Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-23
THE RETURN OF YoR1MAsA.

the mating with paper carp, while
his parents discussed the recent torpedo
attack upon the Russian feet at Port
Arthur. The time of negotiations was
past. Russia had answered her treaties.
not with pen and ink, but with gun,
and now all Japan would answer the
Great Bear with gun too Every man
IN Japan desired to lay down his life for
his Emperor.
When war broke out Yorimasa at once
enlisted in the second army of Japan,
fourth division, under brave Gen. Oku
de now awaited orders, and expected at
every moment to join his regiment and
sail for Manchuria.
Come here, Momotaro," said Yorimasa
gently. The little fellow put down his
toy and ran toward his father.
"Momotaro, would you like to be a
soldier? Would you like to fight with
gun and sword, and bring glory to the
Mikado?"
Momotaro looked very fierce and strut
ted about. Kill, bang, bang, kill, kill
kill all naughty enemies of the Mikado!'
shouted he.
His father lifted him up and looked at
him long and steadfastly. "Momotaro,
we are all sons Of the Mikado. You
have spoken WELL"
Tama opened the window and shut it
again. Perhaps there was one little tear
IN the garden that did not quite belong
to the Emperor, but to mothers heart.
Yorimasa noticed the panied look on
Iama's face, and he spoke very kindly
to her, for be loved his wife dearly; but
that great host of vanished warriors
stirred in his blood now; he heard their
voices calling, and he knew that he loved
his Emperor more than Tama
"Momotaro," said Yorimasa, you must
be very kind to mother when / am gone"
The little boy pulled himself out like
his paper carp. Il viii be very. very
kind little man." said he, simply
There was hustle outside the house.
Once again Tama opened the window and
uttered faint cry as she buried her
face behind her long sleeves.
what is it. lamar"
fYou must go and fight for the EN-
peror nowl"
"Ahl" exclaimed Yorimasa, chow glad
~ | go forth to fight for my Emperor
and my country!"
Momotaro once more shouted: "Bang,
bang, kill, kill, kill" and the little fell
low gave quaint imitation of the grim
battlefield
Goodbye, dear little wife. goodbye.
Mono. must go nowl"
Iama suddenly spraDg up, and, brush
ing the tears bravely away, she said:
Don't come back again; die for the glory
OF Japani" This is not fictitious senti-
ment. Such a remark has been spoken
many times by the brave little women Of
II I'm
and mother and child sat very still to-
gether
Presently Tama put her arms round
her boy and said, in such a sad little
voice:
Mono. it isn't all bang and kill and
battle glory. The women of Japan have
to fight their battle against the sad
mothers of the Russian army. Ali
Mono, women fight battles too; not on
the field, but in the loneiy nome. and
the weary, anxious battle of waiting for
the home coming. that perhaps will never
come, is harder battle after ALL"
"Poor, dear mother feels very, yery
lonesome tonight" said Mono, only dim
ly understanding what had been said to
him. would mother like to see nv
beautiful carp fly out of the Window"
continued he. Tama assented. and in
moment the toy carp, so wonderfully
made. flew through the air
While they were watching it they
heard the steady, rhythmic sound of the
tramp of feet. Louder it grew, and then,
marching round bend in the road, came
the Osaka division.
Mono was very small. The Joy of
seeing the army in which his father
marched overcame his other feelings.
Look! Look!" exclaimed Mono eager
~ there's father marching along at the
end OF one line, just near the house. and
the moon shines on his bayonet, and, oh!
he looks so full of peace and joy Look,
do look, mother!" But Tama could not
look, for she knew that the way of ar
mics is the way of death.
Then came the sound of military mu-
sic Mono was delighted. Once more he
shouted, Kill, bang, bang, kill" as he
thrust out his small arms right and left
"Momo," said Tama, in a quivering
voice please d. net say that any more
And Mono aud Tama remained very still
till they could no longer hear the tramp
ing of brave feet, OF the sound of the
great music of war;
Toward the end CT May news reached
Osaka of the success of the Japanese
army in Manehuria. Yorimasa had been
mentioned in the dispatches to Toxic for
conspicuous bravery. The Japanese army
had succeeded in beating the Russians
back from line Of hills mile north OF
Kinehan, and they row took possession
Of them preparatory t. taking the strong
hold held by the enemy on Nanshan hill.
On the eve of the great battle of Nan
shan, Tama had strange dream She
dreamed that she stood side by side with
her husband in the fourth division upon
the bloody battlefield. She heard the
roar of the gunboats, the shouting of
the officers, and saw the awful havoc of
the big guns devastating doom. When
the order was given for the Osaka men
to storm the heights and capture Nan
shan hill, she felt herself being swept
along by the dauntless soldiery of Japan
and always shoulder to shoulder with her
dear lord. Higher and higher climbed
the Osaka men, leaving n trail of dead