Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-07-10
URASHIMA
STORY OF THE JAPANESE; RIP
VAN WiNkLE. AS TOLD BY NJ
.5..ss5 Es:3. ANTHONY SuZokI5 5sz @
OF THIS CITY, FOR THE Chill
DREN OF RIsMARck--ME
@ HARD LUCK. 81.

. 5&&a II HARD LUCK. #5 IL
The following translation of one of
Japan's most popular children's
legends Us handed to the Tribune by a
son of the Kingdom of the Sun, think
ing it might prove OF interest to the
little ones of this section. Here is,
the story: ,saa .
Urashima was a japanese fisher lad,
who left his native village one day,
and sailed away in search of fish. He
had barely dropped his line overheard
when he felt his first "nibble," and
when he hauled it in there was a.
tortoise upon the hook-a tortoise un-
like any he had ever seen and so
handsome that he took pity upon it,
drew the hook from its mouth as
gently as possible and put it back in
to the sea. It swan about the boat a
minute or two, then sank slowly out
of sight, and while Urashilna was
wondering whether tortoises could
feel grateful he fell asleep. s.5sts. u
Presently beautiful young woman
came walking over the water and
stepped into his boat. She told him
that she was the daughter of Ryugu,
the Japanese Neptune or sea god. In
return for his mercy to the tortoise
Ryugu had bestowed her hand upon
him. She babe him take his paddle
and row, and when he obeyed the boat
began to glide away over the sea at
a pace much faster than he had ever
known. Whether Urashima was
frightened at this unusual turn to his
fishing trip the Japanese tale does not
say. Very likely he was at4frst. But,
the sea gods, daughter was so gentle
and winsome that he soon regained
confidence and padded away hastily
Within an hour they arrived at a
great palace upon an island. palace
ten times as large as Urashima's
whole village, set in marvellous
gardens. Richly dressed courtiers
came down to the shore to welcome
them. The fisher lads Workday
clothes were changed for fine silk
garments and almost before he could
say "Jack Robinson in japanese he
was married to the beautiful goddess.
One whole year he lived in the
palace life Of flowers and music
land happiness, waited upon by crowds
lof attendants and loved by his. i'm
mortal wife. But at the end of the
year .yearning for his old home
came upon him. He longed to return
| to his village and see his parents and
friends again. The goddess pleaded
with him tearfully. Why Should he
leave this island of delight, where
every one was kind and loving and
where he was immortal? Among the
earth folks there was nothing but
/ hard work and hunger and death and
sadness. Why should he not stay
with her foreyerg
Thus she pleaded, but in vain.
Urashima was thoroughly homesick.
At length Ryugu's daughter was
forced to consent to the journey, and
a day was set for his departure. The
hours passed all too swiftly to the
4 goddess. When the moment of leave.
/ taking came she gave Urashima a
small laequered box with strict warn.
4 ing not to open it. He must carry ii
4 with him always. When he wished i'd
return to the island of delight she
would come for him again, but upon
no condition must he ever pry into the
Isecret which the box contained
4 Every one upon the island went down
Ito the shore with him. A huge sea
tortoise appeared and Urashima goi
upon its back and was borne away
Clinging to his strange craft bic
fJourneyed a day and night. Then
lat dawn he entered the harbor near
his village and he landed upon tfie
4 beach When the tortoise had gone
out to sea again a temptation to peer
into the box came over him, and
Though he resisted for a time, ii con
Iauered. He laid it upon the ground
land cautiously lifted the cover, AMI
INSTANTLY q white mist arose ana
Ifoated away AT the bottom was
mirror and 10! when he looked iii f,t
saw that he had become an old man
gray and wrinkled.
TTemblingly he walked to his oil
Village, bowed with age, and when ii.
Preached II strange men and womer
and children poured from the house,
and gathered around him curfous1y
There was 40 face among them tina
The had ever seen before. and when b,
told them his name there was no ON
who had ever heard IT, nor the names
lot his father Or mother. Finally as
fold priest was called who knew Til
tradition Of the coast, and after
|1 -.