JAPANESE HOME LIFE. it 



though still distant. Was it the distant moan of some far-away 

 tempest among the mountain peaks ? Was it merely the night 

 wind sighing through the lofty pines overhead ? Or could it be 

 the plaintive, liquid melody from the harp of the lost one ? Check- 

 ing his panting, foaming steed, Nakakuni listened intently, and 

 while listening his heart began to beat wildly, for he now recog- 

 nized the music of an old love song, and the magic touch of Kogo's 

 fingers on the koto strings. Led by the guiding music, he soon 

 reached a miserable-looking hut, whence the sounds proceeded. 

 Dismounting at the door of the hut, he proclaimed himself a royal 

 messenger and demanded admittance. 



A voice from within answered that no dweller in so humble a 

 hut was worthy of being the recipient of a message from the em- 

 peror, and that surely he had made some mistake. Not to be put 

 off, however, Nakakuni declared that he had recognized Kogo's 

 music, and that it was for Kogo that he was seeking. Then, in- 

 deed, he was made welcome to the humble abode ; but, after de- 

 livering the emperor's message, the fair Kogo announced her 

 determination to forsake the world forever and live the holy life 

 of a recluse, and begged that Nakakuni would secure the em- 

 peror's pardon for her enforced disobedience to his commands. 

 In vain did the faithful messenger endeavor to alter this deter- 

 mination, and presently the two fell to talking of the happy past 

 at the palace. The Jcoto was brought forth, and Kogo once more 

 sang those well-known love songs, and the harp strings rang again 

 with melody. The moments rolled into hours, and the day was 

 breaking when Nakakuni took leave of the weeping and disconso- 

 late maiden and rode slowly back to the palace alone. 



Sometimes the story is ended here with the conclusion that 

 Kogo became a Buddhist nun and spent her life in ministering to 

 others, self-abnegation, and prayer; but the history of the ro- 

 mance, as set forth in the utai, is kindlier, for the emperor again 

 sent for the sweet musician, who was finally prevailed upon to 

 return to the palace, where she was restored to her former honor- 

 able position in the imperial household. 



In rendering the above in English I have endeavored to retain, 

 as far as possible, the quaintness of the original with which almost 

 every Japanese is familiar. Regarding the purely legendary lore 

 of Japan, this is as a rule most weird and mystical. The large 

 variety of supernatural beings, for the most part of a purely 

 psychical origin, is truly startling ; indeed, it would be difficult to 

 imagine or invent any grewsome form for an apparition that is 

 not already an old inhabitant of Japanese " ghostdom." 



But for " fireside " stories it is, after all, the recital of the un- 

 canny and magical deeds of foxes and badgers that awakens the 



