-o,
whose only daughter was the lovely
princess Hotaru-hime. While still
child the hime (princess) was carefully
kept at home within the pink petals OF
the lily, never going even to the edges
except to see her father fly off on his
journey. Dutifully she waited until of
age, when the fire glowed in her own
body. and shone, beautifully illumina.
ting The lotus, until its light at night
was like lamp within a globe of
coral. Every night her light grew
brighter and brighter, until ut last it
was as mellow as gold. Then her
father said:
"My daughter is now of age, she
may fly abroad with me sometimes, and
when the proper sutton comes she may
marry whom she will"
So Hotaru-hime few forth in and out
among the lotus lilies of the moat, then
into rich rice fields, and at last far off to
the indigo meadows.
Wherever she went crowd OF suitors
followed her, for she had the singular
power Of attracting all the night.fying
insects to herself. But she cared for
none OF their attentions, and though
she spoke politely to them all, she gave
encouragement to none. Yet some of
the shee winged gallapts called her
coquette.
One night she said to her mother,
u, h. H..
but I don't wish husband from any of
them. Tonight I shall stay at home,
and if any of them love me truly they
will come and pay me court here. Then
I sh all lay an impossible duty on them.
II they are wise they will not trylto per-
form it; and if they love their lives
more than they love me, do not want
any of them. Whoever succeeds may
have me for his BRIDE"
"As you will, my child" said the
queen mother, who arrayed her dau gh-
ter in her most Respondent robes, and
sc: her on her throne in the heart of the
lotus.
Then she gave orders to her body
guard to keep all suitors at respectful
distance lest some stupid gallant,
horn-bug or a cockchafer dazzled by
the light should approach too near, and
hurt the princess or shake her throne.
No sooner had twilight faded away
than forth came the golden beetle, who
stood on stamen and making obeisance
said:
81 am Lord Green-Gold. offer my
house. my fortune and my love to Prin-
cess Hotaru."
$50 and bring me fire, and 1 will
be your bride" said Hotaru-hime.
With bow of the head the beetle
opened his wings ana departed with
stately wLirr.
Next came shining bug with wings