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it
8
Published by
T. HASEGAWA,
17 Kami Negishi, Tokyo, Japan.
MOW0 WEOOJNG,
LONG time ago there was a
A white mouse called Kane-
mochi, servant of Daikoku, the
God of Wealth. His wife's name
was Onaga. Both Kanemochi and
his wife were very discreet. Never
in the day time nor even at night
did they venture into the
parlor
or kitchen, and so
they lived in
tranquility free from danger of
meeting the cat. Their only son
Fukutaro also was of a gentle
disposition. When he was old
enough to take a wife, his parents
concluded to get him one, transfer
their property to him, and seek
retirement. Fortunately, one of
their relatives named Chudayu had
Hatsuka.
a lovely daughter called
Accordingly a go-between
was employed to\ enter into
negotiations
with Chudayu
respecting
the marriage. When the young
folks were allowed to see each
other, neither party objected,
and
so presents were exchanged.
f
The bridegroom sent the bride
the usual articles: an obi or belt,
silk dried bonito, dried
cotton,
cuttle fish, white flax, seaweed,
and safe or rice wine. The
bride sent the bridegroom in like
manner: a linen kami-shimo, dried
bonito, dried cuttle-fish, white
j
flax, sea-weed, fish, and sdke\
thus confirming the marriage
promise.
A lucky day was then chosen,
and thing prepared for
every
the bride's removal to her new
home, her clothes were cut out
and made, and needed articles
purchased. So Chudayu was
busy preparing for the
kept
wedding.
The parents made their daugh-
Hatsuka blacken her teeth
ter
as a sign that she would
not marry a second husband;
they also her
carefully taught
that she must obey her husband,
be dutiful to her father-in-law,
and love her mother-in-law,
Kanemochi on his part cleaned
up his house inside and out,
made preparation for the marriage
ceremony and feast, assembled his
relatives and friends, and sent out
many of his servants to meet the
bride on her way, and to give
notice of her approach, that
all be prepared for her
might
reception.
Soon the bride came in her
palanquin
with her boxes carried
a long
train of at-
tendants following
her. Kanemochi went out
as far as the
gate
'
-'!*-* . ,-A;
'f#v**
to meet her, and ushered her into
the parlor.
At a signal from the go-between
the bride and bridegroom, to con-
firm the marriage bond, exchanged
between themselves three cups of
sake, drinking three times from
each cup in turns.
mM When this
ceremony,
the "three
times three" was ended, the guests
bride
exchanged cups with the
in token of good will, and thus
the union was consum-mated.
afterwards the bride,
Shortly
her husband, and his parents
visited her home. In the evening
bride returned home with
the
with
her husband and his parents
whom she lived in harmony,
contented, prosperous
and happy,
and much to be congratulated.
I
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
