Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-11-02

volume is of unusual interest and con-
tains much of Japanese myths and ira
ditions.
1 shalN return in the early autumn" said
| Akana Soyemon several hundred years ago
when bidding good-by to his brother by
adoption, young Hasebe Samon. The time
was spring, and the Jlace was the village OF
Kato, in the province of Harima. Akana
was an Izumo samurai, and he wanted to
visit his birthplace.
Hasebe said:
"Your Izumo-the Country of the Eight
Cloud Rising-is very distant. Perhaps it
will therefore be difficult for you to promise
to return here upon any particular day.
But, if we were to know the exact day, we
should feel happier. We could then pre-
pare feast of welcome and we could watch
at the gateway for your coming"
"Why, as for that" responded Akana, 81
have been so much accustomed to travel
that can usually tell beforehand how long
it will take me to reach place; and can
safely promise you to be here upon par
ticular day. Suppose we say the day OF
the festival of Choyo"
That is the ninth day of the ninth
month" said Hasebe; then the shrysanthe-
NUNS will be in bloom, and we can go to-
| gether to look at them. How pleasant!
So you promise to come back on
the ninth day of the ninth MONTH"
"On the ninth day of the ninth month"
repeated Akana smiling farewell. Then he
strobe away from the village of Kato, in the
province OF Harima-and Hasebe Samon
and the mother OF Hasebe looked after him
with tears in their eyes.
! ha ha
! old japanese proverb, "ever halt upon their
journey" Swiftly the months went by; and
the autumn came-the season of ehrysanthe-
NUNS. And early upon the morning of the
ninth day of the ninth month Hasebe pre-
pared to welcome his adopted brother. He
made ready feast OF good things, bought
wine, decorated the gueHroom and filled
the vases OF the alcove with chrysanthe.
NUNS of two cclors. Then his mother,
watching him, said: "The province of
IIumo, my son, is more than 100 RE from
this place; and the journey thence over the
mountains is difficult and weary; and you
cannot be sure that Akana will be able to
come to-day. Would it not be better, before
you take all this trouble, to wait for his
coming" NAY, motherW Hasebe made
answer, "Akana promised to be here to-day;
were to see us beginning to make prepara-
ton after his arrival he would know that we
had doubted his word; and we should be
put to shame
The day was beautiful, the sky without .
cloud and the air so pure that the world
seemed to be a thousand miles wider than
usual. In the morning many travellers
passed through the vilage-som of them
/ aha oh Oh ha
came, more than once imagined that he saw
Akana approaching But the temple bells
sounded the hour of midday, and Akana
did not appear. Through the afternoon also
Hasebo Watched and waited in vain The
sun set; and sti there was so sign OF Akaaa.
Nevertheless Hasebe remained at the gate,
gazing down the road. Later his mother
went to him and said "The mind of man,
my son-as our proverb declares may
change as quickly as the sky of autumn.
But your chrysanthemum flowers will still
be fresh tomorrow. Better now to sleep,
and in the morning you can watch again
for Akana il you wish" REST well, moth
er" returned Hasebe; "but | still believe
that he will come" Then the mother went
to her own room. and Hasebe fingered at
the gate.
The night was pure as the day had been;
all the sky throbbed with stars; and the
white River of Heaven shimmered with un.
usual splendor The village slept the 81.
lsnce was broken only by the noise OF lit
tie brook and 10y the iaravay barking of
peasants dogs Hasehe still waited waited
until he saw the thin moon sink behind the
neigahoring hills "'en at last he began
to doubt and to fea. Just as he was about
10 rpputcr the house he uarreived it tho