River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-12-16
LEGEND OF OLD JAPAN.
Prototype OF Our nip Van Wrinkle
Married Mermaid.

Mishima faro was a descendant OF
that Inflated clan OF Taro that was
almost cxterminated in the naval fight
al Shimonosel many years ago. The
swords won by his ancestor on that
occasion are still treasured heirlooms
Of the family; and while these swords
would be valuable because made by
famous sword forger who died cen
turtles ago, Vet In temple OF kamakura
rests a relic of another faro that many
such swords could not buy. II is only
poor little nutzubi, but il has been
ever the southern sea, and this is how
IL occurred:
Urashima Taru fsherboy, went out
upon the sea in his fuue, and fished all
the forenoon, but caught nothing. In
the afternoon he felt tug on his line
and drew i'm a tortoise. Now tortoise
IS sacred. for he lives TO be many thou
sand years old, so faro tossed him back
into the water with "A prayer to Dali
koku, that son of Sasauoo, who is the
God of fortune. Then he dozed, and as
he nodded beautiful woman rose from
the SEA aud touched him on the arm.
As he awakened and started at sight
of her, she smiled and said:
"Urashima faro, because you have
returned 10 the water one of my ia
Tiers people. and because YOU are so
devout and good, ] shall take you to
my father, who is the sea dragon, and
YOU shall marry me-" So sayiIg, she
seized an car. and Taro gra. ped an
other, and the two, with ma " smiles
on each other, moved to the south, to
the island where no time is. / wish l
could tell YOU Of the feasting that fol-
lowed the nuptials, and of how grateful
the tortoise was on the sea dragons
island, but as these festivities lasted
for two years, am afraid there would
be no space for many OF the essential
details. But Taro and his princess
were happy, and had il not been for an
occasional thought of home Tara would
have been very happy. At The end Of
four wears he could stand il no longer.
bat told his wife he must 60 and visit
his father and mother. Tears and en-
treaties We're of no avail, ana so the
princess gave to her lord a little box.
saying that he was not 10 open that il
he wished TO return-under no circum-
stances was he to open It. but to bring
IL back closed. So he promised and
rowod off lin his boat for the distant
shores of Japan. Back into the familiar
bay he guided his little craft, but every
thing seemed strange. The Buddhist
temple on the hill was gone. and in its
place was an imposing edifice Of the
Nichireu sect. The houses were differ
ent. and about al. that looked the same
were the everlasting hills and the shore
line Of the harbor Strange faces
greeted him upon landing. and there
was none he knew. lie stopped an old
man and asked for himself
"Urashima faro. Why. he has been
drowned 400 years. Blu; his tomb is in
the cemetery the old one, back on the
hill So he went to the cemetery
the old one-and, brushing off the moss,
read his name on the stone. Near to
this were graves of his father and
mother. lie had been gone 400 years,
and was a stranger in his own village.
He went back 10 the beach, still hold
ing tightly i'm his hand the box given
by his princess. Reckless ne lifted off
the cover. \ light vapor arose and
noated off to the south an the direction
.of the island of the sea dragon. Then
he ried aloud. for ne knew he could
return no more. But what was the
sensation ne felt stealing over him?
Darling pains rackcd his body. and
from his face there grew long. white
beard. His hands and body wriukled.
his teeth dropped from his mouth TO
the sand, his eyes could no longer be
hold The sea and t. his ears all nature
was dumb. His weakening limbs tot
tered and he fell. crushed With the
weight of four centuEie--Deuyer Post.