The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-12-28
A STORY FROM JAPAN.

AT the famed Glon IempleIH hyolo, tne
''eity of gardens there happened very
lately u dramatic incident i'll which the
dying embers of an Old feudal practice
flashed into m~omentary brightness.
A Japanese named Suda Tomojiro, adj
vanced in years, went for Il days outing
to see the cherry blossoms at Gion, ac-
companied by his daughter Kuni, acharm-
ing girl of Is or 10.
After II long stroll, spent in admiring
the beautiful flowers, they sat down to
rest beneath a fine cherry tree outside of
the temple gates, where Suda was not
sorry to refresh himself from the sake"
bottle which japanese generally take
with them on such occasions.
Hard by, and similarly occupied, was
another Japanese, about 45 years old, ac-
companied by u lad just out of his teens.
As soon as this stranger cast his eyes
on Suda his features underwent an extra
ordinary change; and although his young
companion, seemingly apprehensiye OF
some evil, sought 10 divert his attention,
his gaze was Kept i~ntently riveted on the
face of his elderly neighbor.
At length, after scrutinizing Suda in
this wise for Il space of some minutes, he
inquired in an excited tone whether his
name was not Suda Tomojiro. The lat
ter, asserting, asked him, with some sur
prise, what his business might be. To
this the stranger replied:
Il am II younger brother OF Meyada
Hironda, formerly Il samurai of Hikone,
whom you, his fe-liow-clansman, slew.
To avenge my dead brother, | have for
long years sought you far and near, but
always without success, until this auspi-
cious day which has brought us together.
Do you not remember that atfair?'
Il it indeed vas" answered Suda,
Sg,rI,p clatrr Vptrr hrpfbpr INIT | slew him
justly because he offered me insult-a
pr%oyocation which no samurai could
brook. If you seek revenge, think not
that ], q ~sainurai of the old time, shall
evade you; we will cross swords as be-
come men of our birth. Take revenge on
me if YOU can. am ready at any time"
The two samurai then arranged to meet
in combat that very night at Rei2an, and
We're about to solemniZe their agreement
with Il libation of sake when the agony of
Kuni, hitherto suppressed, broke forth.
Bursting into tears and Selling her par
ent's hand, she coniured him not to pledge
himself to this terrible duel, and besought
him at least to reflect ON what would be-
come Of her were she to lose the father
whom she loved and to whom she owed
SO much.
At this appeal the stranger, by name
Kakujiro, was greatly moved and hung
down his head cit was some thirteen
years ago" he at length said, THAT bust
ness brought me to this city, together
with my wife and orr little daughter,
who was then 6 years old We went to
worship ut the kitano shrine II lost our
child in thecrowd; nor, in spite of the ut
most efforts, were we ever able to find her
again. My wife soon afterWard died,
broken-heartcd at tlis sad calamity.
Were our child living now she would be
grown as this yogr daughter"
During Kakuiiro's recital Suda's face
1900 .An.N
he drew near to the narrator and id:
You have told me you lest your
daughter at Kitauo when she was six
years old. Now, this little maid, it so
happens, is not my real daughter, but Il
lost child, found by my wife nearthe Kit
ano shrine about the very time of which
you speak. Never having been blessed
with any children, We adopted her as our
own daughter. But it seems not al all
impossible that she is the very child
whom you lost
81 have heard my wife say" replied
Kakujiro, that oar daughter wore ut
the time a bag contHinlrg tt.rcp cl anna,
by which she could easily he ideatid:fi.n
Almost before he had flushed sptakine
Kuni produced from her hCSon' Il little
bag, out of which she eagerly crew three
charms, asking whrthtrtsey Co|rresPcIdtl
with those of the lost child.
Kakuiiro at once RECOGNIZED tfrUi, end
in the Joy of his Grcaf tisc"ycrl the Gutl
was forgotten, until Euui, rrvtit:ng tot,
entreated herncSlr totiud iatietioH.,aa-
don all thought rtyci&c ~ o., ore TO
whom she owed Ia ,!repest dl4t q GiG,i-
tude.
He. unable to insist, was silent. wen
the lad in his COMPANY for tir fist ti.a1
spoke, avowiEg not eHlytlHtt Tie ciecWnJ
clearly one for reconciliation. lut that re.
venge after the manner OF feId;i tines
was now a thing OF the rast.
Suda because he had only accerted tho
contest when forced Hpon him, E,akujiro
because of the Discovery that &aka g.as
his own child's foster father.