Little Sister Snow Part 6

You say you stay ten days. It is too short, but it far more better is than half night. Oh, I wish so bad I did not wake up from dream!

I was tearful with much disappoint, then I remember that day you go to big 'Merica you call back "G.o.d bless you, Yuki San," and with my heart I make one soft prayer to Christians' G.o.d.

When big temple bell wake me up and all birds, my troublesome was more light, and I make so big breakfast for my father and my mother, my pocket began to tell the loneliness, and I could not perform all my wishes.

When I write these letters Merrit San is far away at sea on the way of his home. He will have joyful time. I wish I can see her, that girl with the laugh in her eyes. Wonder how she thinks of j.a.pan. Perhaps she would think how small and lonely country and people. One girl in that j.a.panese country very sad with lonely.

But Merrit San say: "Yuki San, you _good girl_, you be good wife." So I make the try to put my lonely heart to sleep.

_Fifth Entry_

Time and days goes too fast as running water. Already old month went away and new one have come. It is time for us to do last work on many clothes for new home.

When j.a.panese girl marry with man she take much goods to his house.

To-day my father bring what 'Merican call bureau, and many work-box and trays and much fine _futon_ for to sleep on floor with. Next day after this many mens will come and travel all things to other house.

j.a.panese girl wear fine kimono long, long time, and keep for more little girl. Merrit San say 'Merican girl wear fine kimono one time, then she no more like.

Then 'Merican girl have much happy in her heart. 'Merican man come to girl's house to marry with her. She no afraid to speak the word of love, though man's mother sit next by him. She no 'fraid of laugh. She has the joyful of life.

j.a.panese girl very happy when she very little girl, or very, very old.

But when she goes to man's house to marry with him, she must always be the quiet of little mice and more busy than honey-bee. Very bad. But j.a.panese girl have the much brave, and holds the happy in her heart when she brings the comforts to her peoples.

Merrit San say many more big country than j.a.pan in world. I say, "What is world? I wish I know world like you!" Merrit San stop the laugh and his voice grow still with quiet, then he say:

"Ah, Yuki San, little snow-girl like you should not know the world.

Cuddle in your little nest and be content."

What is content? It is the don't care of anything but the flower-garden in my heart. Wonder if girl with laugh in her eyes have the content? This day I take walk by seas. Last time I take walk so many peoples come with us. I make into j.a.panese words all Merrit San's funny speaks. We have the much laugh: Merrit San try the eat with chop-sticks.

To-day little boat what we ride the water in was broke by its nose and many seas was eating it up. Loud cold wind make pine-trees s.h.i.+very and sad. Big gray cloud come down and make all black with sorrowful.

Sometimes little white waves jump up and dance, but the joyful of last happy day stings my heart.

_Sixth Entry_

More long time go running slowly by since you have left us, and as I was thinking of that running and those days and longing for you and my heart getting down in lonely thoughts, _Yubin_ San bring me those package what you sent, Merrit San, and it made me very glad and happy.

Hardly can I tell what was in my heart then. Before I can open it I hold it tightly against my breast and kept silence a little while.

Tears of sorrow changed into the great joy for a moment when I see your name and your hand of write. I feel as if I receive a new life right in this minute, and I caught a light of hope in yonder. My heartful joy and gladness will not express, and I wish I can go up in high place and shout out and tell all people the joyful of beautiful love. How it make the change in whole earth and life and give the dance of heart. But I will not. Mens and women of j.a.panese country have not the understand of such lovely thing, and make the shameful of me. So I give silence to my lips and close the door of my heart. Ah, what funny little thing that heart is! In one half live the joyful.

Other side have all the painful of life, and when the love come sometimes he knock at wrong door and give the hurtful ache to life.

Ah, Merrit San, you give many thankfuls for the lend of my house in your letter. I give the love of you many more thankfuls for coming to my heart, even he knock at two doors. One day me and Merrit San went down to temple where big feast was. Merrit San go inside and look long long time at Buddha, then he say:

"Yuki San, what will this old gentleman do to you if you disobey him?"

I give little think, then I say, "I no can know--I no never disobey.

