Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-09-09

that it had absorbed them. AS
autumn approached Wada decided to
go on another long journey. When
the mikan began TO ripen Hoga's ex-
element was intense and he had
| great festival when the day came to
pluck them. One after one he OPEN
ed them, but no gold yen appeared
and ne saw that he had been tricked
| for the second time.
When Wada returned after several
months absence Hoga would neither
speak to him nor allow any OF his
family to notice him. For some time
Wada laughed at his brothers anger
but when his money had all disap-
peared he became somewhat an xious
and sought an opportunity to speak to
his mother thinking that she might
help him. One day they met by accident
and he said: 'Okkasan. | am in real
trouble this time and you must help
me-" 49,.
When she asked him how she cculd
assist him. he told her that the next
afternoon about dusk she must pre-
tend to be taken very ill suddenly and
in short while to die. Then he
would come over and bring her to life
with mis- magic samson. At first the
good lady hesitated. for she did 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 the next day
Hoga ran. pale and terrified. into his
brothers house and told him that
hnts. ~
showing grief. he commenced laugh
ing and dancing and cried OUT Could
anything be more fortunate! Wait
unit get my sam SEM"
'Unfeeling wretchr' exclaimed
Hoga. you have always pretended
to love your mother and now you
laugh and sing to hear of her death.
You arc no better than Chinaman!"
Il laugh and sing because l can re.
store her to life" said Wada. Il
have samisen which can call back
the souls of the dead. -
'Liar!" cried Hoga in great anger
You have tricked me twice. beware
of the third time for will kill you
with my own hand"
Il would not joke on such a sub ect
40 this. - said Wada in a grieved tone
But come" l 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 breaJhed her last They were
much Mortified to see Wada with a
samisen in his hand, and still moro so
when he sat by his mothers corpse
and began to play Il 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 establishment 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 five thousand
yen. and Wada went for another long
journey. 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 tho dead man did not stir
and all the relatives fell upon poor
Hoga and beat him for showing such
disrespect to the dead. Now Hoga's
anger against his brother Vas terrible
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
nearly reached it he became so ex-
hausted that he entered II wayside tea
house for rest and reireshment leav-
ing the basket by the side OF the road.
Before long poor old fisherman
came limping past. He was crippled
and sore and his eyes were so swollen
that he could scarcely sec. In his
hand he carried "A fine bunch OF fish.
Wada watched him through the
cracks and when he was about to
fall over the basket cried out: .Be
careful! Do not disturb me- | am
curing my eye sickness
whats that" said the fisherman.
who spokep"
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 l will give
you my place for an hour | can
promise YOU that at the end of that
tine all your sickness and troubles
will be over"
The fisherman FASTENED 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 basket the old fisher.
man called. BE careful! Don't dis.
turb me! | am curing my eye-sick
ness" Yes said Hoga with a grim
smile. lit will soon be cured" So he
took him to the top of an overhang-
ing rock and threw him as far oIt in
the water as he possibly could. -s@@
ALI the way home he laughed and
sang with delight at getting rid of his
troublesome brother. AS he entered
the gate he heard sounds of mirth and
laughter from within. Hurr ing in
what was his horror at beholding
Wada at the head OF a large company
urging them to eat more OF the fish he
had caught AS Hoga staggered on
the threshold his brother looked up
with n bright smile and SAID
Brother why did you not throw
me little further? Then / could