The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-05-21
The Two Bamboos.

Now that the DamDOOS are growing on
many California farms, both the large
stout ones and the little feathery ones,
our young people may like to read a
bamboo story, as it Is told by the Japan
csc story-tellers:
By the side of the bay of Yeddo, on a
beautiful bank, ablaze with the colors of
the azalea, the iris and the camelia, grew
two bamboo trees. The one was tall,
lusty and strong; the other was graceful,
dropping and tender. Said the stronger
to the weaker, 81 should like to know
what good you are. The smallest breeze
makes you bend your head almost double
and sighwith pain. Look at me. don't
care what wind blows, or what storm
comes from the sea, can face them and
feel the better for it," The slender
bamboo at his side, who was as modest
and retiring as she was graceful and
beautiful, replied: eyes, we are each
suited to our vocation in life. You will
forsooth," snorted her neighbor, con-
temptuously; "not l Nothing hut the
mast of junk for me that's life, if you
like" ''And l., continued the slender
bamboo, 81 shall be used to decorate a |
house at the New Year festival, If I'm |
TO he useAsat all DszA, ssssSs,N ss1A
that" roughly salu the org p'FrnooI
F:they'll make you into mats, or cool-
les rain coat, or something or other low.
Why, look there; you'r mt Tor nothlng
else. AS he spoke strong breeze came
in from the sea and made the whole hill
side, culver and sigh, all but the stout
bamboo, who merely bent his head, as
much as to say, go on, go on; 1t pleas
es You. and doesn't hurt me" while
the moor little one at his side bent and
swaved. and groand heavily to see SO
many Of her tender leaves swept away.
Time went on. The wood-cutters
came. CORA Oral" they cried, "hert
is a fine fellow for Hinashi's Junk; Wei
oct ten pence for hin! ~ Told you SO,
7 Whispered the big bamboo to the lltti'
one. "Now for life! Hurrah! anythn;
rather than stop on this monotonous or
bank, spending the best years OF one ne
life listening to your groanngs. In
der;no crash. Then he was stripped c
oil his branches and shaped, and IN
tow DAVIS was sailing merrily over tn
blue waters OF the bay, as happy as coul
be. ,, ,.,.o,
Meanwhile the slender bamboo gre'
more graceful and more beautiful ever
dav and the village children came
NAV under her shade, for they ma
learned to love her and call her the
"Silver Spray"
One dav there was a great hullabal
l IN tho nlantation. such whispering al
cbattering among the azaleas and cam
lias as had never been heard before, l
the azaleas and camelias are eneme
and rarely speak to one another. Wh
Is the matter?'' asked the bamboo
her neighbor. They're going to bul
III a house for the Prince of Tosa, repll
the tree, "and we're all to be sWe
III away" go dear! 0 dear" said t
iii bamboo, "that's bad business; WI
had been born stout and strong, ant
iii would have been Junk mast instead
III being called away to heat baths.
And the next day the wood-cutt,
came. and the work of destruction co
menced. Down upon the sand w
thrown the beautiful flowers, and
graceful cluster of leaves; the lit
I'LL bamboo trembled as she saw her frieI
falling around her, and wondered WI
her turn would come. At length the
stroyers approached her, and one N
was swinging his axe in the air to
III her the fatal blow, when chorus
child voices was heard, "No, don't
l1 Silver Spray, please don't" The n
dropped his arms and she was saw
The children tenderly dug her out q
carried her to beautiful garden, VIII
they planted her on a bank overlook
the sea. One day dread6ll storm arc
The blue water was churned into d;
green the mountains of waves capI
I with white foam; the wind blew fl
ously, and in all directions junks CO.
KIN be seen flying to the nearest point
1Iu shelter. 1t was terrible time for
,hN the trees and plants around, but
~ bamboo was sheltered by a high bank