St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-02-11
AN ANCIENT KING OF JAPAN.
A Corean Folklore Talk Of Fisherman and
Ills Wife.

Students OF St. Johnsbury 20 years
ago will remember Homer B. Hubert.
who was graduated in 1880 when his
father was the president of Middlebury
college. He is now principal OF the gov
eminent normal school in Seoul, Corea,
and this interesting story was written
by him for the Springfield Republican.
On the eastern coast of Corea in the
ancient kingdom of Silla lived a humble
fisherman named Yango, with his wife,
Sayo. Every day Yango went down to
the shore to hunt for edible seaweed
which he usually found clineing to the
rocks when The tide went down. They
led quiet, Industrious life with no
greater ambition than to perform faith
fully the ordinary duties of life and to
transmit to their descendants an unfair
nished name. Perhaps it was Tor this
reason that providence deemed them
worthy of a higher place.
One day Yango took his basket and
rake and trudged off along the shore until
he came to favorite spot OF his, huge
bowlder that had overhung the water.
III always ohPpSu VII ilS ouOCS DCIOTC
ascending the rock, Tor who knew but
that there might be some spirit connected
with this rock that had the power to do
him harm or good. So now he took
them off and climbed to the top, where
he was soon deep in fragrant pipe OF
tobacco and dreaming of what he would
do if the good genius of the stone should
deign to help him. Suddenly the great
bowlder began to tremble and rock and
then breaking away from its foundations
rose straight in air. The terrified Yango
chung to its rough surface and tried to
think what sin he had committed of
which this might be the punishment. But
his conscience was clear and so his terror
gradually turned to wonder. BY this
time he was high in air and his novel
ship was bearing him away toward the
east, as he could see by the water beneath
and the receding mountains OF his native
Silla. Ere long he found himself nearing
the islands of Japan and before he real.
lied it he was landed gently in the midst
fled, OF course, in all directions. 1t was
long time before any Of them would
venture back, but when they did he gave
account of himself as best he could by
signs. In spite of his rough clothes, they
would believe nothing less than that he
had been sent by the gods to be their
king. so they crowned him OH the spot
and sent into all the surrounding coun-
try calling upon the people to come in
and swear allegiance to him.
Meanwhile. what had become of Sayo?
When she found that her Yango did not
return for the night she concluded like
sensible woman that he had wandered
along the shore so far that he had found
1t impossible to return and had found
lodging at the house of friend, but when
the next day came and no Yango APP
peared, she became anxious and set out
in search of him. She took the accus.
toned path down to the old rock and
there to her dismay she saw the shoes Of
her truant lord. Dreading to climb the
rock for fear OF finding him dead upon its
summit, she yet forced herself to do so.
She was greatly relieved, as we'll as
greatly perpltxed, to find no one there.
Where could he have gone without his
shoes. AS she stood wondering at this,
the rock once more rose and carried her
eastward. Her terror was as great as
her husbands until the thought came
that this might be the explanation Of
his strange disappearance. And SO it
turned out, for within the hour she was
in his arms.
But her strange departure had been
witnessed by some farmers and in an in
credibly short time the story had spread
through the length and breadth OF Silla.
1t happened on the very next day that
after the story had been told the king
that the astrologers and seers of Silla
came in body to the palace and begged
for an immediate audience with the king.
When admitted they made the astound-
ing statement: 1.-THE sun and moon have
refused to shine longer upon Sila, but
have reserved all their light for Japan"
Indeed it seemed to be true, for an omi-
nous gloom had already begun to settle
over the land. and was deepening every
moment. Nothing can describe the con-
sternation that reigned in the palace. 1t
was only by the strong personal efforts
OF the king that sufficient order was re-
stored to consult concerning means for
propitiating those important luminaries.
The two strange events, the miracu-
lous departure oil Yango and Sayo, and
the occulation of the sun and moon, con-
nected themselves very strongly in the
mind of the king, and, knowing not what
else to do. he dispatched an envoy to
Japan to hunt up the involuntary exiles
and bring them back il possible.
No sooner had this envoy set foot on
japanese soil than he heard on every side
the praises OF the new king and queen,
the very persons he had come to find. He
FASTENED straight to court and besought
them to return with him or else their ma.
tive land would be doomed to perpetual
night. Yango, who seems to have
adapted himself to his changed fortunes
with remarkable facility, made answer
.! would willingly go with you, but it is
Il plainly the hand of Providence that has
q placed me here to rule this people. How
then, can betray the trust reposed in
me and thus openly oppose the will o.
heavtn:'" Before the envoy could ind
words to petition further the queen
Sayo, said, II have here some rolls o
silk; take them to your king and tel
him to make of it broad sheet anc
spread it upon the ground and perform
upon it the sacrifices to the sun anc
moon. If he does this they will agar
have light" The envoy needed no sec
ond bidding. but posted back at hight o
speed to Silla. which he found sunk ii
profounder gloom than ever. The lane
was on the verge OF anarchy. Breathless
he hurried into the presence of the kinl
and uniOlded his tale Soon the nimbl.