The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-17
LITTLE HARE OF OKI

From the St. Nicholas Magazine.
 Alice lived in New York, but she still had the nurse who had taken care of her when she was a tiny baby in far-away Japan. Nurse wore the picturesque ki- mono and obi of her native land, and looked so different from other people that friends often wondered how Alice could the same the world over. and no one loved Alice better than did her little Japanese nurse
 When papa and mamma were at dinner and Alice and nurse had the library all to themselves till bedtime, the little girl would often pull two chairs up to the fire and say coaxingly:
 There Is just time for a story" And nurse would smile her funny Japanese smile and begin;
 Long. long ago when the great Japa- nese gods ruled from high heaven"--
 This was the beginning Alice liked best, for it meant that fairy tail would fol- low. And nurse would perhaps continue:
 "a little hare lived on the island of Oki. It was a beautiful island, but the hare was not satisfied; he wished to get to manage this but one day he thought of plan Hopping down to the shore, he waited till crocodile came out to sun himself, then opened a conversation with him.
 There are, suppose, many crocodiles in the sea- he began.
 Many, many" the crocodile answered.
 |" Not so many. however, as there are hares on the island of okt returned the little hare.
 Tho crocodiles in the sea outnumber the hares of Oki as the drops in the sea clared the crocodile, in his deepest voice.
 |" It does not seem right for B little bit of a creature like myself to differ with your lordship, said the hare, politely, but I should like to see proof of your state ment.'
 How can we prove it?' the crocodile questioned.
 You can call all your friends and place them from here to the mainland, each with his nose on the tail of the neighbor before him; then I can easily lump from one to the other, counting as [ go
 "The crocodile agreed to this plan, thinking it good one. But how can we count the hares? he asked.
 That we will decide after I have
  gested.
 ''The crocodile was satisfied, and bade the hare come to the same place next morning to do the counting Of course, the little animal was on hand bright and early.
 crocodiles, a floating bridge to the main land.
 ''The little hare lost no time hopping across 1t, you may be sure. As he reached the last crocodile and prepared to jump to shore, his heart was so full of pride at the success of his ruse that he could not resist crying aloud:
 How I have fooled you big creatures. and you have served my needr Then he jumped.
 ''The last crocodile opened his wide laws and closed them again with a snap. The hare was too quick to be caught, but the monsters teeth touched him and tore off most of his fur! As the poor thing limped away crocodile called after him:
 "'You see what happens when you trife with creatures stronger than your selfn
 The little hare did not know much, but he felt that he was learning. He had no heart to explore the beauties of the mainland now, but crawled under a bush by the roadside and wished that some one would tell him how to cure his 
 After some time he heard the noise of many people on the road. He crept out to see what was coming and behbld a crowd of young men, carrying burdens as if they were on journey. They were all tall and handsome. and wore beauti- full clothes fit for princes.
 "One of them spied the little hare and cried: Well, friend, why do you look Sd sad?'
 ''rhe hare, proud of being called friend by this fine gentleman, told hcw he had deceived the crocodiles. The men laughed loudly, ana one or them said. Since you are so clever, 1t Is strange that you do not know the best way to cure your wounds. You should bathe In the salt sea and then climb hill so that the Wind Goddess can blow upon you with her cool breath
 "The little hare thanked the strangers for their advice, and then asked them where they were journeying. They re- piled that they were S1 princes, all wish ing to marry the princess of that coun- try. She was very rich, and the respon- sibility of managing her wealth and king dom was too much for her; so she had given notice that she desired to marry wise and noble prince whom she could trust to rule for her.
 So wealth and power do not always bring content?' the hare questioned.
 "'They would content us!' the eighty princes answered. (Thh eighty-first was not present. He was of kindly and gen. tie disposition. which caused his brothers to laugh at and impose upon him. Today they had given him most of the luggage to carry, so he could not walk as fast as they.) AS they started on the way. one of the princes called to the hare: Good-by! And don't forget to bathe your wounds in tho salt seap And with loud laughter they continued their jour- ney.
 "The little hare did not give himself time to forget. He hurried to the shore and let the waves roll over him. but in-