The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-02
SHIWO SANS PILGRIMAGE.


The village was planted on the crest
Of the pass SO the people who came and
went were mostly out Of breath, and
would not talk much Of that which they
had seen on the road. Nor did it con-
sorE with the dignity if the priests
mother to sit and chatter with chance
Corners, but a counselor would have
been welcome to her, for she was often
in doubt how to act
It was SQUIRE of great perplexity to
Shiwo San that such a priest as her ad-
mirable son should be afflicted with such
son as her abominable little grandson.
There We're many boys in the village
and boys were amps, as everybody knew;
but such an imp as the priests kO-
kiehis the elders vowed, had never been
begotten in Azuma yet lie was the
scourge Of the schoOlmaster the plague
OF the policeman. and the only trial that
had ever troubled the o Bassan's calm
approval of the ways of the gods. Not
for her was it TO say that they might
have made her rich instead of poor;
that, considering her daughter-in-lalW
was dead, they might have left her
more cyesight for the sewing. even her
passed over in silence. for was it not
testimony to the honored age which,
thanks to their clemency, she had
reached2 But KOkichi almost shook her
parentage, who still tore his clothes,
stole pickles, shaved the inspectors cat,
and could only write characters Of five
strokes at the age of ten was almost
an argument for fearing that the gods,
as well as the spirits Of Kokichi's an
cestors, We're growing careless in their
old age. Kckichi's father would not all
low the o BaSSar to speak much of the
gods, being himself a severe Shintoist
But the o Bassan had her own thoughts
about that; all her veneration for her
clever son could not make her forget
that she had prayed to Kwannon Sama
for a. priest son long before he came into
the world, and that when he was a tiny
scarlet cotton bundle that could not hold
up his head she had carried him on her
back to get the blessing of the eleven
crowned goddess. So. though she never
contradicted his theology, she said her
prayers and took her bits of offerings to
her old friend all the same.
The last time she had visited Kwan-
mons temple the wise nun who lived
there had advised her to try the liber-
ating blister for Kokichi's Wickedness.
Shiwo replied that it had been applied
when the sinner was quite small, but
that instead of letting the devil out of
him it appear ed as if some new demon
had taken advantage of the opening to
enter and remain.
sfNTelI, o Rassan'' the old nun replied
shaking her bald head till it shone in the
sun. and one OF the temple pigeons tried
to pOise on it, IF the blister does no
good there is nothing for it but to try
another pilgrimage. Let me see, where
did you go last time?'
ITO Zenkoji,' replied ShiwO, ''but
there was a fire there just afterward,
and the answers to the prayers must
have got mixed up. I had present
from my married daughter, a mosquito
net and some bean curd, and she had
another son; but Kokichi is naughtier
than ever
GO to Mike, and pray there said
the nun; the spirit Of Gongen Sama
will grant your request and the evil
child Will become pious and docile."
I viii try" said Shiwo looking dis
cOuraged, IF it is possible I will do as
you advise, but there are many difficult
ties. I thank you. however, and I beg
YOU to pray for me and to accept my
present, worthless pine needle, too
small to offer such a distinguished per-
SON.
She produced a white wooden box with
plated PUSHES dividing it into green
squares in each of which nestled a new
laid egg The she trOtted off, and be-
gan to mount the long hill to the Usui
Toge rather sadly. The advice to go to
Mike had come at the wrong time for
her own wishes, and yet her desire for
KolSichi's conversion, as well as her
regard for her adviser, seemed to indi-
cate that the hour for it had struck
But how much more gladly would the
Ba ssan have Oheyed had some other
place been recommended.
The nun could not know that Nikxo
was the name which stirred all the fire
left in the old humble heart Once, as
a little GIRL GnlWO san mad run away
from home when "home" was much
nearer to the sanctuary than it was
now with a band of other children
They had begged or borrowed enough
for their small needs, and had started
Off on a pilgrimage to Nilxlo. 1t was a
piOus act; their parents minds had been
set at rest by a loyal neighbOr who kept
their secret until they were out of reach,
and the nine little girls had triumphant
" tramped the twenty miles in two
days Their own village was a mere
brown nest in the hills, and NiklxO
showed them vision of grandeur such
as Slliwo had never dreamed Of before
Her black eyes grew roundeT and
rOunder as a kind guide led the little
devOtees to all the wonders Of the place,
charging nothing for his pains ShiwO
felt it impossible to be in the presence
of so much greatness without making
an effort to meet it half way. So she
fell on her face before the tomb of
Iyeyasu and pronounced a vow. heard
herself, If heaven permitted to return
here to die, so that her spirit might re-
main forever in this august and glorious
spot.
Shiwo had not forgotten her vow, and
as she began to grow old she made visits
to other shrines but kept her second
pilgrimage to Nikko for the last Of all,
because it was SO far away that she
could not hope to reach it twice at her
age A small sum of money. sewn into
the sleeve of her best kimono, was re-
served for the journey; if the gods were
kind and answered her prayers, there
would be no expenses for her return.
But although the vow was now fifty
years old the o Bassan had no eagernesS
to quit this life. Even Kokichi's terrible
wickedness could not destroy her con-
viction that respected old lady, the
mother of the priest with a sound roof
over her head, food to eat and sunshine
to sit in. was very happy person in
deed, and she had looked forward to a
T101 inv r,F 4ar4fr
pered bliss. OF course, if nothing else
would do Kolzichi any good, the journey
to NilSlSo must be accomplished. but she
still had a hope that the old nuns
prayers would answer the purpose. The
eggs were SO beautifully freshi
With NAV halls for rest She Reached