Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-06-24
A TALE OF OLD JAPAN.

they were reduced to the last extremity
Of poverty. Year after year the wretched
farmers petitioned their lord, through
the village mayors, to have their burdens
lghtened, but without avail. Being
member of the shogun's cabinet Kot-
suke-no-Suke spent the greater part OF
the year in Yeddo, where lie maintained
private palace and "a host of retainers.
His extravaganza gave rise to much COM
ment in the capital, but few of the
naughty mobiles who frequented his en-
tertainnents knew by what means the
lord of Soma procured the vast sums OF
money necessary to support such lavish
magniicence.
In the fall Of the year 1913 the farmers
dwelling on the estate of Kotsuke-no-
Suke assembled together to devise meas
ures for their relief. That year the taxes
had been heavier than ever before ana
scores of families were threatened with
starvation during the winter The stout
est hearted among them were filled with
despair at the apparent hopelessness of
their situation Sogoro, the mayor OF
one of the villages and himself farmer,
had been throughout all their vieissitudes
the stanch friend Of the down trodden
peasants. He now advised them to draw
up petition TO the shoguns cabinet and
then to select a committee to go up to
Yeddo and present it to that body
When the evil doings of their lord were
known to bis fellow councillors their up
braidings and his own wounded pride
might shame him into mercy Sogoros
plan was adopted. and he was one of the
number chosen to go to Neddo 10 present
the memorial to the cabinet Knowing
the dangers that attended his mission
Sogoro, on the eve Of his departure
called his family together and said;
al am going 30 Ieddo. and it may be
that shall never return, for il IL hard
to say how shall be treated by those in
power. am willing, however, to give
my life for the good OF our suffering fell
low tenants Let u therefore drink
cup OF wine together, for it may be that
you shall see my face no more. II die.
mourn not over my fate-weep not for
me.
Sogoro and his companions went to
Yeddo, and there they soon learned Of
the riotousiving of their spendthrift lord,
and they wept when they reflected that
all his wauton luxury was bought with
the life blood of their furnishing friends
at Soma. Ia few days they had an
opportunity Of presenting their petition
to Lord Kuze. member Of the cabinet,
and they all felt elated that the great
nobleman had condescended to listen to
their grievances and to accept their me-
mortal.
The action of Kotsuke-no-Suke's ten
ants created no little stir in Yeddo, and
many observations upon that nobleman
and his style of living were made that
could scarcely be called complimentary.
But il does not do for people living in
glass houses to throw stones. All the
members OF the shogun's cabinet had at
one time or another been guilty OF op.
pressing their own peasants, and il would
be extremely awkward for them now to
sit in Judgment upon Kotsuke-no-Suke.
So il was decided to return the petition
to the complainants. Accordingly So
goro received summons to appear at
the residence Of Lord Kuze. There lac
was met by two councillors, who handed
him the i'll starred memorial, saying;
"A short time ago you had the audac-
ity to thrust this petition into the hands
OF Lord Kuze. BY his extraordinary
clemency he forgives your offense, but
beware that you do not again presume
upon his lordship's forbearance, for i'll
will it fare with you.
ellis lordships censure is just" hum
bly, responded Sogoro. But, oh, my
lords! this action Of ours is not hasty
or i'll considered Year after year have
we suffered untold hardships. until now
we and our friends are without even
the necessarfes of life Therefore have
we presented this petition. | pray you,
lords, consider our case-vouchsafe 10
help us that we may live. Our gratitude
to YOU shall know no bounds.
''Your request is a just one" replied
the councillors. when they had heard tile
words of Sogoro, "but your memorial
cannot he received"
Disheartened beyond measure Sogord
sought out his companions and acquaint
ed them with the result of their efforts
Il was gloomy evening which the
Soma men spent together, discussing
with fearful voices tile desperate extrem
ity to which the failure of their plans
had reduced themselves and their friends
At last Sogoro said:
There is still one thing left for us t
do: we can appeal to our lords master
the shotgun. | know it is q capital of
tense for commoner 90 approach hi
majesty, yet, Tor the sake OF my sulfel
ing brethren, | shall sacrifice myse
that their wrongs may be made know
and happily righted On the morrow
therefore, do you all, except six mel
return to Soma and tell our poor frient
to have stout hearts, for there yet hol
for them"
Sogoro had from the first been recoI
nized as the leading spirit Of the ente
prise and his companions now mao
haste to follow out his suggestions III
intrepid farmer and his six associate
drew up new memorial setting fort
their grievance in PLAIN, straightfo
ward manner and earnestly appealir
for redress.
shortly after. while the shotgun, ly
nitsu. was on his way TO Uyeno to we
shin at the tnmbs of his ancestors, 5
goro contrived to break through u
troop of armed retainers that we
escorting his majesty, and thrust L
netition into the hands of the shogl
The daring farmer was seized and ht
ried of to prison. lyemitsu was a j.
ruler and gave the peasants memoir
his careful attention. The result OF
ali was that kotsuke-no-Suke was
dered to reduce ms tenants taxes to
proper amount, and to return to The
the money he had wrongfully depriV
them of.