The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-03-11

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purity of the snow can create for me an
allusion of my vanished spring.
The Daimio listened thoughtfully; then,
in a deeper revery still, returned to his
apartment
at is certain" said he to himself, "cer-
tain that spring, and spring only, is all that
Fiaki desires"
And he stopped to lend an ear to the
sharp wind blowing against the palace
walls.
Already the twilight was far advanced,
the gray dawn waiting to take the gray
evenings place.
"Yes, spring, spring only" murmured
the unhappy Daimia, dejectedly resuming
the seat that he had quilted while ago.
Suddenly his sorrow changed to anger,
and he summoned his prime minister.
.Sai=Dai-Tsin ran, bending low his back and
auguring nothing good for himself or Others
from the gloomy face of his master. The
Daimio was silent moment, as if hesitat-
ing to give an order so extraordinary; but
soon, with an irritated shrug of the should
ers, he spoke.
Tomorrow, Nai-Dai-Tsin," said he,
'will be my daughter birthday. ldesire-
do you hear me?-I desire, | say, that
dawn shall break on the trees and bushes
of the park and all the country round
about the palace covered with flowers, as
in the first months of spring. Go"
"You shall be obeyed, master" replied
the prime minister, bowling himself ont
backward.
But once outside, CONSERVATION seized
him, and he let his arms fall helplessly in
the long sleeves of his gown.
at is exile, it is DEATH r murmured
he, ''yes, death For | have not the time
to fly sufficiently far away, and thunder
has fallen upon me from the clear sky of
full prosperity !"
His legs bent under him; he caught at
the walls to keep from sinking.
"What could he do to avoid disgrace?
Nothing, nothing" he told himself, after
he had thought over the matter carefully.
For the pleasure of his child his royal
master had seriously commanded spring
For long while he stood without thought,
his head hanging like ball of lead on his
miserable breast; then he cast lethargy from
him and turned with resolute air.
"Come, courage, Nai-Dai-Tsin, said he;
"a Japanese does not tremble before death.
Quick, the sabre first, the stroke in the
stomach; the poniard for the throat"
He drew out the weapon and prepared
for the stroke, but paused refectively.
"Was it really impossible to simulate
spring, and thereby, instead of ruin and
suicide, conquer eternal fortune? No use
to despair too quickly; there was always
time to die"
But he could not repress start of terror
on seeing how deep the shadow had grown
beyond the palace and how rapidly the
lights were springing up, like freAies in
the darkness.
"All the park and all the country round
about" murmured he; "and only one
night =
Then, on the run, he regained his dwell
ing, called the council together, and, with
out giving them time even to seat them
selves, impaired to them the extraordinary
order transmitted him by the prince.
"An order to be executed under penalty
Of death before the dawn of the day, said
he, recklessly Indifferent to the terrified
faces of those surrounding him; 'the
princes humor is not to be trifed with; he
will hear to no reason. But listen and
fully take In the idea that has come to me,
which may be the salvation Of all.
Go from here and set to work at once in
all the country round about, men, women,
children, mobiles, laborers, merchants, and
peasants, with silk, cloth, satin, velvet,
paper, or gauze, to work at once, | say,
manufacturing artificial flowers. If stuff
be lacking, let them cut up their clothes,
their hangings, their screens, their rugs
for the Aoor-briehy, all that may seem to
them necessary or good; then, all these
flowers, before daybreak, too, must be
tied, nailed, glued, or sewed upon the
trees, plants, and bushes, the smallest
along the edges of the roads, the tallest
farthest away in the fields; all the artists
and painters in the neighborhood following
upon their step to direct the decoration
and give finishing touches of the brush
wherever ncedful. |, in person, will watch
over and foresee everything; our safety
depends upon it. =
Less than an hour later there was not
palace, house in the city, or Il hut in
the country where they were not feverishly
occupied manufacturing flowers; and who
ever had looked from the tower Of the
Kanga palace, shortly after the turn of the
night, into the park and neighborhood,
would have believed himself in sea Of
lanterns, which surged, and leaped from
tree to thicket-an army Of tiredies chased
by foxes.
But at this. hour the illustrious Daiinio
snored peacefully behind his screen of
gold-incrusted ironwood; and the Incom-
parable princess, in the softened rays of
light sitting through the frail pearl leaves
of swinging hnapa9aire, reclined upon