THE CHERRY. 



21 



petals from the wild cherry-trees of the adjoining hills fluttered into 

 the wine-cup from which he was drinking. This circumstance is 

 said to have drawn His Majesty's notice to the beauty of this neg- 

 lected blossom, and from this time arose the custom of wine-drink- 

 ing at the time of cherry-viewing. To the present day there is a 



CHERRY BLOSSOMS AT MUKOJIMA, TOKYO. 



popular saying: "Without wine, who can properly enjoy the sight 

 of the cherry blossom?" 



"No man so callous but he heaves a sigh 

 When o'er his head the withered cherry-flowers 

 Come fluttering down. Who knows ? The spring's soft showers . 

 May be but tears shed by the sorrowing sky." Chamberlain. 



