Volume II Part 47 (1/2)

At all events, O Fairy Queen, your gifts have ”faded away”--even as in the Song,--and I a away I do not knohom else I should pray to, for the ious combinations want to preventjournalistic, I iine that it were better to let the

Perhaps I shall be able to leave japan with McDonald (that would be nice!)--but only the Gods knohen _he_ will return Meantiives me much comfort and promises me the fortunes of Aladdin He seems to think I am quite safe and certain But I am exercised about home--that is the chief trouble

Please pardon this fresh appeal,--with all thanks for past kindness, and for those delightful letters

Ever sincerely yours, LAFCADIO HEARN

TO MRS WETMORE

TOKYO, July, 1903

DEAR MRS WETMORE,--Your most kind letter is with me,--and I do not knohat to say to thank you for the extraordinary interest and trouble that you have taken inonly one Fairy-Sister in the world, I should prove to her such a Torment Perhaps I iver--I shall pray to all the Gods to help me thereunto

Please do not worry about that Cornell reat anxiety and trouble when he wrote that letter

You will be glad to hear that I am now much better than when I last wrote to you, and that I have finished h draft To polish them for publication will be at least a year's work, I fear; but I aive a cultured audience a new idea of japan, in large outline

I have to be careful ofby the end of suarden

I cannot write you a pretty letter: I have tried for two days,--but I feel so stupid

What I wantquiet to do Of course, I should like a university of all things,--butis it possible? I have a new book in MS; but as I was expecting to go to America, I did not send it to the publisher It will chiefly consist of ghost-tales

My dear Fairy-Sister, I noriting only to reach you as soon as possible,--to thank you, and to reassure you about myself So please excuse this poor effort, and believe ratefully worshi+pful

LAFCADIO HEARN

TO MRS WETMORE

TOKYO, 1903

DEAR MRS WETMORE,--Your letter froain, with changing vague colours,--like the tints of a fire of wreck-drift rereat deal to think about--not ards another and very dear person

I ahted to read President Jordan's kind words I shall write hi it to you From Johns Hopkins I have a reply, enclosed,--which does not promise much I shall see what can be done there But the Lowell Institute affair prolad to speak at Leland Stanford independently of salary, on the way going or coeer of any and every arrangeious bodies is colossal

Spring would be the best tih the spider-web now spun all around me It would be the best ti handsome shape, towards a volu unfinished before I go Spring again would be the best ti that I can face a down-East winter without so would be the best ti would be the best tihost-stories, and would like to read the proofs here, in japan I think it were i

I have to think seriously about the o to Anifies 2000 yen; hich I can live in japan for two years Then there are the necessary expenses of living To take reat risk Had the japanese Govern to pay me the vacation money they morally owed me (about 5600 yen), I could have done it (They told ht to be satisfied to live on rice, like a japanese) Then Iable to send money hoht But here I can live by my pen Since I was driven out of the university, I have not been obliged to drop even one sen of ht of incessant work; but that danger would exist anywhere, except perhaps in a very hot country And sooner or later the Government o to America with some sense of security would be mental medicine; and any success that I could achieve there would er experience It would mean also an opportunity to enter some society that would protect liberal opinions I have not said oes without saying But I cannot be rash on the money-question, or trust to my luck as in old days To use a japanese expression, ”s to

Anxiety is a poison; and I do not kno much more of it I could stand It was a friend's treachery that broke ainst the pain--only to find my mouth full of blood With a boy on my hands, in a far-away city, and no certainties, I don't know that being brave would serve me much--the bodily machine has been so much strained here

With a clear certainty ahead of being able to s, and return to japan to write more books,--perhaps to receive justice also In a few years h to study abroad