New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
TWO MOTHERS
BY ADACHI KINNOSUKE

you smiling at Izo or just at your little funny monkey
thoughts, which, eh!"
The baby had come to them a month-just
month to a day-before the official announcement OF
the annexation of Korea. So her birthday was pretty
close to the birth date of Greater Nippon. And Baby
Sister like child of FateSo her parents loved to de-
clare-came to them on the outermost frontier Line Of
the expanding Empire. To Charmed Life and his good
wife it was the most wonderful thing that ever hap
pened
"The meal is on the table, Husband the wife called
aByby. BABY Sister" said the man, pattng her
chubby hand gently; with fear and trembling in fact
if afraid that his clumsy, bear touch would surely
break the baby. "Byby, Baby
CHARMED LIFE sat down to his evening meal, and
~ beamed and beamed at the steam curling up from
the rice The warm all comforting, almost motherly
perfume Of radishes and dried mackerel made him
drunk as heady wine. meal-even rude pioneers
evening meal on the Korean fronter-was thing Of
art to Charmed Life he enjoyed the poetry OF it. Did
not his wife prepare it? Who said that she not
artist to the very edge of her pink fngertips?
"Blessed-oh thrice blessed be the hands OF woman
chanted he piousy, smiling his big boy smile, "which
can put a halo a sardlnes head!
And his young wife laughed at him, the silver laugh
of a woman beloved and thoroughly happy.
81 suppose you are making your gosspy acquaintance
with the Korean tigers now" said he loosely. "Arent
you a little afraid at night all alone here
"Oh not Bit said she, still smiling. "Why should
be-"
"Thats right he declared putting out his chest, and
he declaimed in a round full throated voice Why in
deed should you be afraid you the august daughter OF
a Senda Sanurai!" After which oratorical effort he
said "Degn to pour me out another cup of tea. 1t
warns me up like mothers hug. It's good, Wife.
And need it tonight to keep awake. No sleep last
night you know.
SHORTLY afterward Charmed Life returned to his
~ post at the door Of the prison shack and his TREND
with his left arm in the sling ambed away, now quite
snothered in misty night back to his own cabin And
the great silence Of the forest all about the clearing be-
gan to chant its eternal hymns to the stars
At first Charmed Life paced back and forth IN front
of the entrance for the autumn night frosty but
soon he became weary Of it. He leaned against the
side Of the doorway-vey lightly at first and then with
out knowing it himself rather heavily. Once he took
searching look at the interior OF the PRISON cabin AT
one corner a lamp fighting duel with us own
smoke forgetting light the world over the prison-
ers peace and childke sleep No temple bells tollcd
off the midnight; but the Sarit face OF the night ne
read its coming and its passing
"Ah said he to himself, stamping his feet vigorously.
al falling asleep at my post! soldier sentinel asleep
on duty" He smiled to himself 1t was funny TO MN;
how absurdv impossible the very thought OF was TO
be surel He began again his pacing back ana lor,n.
But no one could walk all night. lie came back 70 his
old doorpoS and leaned against It, ya"niig.
SUDDENLY he found himself sailing "oer the gold
~ of the sundown seas under pregnant Sail-aS IN
the fairy book Of the blessed childhood days. "Very
srangci' thought Charmed Life. WAS not stand
ing guard at the door Of the prison cabin?' But the
vessel was ccaving the seas 50 Splendldly that ne