Buddha say, 'Yuki, take care father and mother all time.' I take care.

Him say, 'Yuki, you woman--you not talk too much.' I no talk much.

Then him say, 'Yuki, come many time to temple and make light with incense and put little money every time in box.' I give obey and much _go rin_, but Buddha keep all and never give back." Before I finish my speak Merrit San s.h.i.+ver like cold and say, "Come on, Yuki San, let's get out of here and find the sun." Outside I make cherry-wreath while Merrit San tell me story. Him very sweet day--now all gone forever.

_Seventh Entry_

Last fine kimono is finished and all baggage is tied. Next day I go to other house.

Then my mother will give all house much sweep with new broom, to tell G.o.ds I go 'way no more to come back. Maybe they make big fire by gate to tell all peoples I belong to other house now. Ah, little book, to-night I make big fire in my heart and burn all my wickeds in it. Next day I make more fire and burn you. To other house I must go all white and purely as Merrit San say.

Ah, Merrit San, you the one big happy in all my life and I never forget all your kindful. You give me the good heart, like sun make flower-bud unclose. You telled me what is soul and purely, and you say be very good wife.

One night when moon was big and round and red and river outside wall go spank, spank, you call all my people to garden, and with the 'Merican _samisen_ you sing much songs.

Sometimes you very funny, but sometimes when moon specks slip through big pine-tree, I see you very sadful.

Now moon speck come on _shoji_ and ache my eyes to look your face once more.

I try so much to make picture of man's face I marry with. I no can see anything but much medals on coat, and so many teeths. Merrit San's eyes all blue and twinkly, and face so white and clean.

But now he make the joyful with girl with laugh in her eyes, and her feet no touch the ground with much happy.

To-morrow I go to other house and no belong to my father and mother.

To-day I go temple, and I make promise I no more speak of Merrit San's name; no more the think of his face in my heart.

Little book, I weared you close to my breast many days. To-night I sleep with you tight to my heart. You gived me the courage to turn my face to the rising sun of the to-morrow.

_Sayonara._

CHAPTER VII

The low, deep music of a temple bell rolled down the hillside and echoed through the giant cryptomerias. It stirred to action the creatures of the early dawn and pa.s.sed out with infinite sweetness to the red-rimmed east of another day.

The priests in the old temples chanted their prayers with weird monotony, while a single bird poured out his morning song of love at the door of his mate.

The old stone steps leading from temple to temple would have looked as they had a thousand other mornings, gray, grim, and mossy, save for a little figure that slowly took its way up a long and crooked flight.

Yuki San was on her way to make good her promise to the G.o.ds. Her wooden shoes clicked sharply in the quiet morning air, then hushed as she paused for rest on a broad step. Even the exertion of the long climb had failed to color her white cheeks, but her lips were carmine and her eyes luminous with purpose.

The one spot of color about her otherwise sober little figure was a bright-red _furos.h.i.+ke_ held close, in which something was carefully wrapped.

A noisy waterfall leaped past her down the hillside in a perpetual challenge to race to the foot. Stern-faced images, grim of aspect, stared at her as she climbed, but Yuki San kept gravely on her way until she reached the open door of the great silent temple.

The faint light of the early morning had scarce penetrated the shadows that clung about the gorgeous hangings and rich symbols of this ancient place of wors.h.i.+p. A white-robed priest, oblivious to all save his own meditations, paid little heed to the childlike figure as it knelt before the cold, calm, unchanging image of the great Buddha.

For a moment Yuki San moved her lips. Still kneeling, she drew from her sash the red _furos.h.i.+ke_ and took from it a small morocco note-book.

With light steps she crossed to a brazier, and with a pair of small tongs lifted from it a glowing coal. With steady fingers she pushed aside the many sticks of incense in the great bra.s.s vessel before the shrine, and making a little grave among the ashes, she laid within the burning coal the little book.

The blue smoke, rising slowly, hung for a moment above the girl's head as a halo, then rose to the feet of Buddha as in supplication for mercy, and was finally lost in the darkness of the heavy roof.

The girl watched with wide eyes and parted lips. Clasping her hands, she lifted her face and from her heart came a fervent, whispered prayer.