The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-11-02
A Little japanese Coy and The Snake.

Ionce knew a little boy whoswas mot
ht all like the little boys whom You ara
accustomed to see everyalay. He did
not have blue eyesand curly brown hair
nor did he 'weargrny trousers and sb5rt
jackets. -. =.
No; his eyes and 'ih1 hair were Jet Black,
ne was troubled with no OF her cloth.
ing than -alcose, -Efapner-like garment
which he bolnQ about his waist with a
long sash, using its wide sleeves Var
pockets. Perhaps, from the description
of his dress, you Will. think that .he.
looked like a girl; but he was real
boy, and would nave felt indignant Il
you had taken him for anyth' no elses1
Intact, ,Jiro-for that was the. youne
gentleman's name-was an inhabitant
of that countrrssofnewhere down nnder
pur feet known as Japan and some.
times called the .Ghildren's Pars,lise.Y
Now. ylro was very proud of his eoun-
try,-and believed as did All iiiss teunttv.t
men, that the inhabitants had dies ended
from the gods. Although he was only
eight Years old, be ause his father Was
one Of those terrible Fellows caiiedsd-
i1sarei. Or reiainers s(who Tweuld alop
your head of in q minute. and think
nothing ofiit), little sJiro was aIlowedto
carry in his belt aireaf sword He was
not ignorant of its sKet0dk
lessons in fencing twice - week.
Jirosss elder sister, Miss Koto,H was
learning to handle the, lance and spear
an accomplishment Of Japanese ladies
OF position, VIII Oh is considered as aee-
essary as learning to sew, Or read Or
paint; and Jii'o longed for the timeatoi
come when his own hands would be
Strong enough to lift these heavier
weapons. One day, as our little friend
was returning from sfencing-schoot, he
Thought that,oinstsad of making his way
homeward through the crowded streets,
he would take 4 Shorter cit HI knew
of, acress the fields where lie vsuhlfbs
able to find some tall lotus-l.oWe s for
his sisters deft' fingers to arrange 10
the parlor flower vSses$~
gOnreaehing the pond where the lotus
grew, he found that. several children
were already there. some busily engaged
in5acolle etiiies the ,Ssweet llotussIu0s yfor
eating, and others, who were more fond
of play than of work, strhtting about
holding up the great iotus- leaves for
parasois, Or aweariag them as siatiaty
supzhats. Jiro did not care for the
roots Gas his mother frequently boVgkt
them of thessegetablesmanl and ass iIal
felt too busy to ,play., he set manfully to
work and cut down some Of the most
beautiful buds growing high above.tjs
head. When hesahati@cut enough he
started efm. home, sturdifys ffnd9i6g
alongSwith his arms full of the rosy
flowers and their great, wide leaves -
he hainot goneayery far. hove YER
before one, Of those long snakes, which.
IN Japan, 'ihhabit trees or low Shrubs,
lifted gupitss ugly sheattslight in 7Jifeis
path, and made him drop his fragment
bundle and grasp the hilt of his iittlo
sword. The serpent foosed very ugly,
seemingto saysrT@Nol1 not Mister Jko,
you, can't pass here, until have a bite
OF your and | rather suspect thatJifos
trst1inpi,lse was to run awayadBht, fe-i
membering. that his. father was. the re-
tanner of great Prince, and that some
day he would be . retainer, toos9ibfo
felt Drawer, and as the snake continued
to rear its head right in his path, Jiro
cut at it with his sharp little sword and
Topped its heaitrigllt off; giving Jit AZ
other Gut to make quite sure it was
dead. the lad Picked up his flowers and
went on feeling very proud ,ofs'his
triumph.-S. Nicholas. !, !, ss...; ss,iaes,s