The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-12-07
JapS' Mother CQosa
Aurssry Rhymes That Amuss the Little
OHss OF the Alkado's Emplrs.-. Some
jlnglss Centuries Old...Ths Proud Jelly
Fish and the Palace Under The Ssa...A
Japanese Bug-a,BOo Man.: ::

1AC% HE Japanese are very in
4 uva y dulgent to their children.
q Q The little boys and girls
have their playthings
N0sS their games. and their
nursery rhymes. The Japanese
Mother Goose is centuries older
than our own, and some of the simple
lingles composing the collection were
probably recited by Japanese mothers
to their offspring long before Columbus
discovered America says All exchange.
one of the heroes of the Japanese
Mother Goose is the man who rides
on frog. Ever so long ago he was
n robber having been born poor. but
gifted with remarkable deXterity as a
swordsman. One day he attacked n
beautiful lady, who suddenly turned
into an elderly gentlemen with a
benevolent COuntenance. Breaking
the robbers sword into half a dozen
pieces. just as if it had been dry
tWig, the old man announced that he
was the Ancient of all Frogs. and
counSeled the youth to refrain in
iuture from stealing from the poor
ana to confine his attentions exclusive
ly TO the wealthy. At the same time
he placed himself at the services OF
the young man. who, mounted on the
frogs back, was able to leap across
rivers and to travel at great speed
on land, these superior facilities Of
transportation making it practicable
FOR him to rob usurers and other
avariciouS persons of their treasures.
to the joy of the INDECENT who were
protected. Eventually. rs a reward for
his virtues. the hero was made q
Daimio. and lived to enjoy peace
full old age.
Not less interesting is nursery
jingle that tells the story of the jelly
fiSh who was a favorite courtier i'm
the palace of the Queen of the Realm
Under the Sea- He was particularly
vain of his beautiful shell. which was
the envy Of all rivals. But one Cav he
was so foolish as to betray the con-
fidencc of his royal mistress. and. be-
ing deprived Of his shell as a pun
fShment, he was expelled in disgrace.
Since then his descendants have pos
Sessed no shell and have been the
very typeof hciplessness, being defense
less against attack and compelled to
go whithersoever the wind and wave
may drive them.
1t was to the palace of the Queen
of the Realm Under the Sea that
Taro, another hero of Japanese nursery
rhyme, journeyed. He was poor
fisherman. who. while out in his boat
was attacked by Il huge cuttlefish. He
prayed for help TO the ocean goddess,
and she approached, riding on the
back OF a gigantic ea-turtIe. The
cuttlcfsh fled, and Taro. being invited
SO to do mounted upon the back Of
the turtle and was conveyed to the
bottom OF the sea-. There he beheld
Il magnificent cdifcc built of mother
ofpcarl, and for sever days there was
nothing but fraSting. music and dane
ing. with mHltitudeS Of beautiful
women. and unlimited quantities of
flowers and precious stones to delight
the eye. Then TarO bethOught him of
his parents. and asked permission to
return. 1t WIS granted, and he made
the journey us he had come. on the
back of the turtle. to the place where
the cuttlclish had assailed him. He
sought his hut. but could not find IT,
Nobody knew him. and he recognized
none OF the people. Finally. very
old fisherman told him that persons
of his name had lived there four cen
turies previously. Their tombStoneS.
Ovcrgrown with moss and ichens.
were shown to him. and as he gazpd
upon them. his teeth fell out and his
limbs became stiff All at once the
weight of 400 years came upon him.
and he died
The Bug-a-boo Man Of Japanese
children is historical character. His
name is Akochi. and he was a very
naughty and powerful noble. 1t so
happened that one day when he was
the Emperor Nobunaga at
his castle. Nobunaga. being somewhat
in his soups, flayfully grabbed the
head Of his host and used it as a drum
beating upon it with his fan Ell
QuCtte forbade Akochi to resent the
at the moment but he nurSed
his anger and Didcd his time for
revenge. One night. with party of
= -''''i''IiAtllt hN NNll III lotl ANODuilU 81 III
his palace and cut off his head. In
japanese art Akochi is frequently
represented. and always with sword
held behind his back The little
mothers OF that country tell their chill
dron that if they are not good Akochi
will get them.
The Japanese have seven gods OF
happiness, all Of whom are described
in nursery rhymes. One of them. and
tho favoritc Of them all. is Hotel. who
seems To correspond pretty nearly to
our Santa Claus He brings people
long life and prosperity. and, as
represented in the art of the country,
he is invariably accompanied by
stork-a bird which is supposed to
live for 10000 years. Hotel has
Jolly and aminabie expression OF count
cnance, and for good little boys ana
girls he carries big sack Iull Of
gifts.
Tho J0DaDpgp Rim Nnu \VipIlC js