The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-07
SHREWD WADA.

of Japan, lived family named Toshi 1t
consisted of 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 wers 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
longed 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 md shrewd remarks.
"Never mind, okkasnn" (mother) he
would say. at is better to be poor and
witty than rich and stupid. 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 upa
Kettle FROM the fire and set it on block of
wood in the middle Of the parlOr. When
Hoga entered the water was still kissing
and steaming. Wada pointed to it aud
said: "lIere 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 itl' growled Hoga,
beginning at once to covet such an econ
omical utensil.
An old man brought it this morning."
said the younger, land offered to sell it
for 500 yen, but have no money. Can you
not lend me this amount, brother2 / could
soon make it back by exhibiting such q GU
riosity."
u will not lend you rim" said the un-
kind lIoga. 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 your | 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 tlip.
Hoga returned home carrying his precious
kettle in one hand and the block OF cedar
in the other lie called in all tls neighbors
to behold his new purchase. With much
ceremony he filled 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, aud lIoga saw that lie
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
| 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 suspiciously. When
at last he veutured to open it there in the
very heart lay tiny gold yen. Burning
| with envy, he rushed over to his brothers.
house. There stood a pretty little mikan
| tree i'll IL big red flower pot, and Wada was
caressing the dark green leaves. Barely
answering his brothers polite "Ohayo"
! Good morning) Hosa grasped for the tree,
! tearing off several of the pretty golden
; balls Mt once. Yes, in each lurkcd that
| golden spot, that tiny yen where did
| you get it," he burst out. "What will you
sell ii for?n
ut is n gift of the gods,p replied Wada
Il could not sell it at any price,
II think / see the gods making such
presents to you," sneered the other.
Where did you get itp
Il speak only the truth, brother" said
Wada gently. This morning at dawn
| when went as usual to the temple OF the
| god Hachiman saw in front of the inner
| shrine this heavenly tree. On the pot
| Npitirh bOllG e. noiDFpJ tTo NV fnif1
ful servant, Wada Toshi.' There, you can
read for yourselfih
Sure enough, III bright, golden letters,
were the words, and the paint was not yet
dry. lloga returned home his heart swell
| ing with envy, jealousy and greed.
That night he could not sleep. Next
day, rs 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 IA crazy person. Wien he saw
Hoga he commenced weeping and beating
| his breast.
| "Alasl" he cried, 81 must lose my heaven
| ly gift-my golden tree. My creditors
have fallen upon me and will not wait.
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 spendthr IT." he answered.
Il do not lend to such as you, but | will
| buy the tree for Il thousand yen,n
Wada affected the greatest anguish at
parting with his tree, but at last the bar
| gain WIS concluded.
Never was such care bestowed upon a
| plan before. Hoga employed another
gardener solely to watch aud tend it. At
| Wada's suggestion he even fertili2rd the
roots with small coin. As these disGp-
ptared every night he was well satisfied,
thinking that it had absorbed them. As
autumn approached Wata decided to 10
on another long journey. When the mikan
hogan 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
months absence IIoga would neither speak
TO him nor allow any of his household to
notice him. For some time Wada laughed
at his brothers anger, but when his money
had all disappeared he became somewhat
anxious 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 msst help me.
When she asked how she could assist
him he told her that the next afternoon
about dusk she must pretend to he 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 samSen.
At first the good lady hesitated for she
not like to deceive even 81 cross and
stinBy son as Hoga, but Nyada begged SO
hard that she at last consented. Snre
enough, at dnsk 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 fortunatei Wait