The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-03-19
n. j.. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1890

goro contrived to break through the
troop of armed retainers that were
escorting his majesty, and thrust the
petition into the hands of the shotgun.
The daring farmer was seized and hur-
ried off to prison. Iyemitsu was O Just
ruler and gave the peasants memorial
hisscareful attention. The result of it
all was that Kotsuke-no-Suke was or
dered to reduce his tenants taxes to a
proper amount, and to return to them
the money he had wrongfully deprived
them of.
The lord of Soma was very angry
man, but, though he might rage and vow
vengeance upon the heads of his tenants,
he had to obey the orders of his chief.
And thus relief came at last to the long
suffering peasants.
But, alas for poor Sogoro, the irrevO-
cable law of the nation pronounced his
offense deserving of death, and he was
turned over to his legal lord for execu-
ton. In feudal Japan the nobility held
the power of life and death over their
peasant vassals, and now the cruel Kot-
suke-no-Suke, thirsting for vengeance,
determined to destroy the whole family
of Sogoro. In vain his tenants, his samu-
raj, his councillors, and even the princes
OF the surrounding country besought
the lord of Soma to be merciful; the
bloody tyrant was memorable. Sogoro
and his wife were condemned to be cruel
fled, and their three sons, aged z, 10 and
ID respectively, were ordered to be be-
headed in the presence of their parents
On the day of the execution all the in
habitants of the 1876 villages of Soma
assembled to bid Sogoro and his wife
farewell and to encourage them with
their presence and prayers. There was
not one there, even to the executioners
themselves, that did not call down the
blessing of heaven upou the martyrs,
while curses, deep and bitter, were
hurled against the hated Kotsuke-no-
Suke. After the parents were made fast
to the crosses the three boys were led
forth and beheaded in their sight. Friends
received the bodies and bore them away
to prepare them for burial. o Man, So
goro's wife, turning to her husband, said
in cheerful voice:
Remember, my husband, that from
the first you had made up your mind to
this fate. What though our bodies be
disgracefully exposed on these crosses,
we have the promises of the gods before
us; therefore, mourn not. Let US fix our
minds upon death; we are drawing near
to paradise and shall soon be with the
saints. Let us cheerfully lay down our
lives for the good of our people,"
We'll said, wife, responded Sogoro,
gayly. II am happy because have at
tanned my hearts desire. Our petition
was successful; had I 500 lives, and
could / 900 times assume this shape of
mine, would die 900 times to redress
the wrongs Of our people,"
Then tho executioner, taking his spear,
thrust it into the side of o Man and into
the side of her husband, and both died
there in the sight of the sorrowing peas
ants And Kotsuke-no- Suke's chief coun-
cilor, when all was over, came and knelt
down before the dead body of the farmer
and said:
although you were but ia peasant you
saved your brethren. You bruised your
bones and crushed your heart for their
sakes. Honors shall yet be paid to your
spirit, and you shall be canonized as
saint; you shall become tutelar deity
among the people of Soma"
And SO it came to pass. The farmers
of Soma made the grave of Sogoro place
of prayer, and gradually came to look
upon him as divine. Finally, temple
arose In his honor, and he was at length
duly canonized as Buddhist saint.--W.
@. Kitchin in New York Ledger.