Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-07-05

lIOAt ItdNIiS VI SOIt
One afternoon he came to me with a
shy, half-frightened look on his child
ish face, and besought the loan Of s
sen cents. This was something IN
precedented. Hitherto his salary Of
IS sen month had been ample for
his humble needs, and curiosity
prompted me to ask what he intended
doing with it.
1T is for 'kusuri,' " he said timidly.
Il am feeling 'aihen byoki very
sick).''
l gave him the change and told him
he could 90 home for the rest Of the
day. at which he Frustrated himself
three times in token of gratitude.
A few moments later, Alan San
stood alone in the big front gate,
mournfully watching his playfellow
down the narrow street.
Yano did not return next day, but
clumsy, large-headcd youth appeared
to take his place and inform us that
Yan0 was dangerously Ill.
| did not dream that we should mss
the child so much. Alan vas moon
solable, the cook cross, the housematd
hurried all the time, and, II fact, there
was no member of the household Who
did not mourn, openly or in secret, Ter
the merry, willing little drudge.
1t was a week before he 'etu'ned.
His eyes were heavy and sunkel IS
though with excessive weeping, and
his cheeks were pale and fiat. AS he
YEARLY entered the gate Alan caught
SIGHT of him. and rushed out with en-
dearments and EXPLANATIONS which
brought for a moment the old light to
his ewes. They came into my room
hand in hand, and | inquired with SIN
cere interest concerning the sickness
through which he had passed.
At first he was much abashed ana
uncertain whether to speak or not, Dut
AIan's little arms were around nm;
and my sympathy was obvious IN
every tone and gesture. 50 at last ne
told us his story. Long before he mad
been forced to give up he had been TO
..Ibas Saan'' (doctOr), he said, and had
spent all Of his money in buying medi-
cine. but in spite of this he grew
worse and worse. At night he coulu
not sIaen for feyers and ague and III
the daytime he could not eat, not even
rice.
Then his mother went to priest IOf
advice and the pious man at once de-
clared that it was no ordinary SICK
ness. but the anger OF some goo %
he went with her to the temple, anu
there the priest, after feeling his heart
and head, and sprinkllng hlm WIN
boIv water had declared that he was
cursed by water goa.
Yano turned almost green at the
mention Of that dreadful edlct.
But how did you offend the water
god?" I asked.
Yano hung his head and fingered his
Iono sleeves neryOusly as he answered
that he and O Alan San had tnroWn
stones and dirt in the we'll after tne
frogs. and had detiled the pure WaIel'
Therefore the god was very, very all
orv He did not curse the CnrlsCian
child for it is more difficult to gam
mower over Christians, so douple
share of pain was sent the little faltn-
f1I seryitor. [ did not dare to express
nv opinion of the water god' 50 L SUI
NV asked him what the priest olo 10
remove the curse.
The child raised his head with look
of Quick terror, and said dn an asl-
tated voice that he cOuldnt tell lhe
foreign .'okasan" all that was Done
the nriest had forbidden it; but that
no had suffered a great deal Whlle Tue
evil spirit was driven out, ana d.
times he had run around ike ulau
dog yelping and crying Tor mercy
The priest had imposed a tine OF t"en-
ty sen upon him, and commanded niln
To make an offering at the Httle shilne
at sunrise and sunset for seven days
Looking at that poor little plncheo
face I felt secret but intense ue-
sire to see the Kami Sauna, the shrlne'
the old priest and the frogs all III the
bottom of the we'll together, out dlu
not say so, principally because III!
limited knowledge Of the language
rendered it impossible. One geps 10
understand the language much sooner
than to speak it readily.
Late that afternoon, as the wild
nrimroses softly awoke, ana the
hoarse crows sought their homes on
the hill. I saw two little figures walk
ing slowly along the weed-groWn PAIN
toward the shrine. / followed, unseen,
at a respectful distance. 4ano earned
a small cup of smoking tea, ana
tiny, lacquered bowl filled with rice
while Alan held reverently a Suck Oh
incense and a Japanese Wrlhng-boA
Of the cheapest kind. The shrine
doomed through the dusty shadows,
ancient and squat, and before II the
children knelt.
The small cup was placed upon the
ledge. with the rice bowl beside it, ana
then the stick of incense was carefully
arranged in a tiny bamboo vase, just
below the carven letter. l could see,
from their gestures, that Alan was
entreating the privilege OF lighting IT,
This rite was performed In aWed ST.
lence. Alan striking the match While
Yano curved his thin, fingers around
the flame; then Yano opened the writ
iug-box, and dipping his brush into
the thick ink traced on a slip of paper
a few struggling words-a prayer.
This he tied to the end Of a cherry
stick in the ground before the shrine.
The faint fragrance of the tea rose
was mingled with the slow curling in
cense. The little prayer rippled softly