The Cairo bulletin., 1908-01-26
THE
JAPANESE PAPER.
(L0uise Jamison }

sweet little maidens, named y Ume
and 0 Mono
They We're sisters, and when they
were scarcely 10 years old they mar.
rled two brothers, and, as all Japanese
wives must do, they went 10 live Win
their mother-m-law.
Here they would have been perfect
ly happy IL their new home had been
nearer their old one, but 1t was far
away. And they could not see their
family or friends.
1--WE will make our honorable moth.
er-in.law to let us visit our old home,
said 0 Tine. E8
SO, together they went, and bowling
very low, they said.
Most honorable mother, it has
been long since we have seen our old
friends We pray you, therefore, TO
let dis visit Them
But the mother was selfish, and
wished them to stay with her, SO she
answered:
You may not 60 yet, o Ume, and q
MomuR aF
Q Time and Mono said no more.
but bowling politely they went away.
But when several months had pass
ed they asked again to visit their
old home, and again their mother-in-
law said:
Wait yet longer"
"They love me not" she told her
self, OR they would not wish TO leave
me-
Nov, when o Ume and Q Mono
came 10 asr the third time, bowling as
politely any asking their favor as
sweetly as before, .she could no longer
refuse, Asv,
You may so If you wlshN, she sa'u,
'and You may stay for three Enolo
months, but you must not return IN.
less You, o Time, bring me fire wrap.
ped in paper, and vow 0 Mono, bring
me wind wrapped in paper.
Now" she thought to herself, 4
will surely test them If they truly \
love me they viii search far and near
'or the paper that will hold fire and
Wind
So Q Time and Q Mono went away,
Ind were very happy for three whole
months. AT last II was nearly time
o return 10 their husbands and their
We must not forget our gifts said
ume, for without them we can
lever go back"
SO they asked their friends where
hey might find paper that would car
y fire and wind.
There Is no such paper" was the
nswer Fire would burn any paper
nd wind would blow II away"
Then the two young wives asked |
wise man.
There IL no such paper in all Ia
an" he told them.
At this they We're sorely troubled
OF all The wise men they asked the
anne question:
where. oh great one, may we find
ne paper that viii carry fire and
ind?"
And always the answer was: There
no such paper in all Japan
Then, with sorrowful hearts, they
II their friends and wandered far
to the forest They scarcely knew
here they walked. but soon the night
ine on and il grew dark
They felt SO sad and lonely that
ey sat down on the soft moss and
led bitterly
Alas" sighed 0 Ume, "if we might
Ily find that wonderful paper.
"lf we only might, O Mono repeat
!. with little sob.
Presently soft voice asked. why
ievest thou, o Time and o Momo?"
And o Time and o Mono looked up
wonder They could see no one.
Nay. thou can'st not see me" said
@ voice. but | am thy friend so
eak thy trouble and fear not. Why
st thou weep?"
How can We help weeping?" an /,
erred q Tine. Unless | find that Z
per that will carry fire. and O Mono
ads paper that viii carry wind. we /,
mot go back to our husbands or
r mother-in-aw again Yet we love
EN- much Everywhere we have
srched. but we have not found this =
paper And the wise men \
y there is none such in Japan" .
Those that are wiser than they r
ow this paper" spoke the voice r
ow. watch"
Then the strangest thing in all the
rid happened right before their
IS.
l piece OF paper appeared on the
'und and folded itself into a. lap (
,se lantern
Now put.u lfsbtse esnals fhsFaa.~
4 the voice. and thou shalt have
yer holding fire" A
hen o Tine was happy. but o No
still sad. .,
SIGH not. dear o Mono begged
tender hearted o Tine The =
r voice will help you, too"
II is even easier 10 carry wind in \
'er than to carry fire. the voice an
'red. for wind does not burn holes, q
=