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Read Ebook: A Japanese Blossom by Watanna Onoto Ziegler L W Illustrator
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Ebook has 989 lines and 37572 words, and 20 pages
Plum Blossom put a plump little hand over her sister's mouth.
"Hush! Not even grandmother shall know yet."
Grandmother smiled knowingly.
"And now," said she, "can you say all the big English words--you remember?"
"Yes, yes," cried Iris, excitedly. At once she began to shout in her most sing-song voice:
"How de do! Ver' glad see you two days. Thanzs your healt' is good. Most honorable welcome at Japan. Pray seated be and egscuse the most unworthy house of my fadder."
Plum Blossom was chanting her welcome before Iris had quite finished.
"Mos' glad you cum. Come agin. Happy see you. Come agin. Liddle girl, welcome for sister. Liddle boy, too. Nize bebby! Please I will kees. So!"
She indicated the kiss by putting a little, open mouth against her sister's cheek, leaving a wet spot behind. Iris wiped her cheek carefully with one of her paper handkerchiefs; then as carefully she repowdered the spot where her sister's moist lips had rested.
Ever since their father had been in America, the family had been learning to speak English. Their teacher was a missionary priest, and now, at the end of three years, even the smallest child could speak the language, though imperfectly. In order to obtain fluency, they had made English the spoken language in the family. The speeches of welcome to the step-mother were composed: by the grandmother; the children had learned them like parrots. Madame Sano tapped both of the little girls on the shoulder and caressed them. Clinging to each other's sleeves, off they tripped into the other room, where was the great "secret." The secret consisted of a few articles of American attire, which the little girls had induced a jinrikiman to bring them from Tokio. All of the money Gozo had left behind for them as his parting gift had been expended thus. How the boy's angry heart would have stormed had he known his little sisters had spent his gift for such a purpose!
"Well," said Summer, confidentially, "I will tell you if you will never, never repeat it to my future husband."
"Gozo?"
Summer nodded. "Gozo hates much Otami Ichi," said Summer, with meaning.
Plum Blossom's scorn burst the last string of the corset. It slipped from her as she arose.
Summer giggled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Why not? His honorable father keeps a fine foreign store in Tokio."
It was Plum Blossom's turn to shrug. She undid her obi and tied the corset to her with the sash.
"What do you suppose Taro has been doing?" said Iris.
"Something bad?"
"No, not bad exactly," said Plum Blossom, who disliked her future sister-in-law. "He has been learning jiu-jitsu."
It was Summer's turn to gasp, thus displacing her elaborate headgear.
"What! A baby of ten learn jiu-jitsu?"
"Eleven," corrected Plum Blossom. "His grandfather was samurai. Ver' well. That grandfather's friend teach him jiu-jitsu--a few tricks of jiu-jitsu."
"What for? Will he, too, fight the Russians?" inquired Miss Summer, sarcastically.
"And little Juji," put in Iris, "has a fine present for our dear mother."
"What is it?"
"A bag of peanuts!"
"You must pin it on," suggested Plum Blossom, "for so the fashion-books say. There, take one of your hair-pins." She adjusted the hat back to front on Summer's head, and fixed it firmly in place with a long hair-dagger she took from the girl's coiffure.
Summer found a seat and began to fan herself languidly. "My sleeves feel very heavy to-day," said she.
"Why?"
"They are much weighted," declared Summer; "I carry in them five love-letters."
"Oh! Oh-h! From our Gozo? Why, has he already written to you, Summer?"
"I'll tell you a secret," said Summer, giggling. "No, you must not listen, Iris. You are too young." She whispered into Plum Blossom's ear. Suddenly the latter thrust out her little, plump hands.
"Go away. You are not good girl. Only my brother should write you love-letters!"
Plaintively Summer made a gesture of annoyance.
"I must spend a lifetime with Gozo," said she. "Therefore, is it not better to have a little fun first of all?"
Iris cried out something in a very jeering voice. Summer pretended she did not hear.
"What is that?" cried her sister, excitedly.
"Oh, I know who wrote Summer's love-letters to her."
"Who did?"
"She wrote them herself."
"I did not."
"You did."
"You did, for your cousin told me so."
"Oh, the wicked little fiend!"
"Young ladies," called a maid from below. "Come, come; come quickly. Your father is seen. The jinrikishas! Hurry! Your honorable grandmother wishes you to be at the door to welcome him!"
In a panic the little girls rushed about the room, gathering up their various articles. Then, grasping each other's sleeves, they tripped down the stairs.
WHILE the husband assisted the children and nurse to alight from the jinrikishas, Mrs. Kurukawa the second stood looking about her.
She was a little woman, possibly thirty-five years old. Her face was expressive, showing a somewhat shy and timid nature. Her large, brown eyes had a look of appeal in them as she turned them towards her husband. He smiled reassuringly and put an affectionate hand upon her arm. Immediately her momentary restraint and fear left her.
"Is this the famous Plum Blossom Avenue?" she asked, indicating the budding trees under which they now passed, and which served as an exquisite pathway through the garden.
"This is Plum Blossom Avenue," replied her husband, "and as you see, I keep my promise. You know I cabled to Japan to have the plum blossoms all in bud for us when we should arrive."
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