The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-07-28
GERRY BLOSSOMS.
A Japanese Fairy Tale.

Oyanla left his house ana with MS
Toung wife left on the long tiresome
walk.
Very much against his will did he
cave, but his relations had demanded
it because a war was threatening and
hey wanted to use their influence to
get him free, and a friendly Kami
priest, who lived in the Miya of the Sun
Goddess at 1se, had promised to conceal
he couple in his house until the letter
axempting him from service should
nave come from the mikado.
The young couple walked long in 81
ence. Oyama's thoughts We're very bit
.er.
what good does it do me- he
thought to himself, that I have al
ways walked the Ssen-dau path of vir-
.ue) and always kept away from the
Aku-day (road of the wicked) when,
even on the day of my wedding l must
cave my home to conceal myself. like
/ criminal. Fate has been very I'M
lust and the prophecy which was spok-
IN at my birth has not been fulfilled.
What has become of the honors and
'iches, which my ancestor, the brown
1eer, told my father, ould be mine?'
And he thought long Of the old tradi-
Ion of his family.
The founder of the old family of
oyama was, it was said, transformed
ntO a brown deer. because of his sins,
md must remain in that state until one
IF his descendants relieved him by his
spotless and virtuous life, when he
would once more become a human be-
Xg.
Already as a boy Oyama knew of this
:ale. and was told by his parents that
tie must always be just fynd good that
ne might relieve his anceAtor from his
l. nor,Ic ot,1 1n nod nlu-n S, lynrf that.
bonds, and he had always kept their
When his father was dying he sent
,or him and said:
Listen, my son. to the glad tidings.
Dur ancestor, the brown deer. appeared
20 me during the night and told me
that you had been chosen to relieve
him Of the ban. Therefore, be always
Just. and great honors shall come to
you"
The beautiful SsakUra-hana CHERRY
olossom) walked at first modestly by
the side of her husband. but as he
walked faster and faster she soon
Jagged behind.
Also she had only unwillingly left
ner new home. The pretty little house
had pleased her very much. and she
was delighted with the garden. with
It's beds Of flowers and fruit trees ir
blossom. which all belonged to her
While in her parents home she had
been obliged to divide the flowers witt
her sisters. But, alas! her JOY did no
last long. and she had been forced t.
leave. She hurriedly picked a few
cherry blossoms and followed her hus
band.
Faster and faster he walked ant
soon poor little Ss~akura-hana wa.
very, very tired. The sun rose highe
and higher in the sky. Ssakura-han,
looked around for a shady place wher,
,i,o ~,irht vast n 1ift1o or1 to how 40,
she discovered a clump Of cherr.
trees in blossom near the road. Sh
went over and found behind them a lit
tie pond with water as clear as cgysta
and when she locke down into it sh
saw her w pretty face. She pickle
some cherry blossoms and put Their
into her hair and nodding smilingly t
her image in the water.
But suddenly he was startled-he
own image had disappeared and tn
two sad eyes Of a brown deer wer
looking at her from below. She di
not dare turn her face ava and
strange feeling Of JOY overcame he
She seemed to see a brown deer whic
became transformed into a young mar
who took her into his arms and sh
knew no more. The wind blew throug
the cherry blossoms and the whit
petals, the symbols of maidenly In
nocence and purity dropped Off and fe
on her like snow.
Oyama at last ceased walking an
looked around for his bride, b,
Ssakura-hana was not there, and Il
reply came in response. to his calling.
Then he saw that he had been walk
ing too fast. so he sat down to wait fl
her, but the hours came and went, ar
!, the sun began to sink lower. but 7
S~sakura-hana came.
Oyama stood up and walked BAG
, toward home, but she was nowhere
be seen, and late in the evening
!, reached the place he had left in Il
, morning.
His wife stood in the door of the
home and greeted him with ain excl
nation.
II could not find you. joy of my soul
, she said, land as 1 did not know Il
way l went back home. l rested a II
: tie while at a beautiful pond n fl
asleep and it was nearly shutdown VIII
woke up, but / reached here befo
! dark"
II was thoughtless. ssakura-han
: m now we will stay here overnig
adm start again tomorrow"
:. But during the night a messeng
! came from the mikado and Oyama d
: not have to leave home.
Z Together they led a life Of unbrok
D happiness. Ssakura-hana was a go
wife and took good care Of her hon