The mouse's wedding

r" GRIFFITH FARRAW & Co., LONDON A

TOE

:S3E9S

||| LONG time ago there was a

white mouse called Kane-

•

mochi, servant of Daikoku, tlie
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

a lovely daughter called Hatsuka.
Accordingly a go-between
was employed
to enter into
negotiations

n

with

Chudayu
respecting
the

marriage.

When the young folks

were allowed to see each other,

neither party objected, and so

presents were exchanged.

The bridegroom sent the bride
the usual articles:

-

• ' x

an obi or belt, silk cotton,
dried bonito, dried cuttle fish,
white flax, sea-weed, and sake
or rice wine. The bride sent
the bridegroom in like manner:

a linen kami-shimo, dried bonito,
dried cuttle-fish, white flax,
sea-weed, fish, and sake;
thus confirming the marriage
promise.

A lucky day was then chosen,
and every thing prepared for
the bride's removal to her new
home, her clothes were cut out
and made, and needed articles
purchased. So Chudayu was
kept busy preparing for the
wedding.

The parents made their
daughter Hatsuka blacken her
teeth as a sign that she would
not marry a second husband;
they also carefully taught her

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 might be prepared for her
reception.

Soon the bride ,;^

came

in her pal-
anquin with her
boxes carried before her>
and a long train
of

attendants
following her.

Kanemochi went out as far as
the gate to meet her, and ushered
her into the parlor.

At a signal from the go-between
the bride and bridegroom, to
confirm the marriage bond, ex-
changed between themselves three
cups of sake,
drinking
three times
from

each cup
in turns.

When this ceremony,
the " three times three"
was ended, the guests
exchanged cups with

the bride in
token of good
will, and thus
the union
was consum-
mated.

Shortly afterwards the bride,
her husband, and his parents
visited her home. In the evening
the bride returned home with
her husband and his parents with
whom she lived in harmony,
contented, prosperous and happy,
and much to be congratulated.

The Kobunsha'a
Japanese Fairy Tale Series.

1. Momotaro or Little Peachling.

2. The Tongue Cut Sparrow.

3. The Battle of the Monkey and

the Crab. v

4. The Old Man whV made the

Dead Trees Blossom.

5. Kachi-Kuchi Mountain.

6. The Mouse's Wedding.

7. The Old Man and the Devila.
a Uroshima, the Fisher-Boy.

9. The Eight-Headed Serpent.

10. The Mateuyaroa Mirror.

11. The Hare of Inaba.

12. The Cub's Triumph.

13. The Silly Jelly-Fish.

14. The Princes, Fire-flash and

Fire-fade.

15. My Lord Bag-O'-Rice.

16. The Wooden Bovrl.