The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-14

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 IL consort
with the dignity OF the priests mother TO
sit and chatter with chance comers, but
a counsellor would have been welcome TO
her, for she was often In doubt how TO
act.
IL was a source OF great perpleXity to
shiwo San that such priest as her ad-
mirable son should be afflicted with such
a son as her abominable little grandson.
There were many boys i'm the village, and
boys were imps. as everybody knew; but
such an imp ss the priests Kokichi. the
elders vowed. had never been besotten in
Azuma yet lie was the scourge of the
schoolmsster. the plague OF the policeman
and the only trial that had ever troubled
the Bassan's calm approval OF the
ways of the gods. Not for her was ii to
say that they might have made her rich
instead of poor; that. considering her
daughter-in-law was dead, they might
have left her more eyesight for the sew
lnEs even lltT IHNhildiit ltil tdih cHt
would have passed over I'm silence. for
was II not a testimony 10 the honored
age which, thanks 90 their clemcncy. she
had reached? But Kokichi almost shook
her faith. A boy Of eminently respectable
paFentage. 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
ba nf EnEirht'a
tors, were growing careless in their old
age. Kokichfs father would not allow the
O Bassan TO speak much OF the gods. be-
ing 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 priest
son long before he came into the world,
and that when he was a tiny scarlet cot
ton 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 contra
dicted 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 liberat-
ing blister for Kokichi's wickedness.
Shiwo replied that II had been applied
when the sinner was quite small, but that
instead of letting the devil out OF him IL
appeared as IL some new demon had
taken advantage OF the opening 10 enter
and remain.
"Well, . Bassan," the old nun replied.
shaking her bald head till IL shone I'm the
sun and one OF the temple pigeons tried
to poise on It. "if the blister does no
good there * nothing for &c but to try
another pilgrimage. Let me see, where
did you go last tme?"
ITO Zenkon," replied Shiwo, but there
was fire there just afterward. and the
answers TO the prayers must have got
mixed up. had a present from my mar
ried daughter. a mosquito net and some
bean curd. and she had another son; but
Kolkichi ~ naughtier than ever"
GO to Nikko. and pray there" said the
nun. 1.-The spirit OF Gongen Sama will
grant your request. and the evil child Will
become pious and docile.'
II will try" said Shiwo, looking dis
couraged. III Il is possible | will do as
you advise. but there are many difficult
les 1 thank YOU. however. and beg you
10 pray for me and to accept my present
a WORT. ess pine needle, too small to of.
fer such "A distinguished person"
She produced white wooden box with
plaited rushes dividiag % into green
squares i'm each OF which nestled n new
laid egg Then she trottcd of, and began
10 mount the long hill Go The Usui Toge
rather sadly. The advice 10 go TO Mike
had come at the wrong time for her own
wishes. and yet her desire for Kokichi's
conversion, as well as her regard for hei
adviser. seemed 10 indicate that the hour
for " had struck But how much more
gladly would the O BasSan have obeyet
had some other place been recommend
ell.
The nun could not know that Nlkko wa;