Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-10-05
A JAP FAIRY TALE.

In pretty Japanese town lived q
man and his two sons. When the sons
grew up each brought his wife to live
in his fathers house, and they were
all happy together.
After a while, the little Japanese
wives became homesick, and asked
their father-in-law if they could not
visit their own people. At first here.
fused, but after some months the
wives became listless and sad, and
his heart relented. He told them they
could go, but said to himself, "They
care naught for me else they would
not wish to go. But have plan
that will surely prove whether they
care for me- or not.
To the elder he said: go, but never
come back unless you bring IRE
wrapped in paper"
To the younger he said: Go, but
never come back unless you bring
wind in paper"
Now" thought the old man, 81
shall find out. If they care for me,
they will search the country till they
find paper that will hold both fire
and wind" The wifes departed. For
month they were so happy that they
forgot all about the gifts they were
to carry home. At last greatly
troubled. they asked different wise
men where they could obtain what
their father-in-law had requested of
them.
Paper that will hold fire and wind.
There is no such paper in all Japan"
Every one gave the same answer,
and the wives were very sad. fearing
they would never again see their
home. or their husbands, or their
father-in-law.
One day. while wandering in for
est. great tears fell from their eyes.
Suddenly, II don't let people cry in
these woods" said voice. Salt
water will kill the trees"
I'VE can not help crying" said the
eldest. unless carry fire wrapped
in paper, can not go home. What
shall dog"
Its easy enough to wrap fire in
paper" said the voice. Here Is a
piece of paper. Watch it, Then
strange thing happened. A piece OF
paper appeared on the ground and
folded itself into a Japanese lantern.
Now put candle inside" continued
the voice. land I'd like to know II
you haven't paper holding fire."
The elder wife was happy, but the
younger was sad. ooh. dear voice."
she said, "can any one carry wind In
side of paper?"
much more easy" answered the
voice, "for wind does not burn trees.
Watch!"
Eagerly both women watched. An.
other piece of paper appeared and lay
on the ground. 1t had on 1t a picture
of a tree covered with white BIOS
SONS. Two women stood under,
gathering them. The women are
yourselves" said the voice. "and the
blossoms are the gifts your father-in-
law will give you"
II can not go home" walled the
younger. II see paper. and there is !,
always plenty of wind. but how can
the paper carry the wind?" Straight
way some light twigs few toward the
paper. 1t folded itself over, under,
together. 1t opened and closed, and
waved itself before the fearful face
of the younger woman.
Doesn't the wind come in your
facet" inquired the voice. us It not
the fan that has brought 1t. just as the
lantern carried the fire2D iff
Then, indeed. were both women
happy. They came home, and their
father-in-law rejoiced> to see them.
He gave them beautiful gifts of gold
and silver. No one before had ever
seen such marvels as the lantern and
the fan. but the old man declared that
his house sheltered two more prec-
ious things than even the lantern and
the fan-his two wonderful daug.s
News.
A white headed vulture taken in
17O6 died in the geological gardens at
Vienna in 1924, thus living l1s years