The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-10-07
JirO and the Snake.

o . . a :.
once knew little boy who was not
at all like the little boys Whom yoii are
accustomed to see every day,l He did
not have blue eyes. and curly brown hair,
nor did he wear gray trousers and sh jrt
Jackets. , l-itld.HF f.. % eu4s.
o. No; his eyes and hair were jet black,
he was troubled with no. other cloth
ing than q loose, wrapper-like garment,
which he bound about his waist with q
long sash, using its wide sleeves for
pockets. Perhaps, from the descriptions
of his dress, you with think that no
looked like a girl; but he was a. real
boy, and would have felt indignant il
you had taken him for anyth ng else.
Q "a Intact, Jirotrfor that was the young
gentleman's name-was an inhabtant
of that country somewhere down Under
our feet known as Japan, and some
times called the .''Children's Paradise.p
Now, Jiro was very proud of his eodn-
try, and believed as did all his country
men, that the inhabitants had descended
from the gods, Although he was only
eight years DID, be 'auSe his father was
one of those terrible fellows called sd
= 2,flrrat, or ,retainers lwho would lop
Your head off in Il minute and think
nothing OF it}, little; Jro was allowed to
garry in his belt a real sword, He was
not Ignorant Of its use, either, as he took
lessons in fencing twice aweek. coo
in Jirois elder sister, iMissiIKoto, was
learning to handle the lance and spear
AN Accomplishment of japanese ladies
of position, VIII CHI is considered as nee
essary as learning to sew, or read. or
paint and Jirc Ionged for the time to
come when mis- own minds would be,
strong enough to i lift these i7heayier
weapons. One day, as our little friend
was returning from feneinglsehbol, he
thought that, instead of making his way
,homeward through the crowded streets,
he would take a shorter cit he Knew
lof, across the fields, where hewould,b
able 70 find some, tall lotyg7 Lowers, for
his sisters deit fingers to arrange in
the parlor 'flowerlvases. .lhSid I'LL :,
ni7On reachingthe pond wherel the lotus
grew, he found that several, children
we're already there. some busily engaged
in collecting then sweet lotusr6ols for
eating and others whplYeremprei fond
of play than of work, strutting about,
holding up the great lotus1leaVes Tor
lparasols,iorI Wealings them AS japnty
sun i hats. Jir90u did not cqEei for ne
roots Gas his mbthet frequently Bought
them of the vegetables many / and, as he
felt too busy 70 play, he SCI, lmapfuIy, to
work and cut down some OF the most
beautiful buds growing high above his
head. When he mad cut enough he
started for home, ieaaailS Wtrhdging
along Yithq his armSJfull OF, the ROSY
flowers and, their great, wide leaves. "a
d He had NOT gone very farW however
before one ,ofathose dong snakes which.l
IN Jaagan, inhabit trees OF low shrubs
lifted Up its ugly head right in Jiro' 1
path, ind made him dropfhik fragments
bundle andgraspth shilt of his, little.
sword. The serpent looked very ugly.,
setmingto kay9 '.No! no, Mister Jiro,
.yolb ean'tpass here untib IL have taibite
OF your aud Irather suspect that Jito
flrst impulse was to run aWayns But re-
Numbering that his, father, was the re
tainer of a great Prince, and that Some
day he would be, a retainer,@ too, Jiro
felt bravery and as the snake continued
TO rear lis head right in his ipath,Yi
cut at it withhis sharp little sword and
Topped it's eadright off; giving itIan-
other cut to. make quite sure it was
dead, the lad picked up his lowers, and
went on, feeling very proud of his
triumph. st. Nicholas.