The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-10-14
A Little Japanese Boy and the Snake

once knew little boy who was not
at all like the little boys whom YOU are
| accustomed to see every day. lie did
not have blue eyes and curly brown hair
nor did he wear gray trousers and short
jackets.
No; his eyes and hair were Jet black.
he was troubled with no other cloth.
ing than loose, wrapper-lke garment
which he bound about his waist with
long sash, using its wide sleeves for
pockets. Perhaps, from the description
OF his dress, You will think that he
looked like Il girl; but he was a real
boy, and would have felt indignant il
you had taken him for anything else.
In fact, Jiro--for that was the younc
gentleman name-Was an inhabtant
OF that country somewhere down under
our feet known as Japan, and some.
times called the "Children'S Paradise"
Now, Jiro was very proud of his cOun-
try, and believed, as did all his country
men, that the inhabitants had descended
from the gods. Although he was only
eight Years old, because his father was
one of those terrible fellows called So
n1urdi, or retainers (who would lop
your head off in Il minute and think
nothing of iD, little Jiro was allowed to
carry in his belt a real sword He was
not ignorant of its use, either, as he took
lessons in fencing twice week
Jiro's elder sister, Miss Koto was
learning to handle the lance and spear
an accomplishment of japanese ladies
of position, which is considered as nee.
eSSary as learning to sew or read. or
paint; and Jiro lOnged for the time to
come when his own hands would be
strong enough to lift these heavier
weapons. One day, as our little friend
was returning from fencing-school, be
thought that, instead of making his way
homeward through the crowded strRs
he would take a shorter cut no nv
of, across the fields, where he woul{@
able to find some tall lotus-nowels for
his sisters def fingers to arrange in
the parlOr tlOwer-vases.
On reaching the pond where the lotus
grew, he found that several children
were already there, some busily engaged
in collecting the sweet lotuS-rootS for
eating, and others, who were more fond
of play than of work, strutting about
holding up the great lotus-leayes for
parasos, or wearing them as aunty
sun-hats. Jiro did not care for the
roots Gas his mother frequently bought
them of the vegetable MANI, and as he
felt too busy to play, he set manfully to
work and cut down some OF the most
beautiful budsf growing high above his
head. When he had cut enough he
started for home, sturdily trudging
along with his arms full of the rosy
flowers and their great, wide leaves
He had not gone very far, however,
before one of those long snakes which,
in Japan, inhabit trees or low shrubs
lifted up its ugly head right in Jiro''
path, and made him drop his fragment
bundle and grasp the hilt of his little
sword. The serpent looked very ugly,
seeming to say: mo! no! Mister Jiro,
you can t pass here until | have bite
of your and | rather suspect that JirOs
first impulse was to run away. But, re-
Numbering that his father was the re.
tainer of a great Prince, and that some
day he would be a retainer, TOO, Jro
felt Drawer, and as the snake continued
to rear its head right in his path, Jiroo
cut at it with his sharp little sword and
Topped its head right off; giving it an
other cut to make quite sure it was
dead, the lad picked up his flowers and
went on, feeling very proud OF bis
triumph. ST. Nicholas.