The times., 1892-08-12
SHREWD WADA.

of Japan, lived family named Toshi. 1t
consisted of a father, mother and two sons
named Hoga and Wada, who were as diff
ferent as boys well could be. Hoga being
selfish and cruel, while Wada was bright,
witty and generous.
When they were just reaching manhood
the cross old father died, leaving house
and lands to Hoga, giving Wada only a
tiny cottage near his brothers fine estate.
The mother, as is the custom of Japan,
was compelled to obey her eldest son and
make her home with him, although she
lonsed to be with Wada. Hoga did not
allow her to see her youngest son often,
but when they did meet he would cheer
her up with his witty and shrewd remarks.
Never mind, okkasan" (mother), he
would say. "It is better to be poor and
witty than rich and stupid. l will soon
find way to get money"
One day Hoga received message beg
ging him to come to his brothers. house at
once, as there was very marvellous thing
for sale there. Wada was watching for
him and as soon as he saw him entering
the gate, ran into the kitchen, picked up a
kettle from the fire and set it on block of
wood in the middle of the parlor. When
and steaming. Wada pointed to it and
said: Here is the most wonderful kettle
in the whole world. 1t needs no charcoal,
no wood, no fire; simply place it on this
cedar block and it will boil"
"Where did you get itS" growled Hoga,
beginning at once to covet such an econ
omical utensil.
An old man brought it this morning."
said the younger, "and offered to sell it
for 500 yen, but / have no money. Can you
not lend me this amount, brother? l could
soon make it back by exhibiting such Gu
riosity."
II will not lend you rin," said the un-
kind Hoga. 81 wish to buy it for myself"
Wada's heart leaped with joy, but he
managed to retain miserable expression
of countenance and cried "Why should all
good things come to you? 1 thought /
should become rich with this prize, and
now you take it from me-"
After many such complaints he handed
his brother the kettle, took the money end
soon after started ON long pleasure trip.
Hoga returned home, carrying his precious
kettle in one hand and the block of cedar
in the other He called in all the neighbors
to behold his new purchase. With much
ceremony he filed it with water, set it on
the block, and then smilingly told the
crowd to watch it boil. Moments passed,
but the water remained cold as at first
The company began to smile and ex-
change glances, and Hoga saw that he
had been deceived. Perfectly infuriated he
rushed over to Wada's house to kill him,
but that young man was well out of the
way, and did not return until he thought
it prudent to do so.
Some time after this, when Hoga's anger
had cooled, another message came, asking
him to step over to his brothers house for
a few moments. This modest request he
refused with scorn. Soon the messenger
returned, bringing one small mikan
(orange) on lacquered tray and handed
it to him, telling him that it was "a sample
from the tree which Wada had received
that morning. Hoga turned it around and
around and smelled it suspciously. When
at last he ventured to open it there In the
very heart lay tiny gold yen. Burning
with envy, he rushed over to his brothers
house. There stood pretty little mikan
tree in big red flower pot, and Wada was
caressing the dark green leaves. Barely
answering ms DroJner's ponte -Onayol
GOOD morning) Hoga grasped for the tree,
tearing off several of the pretty golden
balls at once. Yes, in each lurked that
golden spot, that tiny yen. "Where did
You get itp" he burst out. "What will you
sell it for?"
ut is gift of the gods" replied Wada.
II could not sell it at any price,"
II think / see the gods making such
presents to you," sneered the other.
"Where did you get it?"
81 speak only the truth, brother" said
Wada gently. This morning at dawn
when l went rs usual to the temple of the
god Hachiman 1 saw in front of the inner
shrine this heavenly tree. On the pot
which holds it was painted, TO my faith
full servant, Wria Toshi.' There, you can
read for YOURSELF"
Sure enough, in bright, golden letters,
were the words, and the paint was not yet
dry. Hoga returned home, his heart swell
ing with envy, jealousy and greed.
That night he could not Sleep Next
day, as he sat in his garden thinking of
some way to get the tree away from his
brother. Wada entered the gate. His face
was pale, his clothes all awry and he looked
almost like crazy person. When he saw
Hoga he commenced weeping and beating
his breast.
"Alasp he cried, 81 must lose my heaven
ly gift-my golden tree. My creditors
nave tallen upon me ana Will not walt.
Help me now, brotherl Lend me thou
sand yen until my next crop, when / can
repay you twice over"
Hoga could scarcely restrain his delight.
miserable spendthrftl" he answered.
Il do not lend to such as you, but 1 will
buy the tree for thousand yen,"
Wada affected the greatest anguish at
parting with his tree, but at last the bar
gain was concluded.
Never was such care bestowed upon a
plan before Hoga employed another
gardener solely to watch and tend it. At
Wada's suggestion he even fertiliZed the
roots with small coin. AS these disap-
peared every night he was well satisfied,
thinking that it had absorbed them. AS
autumn approached Wada decided to go
on another long journey. When the mikan
began to ripen Hoga's excitement was in
tense and he had great festival when the
day came to pluck them. One after one
he opened them. but no gold yen appeared,
and he saw that he had been tricked for
the. second time.
When Wada returned after several
rnonths' absence Hooa would nathan sneak