The times., 1892-08-12

might help him. One day they met By
| accident and he said:
"Okkasan, am in real trouble this time
| and you must help me-"
When she asked how she could assist
| him he told her that the next afternoon
about dusk she must pretend TO be taken
| i'll very suddenly and in a short while to
die. Then he would come over and bring
her TO life with his magic samisen.
AT first the good lady hesitated, for she
not like to deceive even such cross and
stingy son as Hoga, but Wada begged so
hard that she at last consented. Sure
enough, at dusk next day Hoga ran, pale
and terrified, into his brothers. house and
told him that their mother was dying. In
stead of showing grief he commenced
laughing and dancing and cried out:
Gould anything be more fortunatep Wait
until get my samisen."
"Unfeeling wretch" exclaimed Hoga.
l"You have always pretended to love your
mother and now you laugh and sing to
hear of her death. You are no better than
| a Chinamanp'
81 laugh and sing because I can restore
her to life," said Wada. ~ have a sami-
sen which can call back the souls of the
dead"
"Liarl' cried Hoga in great anger.
"You have tricked me twice; beware of the
third time, for will kill you with my own
hand"
would not joke on such a subject as
this" said Wada in a grieved tone. "But
come; will prove the truth of my words. {"
When they entered the house all the
friends and relatives were weeping, for the
old lady had just breathed her last. They
were much Mortified to see Wada with q
samisen in his hand, and still more so when
he sat bv his mnthar's cnrnse and beRan to
play a'lively tune. Soon the dead woman
moved one of her hands, then her arm
Her eyes opened and she said: "Who plays
the magic samisen that calls my soul to
earth?"
Every one present was filled with aston
ishment and joy, and the funeral was
changed into a great banquet, where no
one drank so much or laughed so loud as
Wada. Hoga bought the samisen for 1000
yen, and Wada went for another long jour
ney. When next neighbor died Hoga
went to his house, laughing and singing
sat on the floor by his head and began to
play as Wada had done. OF course the
dead man did not stir, and all the relatives
fell upon poor Hoga and beat him for
Hoga's anger against his brother was ter
rible indeed. He did not speak of it, but
he had determined to kill him.
When at last Wada returned two men
were sent in the night to bind him and
put him in big covered straw basket
AT daybreak next morning Hoga came
and carried him off toward the seashore,
for he had decided to drown him. The
sea was several miles distant, and when
he had nearly reached it he became so ex-
hausted that he entered wayside tea
house for rest and refreshment, leaving
the basket by the side of the road. Before
long poor old fisherman came limping
past. He was crippled and sore and J is
eyes were so swollen that he could scarce
ly see. In his hand he carried q fine bunch
| of fish.
Wada watched him through the cracks,
and when he was just about to fall over
the basket, cried out: BE careful! Do
not disturb me. am curing my eye sick
ness"
whats thatp" said the fisherman.
"Who spoke?"
"Here in the basket" said Wada. 81 am
curing my eyes"
"My eyes are also SICK" said the old
man. Il pray you teach me how TO cure
them"
"Just unite this basket" said Wada
with great politeness. "and will give you
my place for an hour. l can promise you
that at the end of that time all your sick
ness and troubles will be over"
The fisherman hastened to obey. Wada
tied him securely in, picked up the fish
and lost no time in getting out of sight.
When Hoga came out and lifted the bas-
ket the old fisherman called, "Be CAREFUL
Don't disturb mel l am curing my eye
sickness "Yes," said Hoga, with a grim
smile, ''it will soon be cured" So he took
him to the top of an overhanging rock and
threw him as far out in the water as he
possibly could.
All the way home he laughed and sang
with delight at getting rid of his trouble
some brother. AS he entered the gate he
heard sounds of mirth and laughter from
within. Hurrying in, what was his horror
at beholding Wada at the head of large
company urging them to eat more of the
fish he had caught. AS Hoga staggered
on the threshold his brother looked up
with bright smile and said
"Brother, why did you not throw RE
little fartherP Then l could have seized
some fish even larger than these"
But Hoga answered not a word. Seeing
that he was baffied and disgracet, ne
went out in the back yard and committed
'Hara-kiri" by cutting his body open with
short sword.
Wada, who with his mother inherited all
of his brothers. wealth, enjoyed long and
happy life. His story being told abroad,
his name became synonym for quick and
ready wit throughout I'LL Japan.-Phil-