Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-09-28

u lhe story OF a q
z Little Japanese
q Girl al nd the
& Cflerry-Blos-
sor11ir1g.
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The sun was warm on the matched
roofs and the groves Of trees, and a
merry crowd filled the streets Of the
little Japanese village, for it was the
festival OF the cherry blossoming.
In Japan the Sunrise Kingdom"
as 1t is called, the calendar is divided
into the time OF the blossoming OF the
flowers. The camellia. sometimes
shrouded In snowflakes, helps to ush-
er in the New Year; then, after a few
weeks of cold rains and dull skies,
the branches of the withered old
black plum trees are starred with
fragrant white flowers, followed soon
by the cherry-blossoming, and until
November. when the brilliant maple
leaves light up the scene. this gentle
people count the seasons in flowers.
In this little village most of the
cottages had matched caps on their
heads. Some we're worn with age
and rain. but Dame Nature had
patched them with velvety MOSES
until the whole village looked like
picture. There were only two streets
and these ran almost at right angles
like rude cross. The sea, curving
far inland. Rugged the houses with
caps OF thatch on two sides. SO that
one could hardly help looking out
over the water wherever he stood.
Even though they wearied of the seas
rough caresses they could not run
away. for great hills guarded them
at the rear. and only stepped away
little at one side to let the smiling
rice fields climb down. terrace by
terrace.
If you have never seen Japanese
rice field you would be surprised to-
see one. The plants are set out ID
the mushiest mud that you can think
Of. The workmen wade up to their
knees in this thin mud and set out
the plants; then. as they grow I'm,
there afss-me6 and b6ys who weed
them. STOPPING all day, until ftheir
backs are weary. AL first tns Held
looks like great pond or lake; then
some morning you look across 1t and
II IA all emerald green. A week or
"a later The wind blowing across It
ripples the rice stalks like long.
green waves and ills beautiful. Rails.
ed paths cross the field and inclose
them. and in the corners are great
beds of pink lotus flowers. something
like mink water.lilies. with broad. fat.
pad-like leaves. If you look across the
fields at nightfall. YOU NAV occasion.
allv zee crane standing on one foot.
and hooking like a bird stuck down on
4 long black stick. II the crop ma.
tnres. early in tina season YOU will
hear more frogs croaking than YOU
ever heard before. for the fine. fat
hugs that live in the mud are lust
i TO frog taste. Looking down on the
fields from high up on the mountain
side II looks as though someone had
made them to order. leyeled off a ter.
race on the steep slope and showed
each one in. for there is level space
with q rice field slid over it. then 4
climb and another field, sometimes
four or five in succession. When the
rice begins to ripen the birds must
be kept away by boys with wooden
clackers. something like those our
boys play with. But the fields are
wide and the birds SO hungry and az.
grayating. that 1t could not by any
stretch Of the word be called fun for
a wide.awaAs how.
But we must 90 back to the little
village with matched roofs and the
merry crowd in the streets. There
were women in CAV kimonos of silk
and crepe. with huge sashes and
wooden clogs. their hair piled high in
black coils. There were little maids
like women of small size. only the
wee maids sash was soft and the
erown.up sash was stitf and wide. TIL.
babies were strapped on the back Of
mother or sister. but some learned tc
cling and get a comfortable position
Their heads. bare and shining, ex
cent for a few tufts of black hair
wotbled and bobbed as If they would
roll off. but their soft. tiny hands
CLING tightly to the neck of the bear
or. and thew never cried,
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