Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-09-25

AhdHd t,Slt heFefdl uunufeu years ago
when bidding goodby to mis- brother by
adoption, young Hasebe Samon. The time
wls spring, and the Ilace was the village Of
kato, in the province OF Harima. Akana
was an lzumo samurai, and he wanted to
visit his birthplace.
Hasebe said:
Your zumo-the Country of the Eight
Cloud Kisng--is very distant Perhaps it
will therefore be difficult for you to promise
to return here upon any particular day.
But, II we we're 10 know the exact day, we
should feel happier We could then pre-
pare feast Of welcome; and we could watch
at the gateway for your coming"
"WHy, as for that responded Akana, Il
have been 30 much accustomed to travel
that ! can usually tell beforehand how long
10 viii take me TO reach a place; and can
-aiely promise you to be here upon par
ueuar day. Suppose we say the day Of
the festival Of Cnoyo"
That is the ninth day of the ninth
month" said Hasebe; then the chrysanthe-
nuns will be IN bloom, and we can go to-
gether to look at them How pleasant!
So you promise to come back on
the ninth day Of the ninth month"
"On the ninth day Of the ninth month";"
repeated Akana, smiling farewell. Then lie
strodc away from the village OF kato, in the
province OF ilarima-and Hasebe Samon
and the mother OF lasebe looked after him
with tears in their eyes.
Neither the sun nor the moon," says an
old japanese proverb, 'ever halt upon their
journey" Swiftly the months went by and
the autumn came-the season Of chiysanthe-
NUNS. And early upon the morning Of the
ninth day Of the ninth month Hasebe pre-
pared to welcome his adopted brother. He
made ready feast OF good things bought
wine. decorated the guestroom and filled
the vases OF the alcoye with chrysanthe-
NUNS Of two colors Then his mother,
watching him, said: "The province of
lzumo, my son, is more than 100 RI from
this place; and the journey thence over the
mountains is difficult and weary; and you
cannot be sure that Akana will be able to
come to-day Would IL not be better before
you AXE all this trouble, TO wait for his
coming" "Nay. mother" Hasebe made
answer, "Alana promised to be here to-day;
he could not break a promise And If he
were to see us beginning to make prepara-
tion after lis arrival he would know that we
had doubted his word; and we should be
put TO shame
The day was beautiful, the sky without
cloud and the air so pure that the world
seemed to be a thousand miles wider than
usual. In the morning many travellers
passed through the village some OF them
samurai; and lIasebe, watching each as he
came, more than once imagined that he saw
AEnna approaching, But the temple bells
sounded the hour Of midday, and Akana
4 frty.,t,,h tl.a = al
Ilasehe watched and waited in vain. The
sun set and still these was so sign Of Akasn.
Nevertheless Hnsebe remained at the gate,
gazing down the road. Later his mother
went to him and said: "The mind Of a man,
my son-as our proverb declares may
change as quickly as the sky OF autumn.
But your chrysanthcmum flowers will still
be- fresh tomorrow. Better now to sleep,
and in the morning you can watch again
for Akana If you wish" Rest well, moth
or." returned lIasebe; "but | still believe
that he will come" Then the mother went
to her own room, and HaSebe fingered at
the gate.
The night was pure as the day had been;
all the sky throhbed with stars and the
white River Of Heaven shimmered with un-
usual splcndor The village slept; the 81
lence was broken only 10y the noise OF a lit
tie brook and by the farawoy barking OF
peasants dogs tlasebc still waited waited
until be 1w the thin moon sink behind the
neghhouug hills. ''en at last he began
to doubt and to fear. Just as he was about
10 rccuter the house he perceived IN the
distance tau man approaching very lgnt'
ly and quickly; and in the next moment he
recognized AkaUa.
OH cried llasebe, springing to meet
him, - have been waiting Tor you IRON the
morning until now! So you really
did keep your promise after all.
But you must he tired, poor brother come
I'M everything is ready Tor you, lie guided
room and FASTENED 90 Trim the lights, which
were burning low. MolhcI continued
ia',ne i'l niue urea .N's evening anu lnu
'"N '' ' D.. -