The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-11-21

On night like this to turn man aW %Sy''
When we should open to a east?"
Before him, wife, a lordlike priest"
old sano muttered, I'VE should die of shame"
Were he the Regent" cried the dame
You should not let him
To die amid the wind and snow
Who knows but this life of bitter need
Comes from Gods finger pointing to no deed
or godike charity to light our path?
we mule nave; the strange priest nothing hath
run bid him back, my lord, to warmth and rest
say; Come most reverend Wen share our bestt,"
Within the hut around the little fire
sat Tokiyori with the and wife
Sharing their scanty mllet dish
And, ever the embers gan expire
A little tree flung on them gave them life
lnree little trees with large and fair good-wish
First t was dwarfsh pine tree long of days,
And next tiny plum tree kings would praise
And last dainty cherry fed the blaze
Said Tokyori you are poor indeed
Yet you are burning trees you've grown in lars
Which only rich can afford"
And And sano, STOPPING still the flames to feed,
Made answer smiling "Truly, Reverend lord
MOI with my low estate do they accord:
But in these scarecrow tatters you behold
one brave among the samurai of old
And one from whom, while in the Shogun's wars
HIS tyrant neighbors took his lands by force
And left him but this hut his battlehorse
And these three little trees
Yet grieve not, priest their tender beauty fed
TGr where can costly wood the better burn
lhan on the hearth where mans love for many
And flower and leaf return God the best
v in lighting up the welcome of a guest
Aed' since 1t is the gift of God to live
The greatest joy in living is to give"
"The greatest joy is giving" Tokiyori said.
And love is giving ALL" said Sanos dame.
Love" smiled old Sano, "is lifes fire and fame
Ald evermore my heart grows light
That when babe you forth wind and snow
My goodwfe breathed the voice of Bushido
That teaches when strangers at the door
The face that looks thereout should aye be bright
Nor poor need be the welcom of the poor.
Were he the Regent. take him In she cried"
And if he were?' asked Tokyori low.
'Ah, for the shogun," sano cried aloud
Il hold my life wtor all Is lost beside.
My old white horse still lives to bear me proud
To battle at my lord the Shoguns call
My tWohand sword, tho rusty, hangs him there,
Ready when forth my horse and 1 shall fare
For Tokiyori, greatest lord of ALL"
And Tokyori smiled:--"Lo now I know"
Fran Kamakura call to war
The wardrums rafting loud through all the ways,
And warriors trooped from and far
Veterans many from old fields hard-won
And youths who yet shining deed had DONE
And all in canking panoply of fight,
From cot and castle, and from field and town
Came lightfoot the hills before the night
And poured through all the valleys to the plain,
With cries and cheers
Till morning lared its redgod arrows down
Upon hundred thousand swaying spears.
Sat Tokiyori ON his batte-steed,
His great soul shining in his searching eyes.
About him daimos, armed and spurred
And shomios ready to strike bleed,
Or challenge death in any noble guise
All watchful waiting for his word
Then as silent waters break
With sudden wndstroke into weltering sound
He spake:-
"Now know I Nippon hath but one great soul
That soul hath answered to its Shogun's call
And whittier hence the tide of shall roll
Before it every foe fall
Long did I seek what 1 know.
1t came to me mid wind and snow,
And In this host the proof shall clear:-
gaunt old man upon an old white horse
His sword tWO-handed ke hama
His armOr rusty and his garments coarse
Sano Zymo is his name:
Find him, and bring him here"
~
10. from far off, amid the silent host
Came Sano with his tottering beast
His heart scare beating, eyes in wonder lost
The old horse trailing at his brdle-rein.
Salute the Shogun bowl" But Sano muttered fain--
This is no Shotgun but reverend priest"
NAY, soul of Nippon" answered Tokiyon low,
"You sheltered from wind and snow.
For me you burned your costly trees in jars,
And pledged your life unto the Shogun's
IT was Tokiyori warmed him in your ROOM
And saw the soul of Nippon in your eyes.
Your stolen lands I soemnly restore,
And ere we march, give to you prlze:-
Reign lord OF Sakurai where cherries bloom,
OF Matsuida where the pine tree grows
And fair Umeda where the plum tree grows.
"sano, Meditash!" HarS, storm Of cheers
'Hojo banza live, lord ten thousand years"
And kneeling spellbound answering through tears
That still would flow
Old Sano falterng said
Great fighting lord until this old gray head
Is laid in earth command my arm, my life.
And shall I swerve.
did but what is law of Bushido-
To give. to love to serve.
Praise be the shogUn!-honored too my wife!"