Volume II Part 49 (2/2)
We went to Yaidzu for about twenty days, and got strong and broas positively black when he returned He learned to swim a little, and was able to cross the river on his back--where it was quite deep;--but the sea was rather too rough for him We found that seventeenseveral pleasant acquaintances
Your good mother writes to us; and all your household seem to be as well and as happy as could be expected,--considering the natural anxieties of the war Even forti of the newspaper-lads, selling extras (_gogwai_) But the people of Tokyo have been very cheerful and brave nobody seen
[Illustration: LAFCADIO HEARN'S GRAVE]
I a, or at latest in summer For this hope, however, I have no foundation beyond the idea that Russia will probably find, before long, that shewith japan The coression; and industrial power, after all, is much n sympathy really exists is with japan In any event Russia ined experiences you reat war between France and Germany, there were never such forces opposed to each other as those thatthat I am able to send a letter to the place of so vast a contest
I shall try to send you so to you--Kazuo in English; Iwao in his native language
May all good fortune be with you is the sincere wish of your friend,
Y KOIZUMI
CONCLUSION
With Mrs Hearn's quaint and tender record of Lafcadio Hearn's last days, his ”Life and Letters” may fitly conclude
About 3 P M Sept 19th, 1904, as I went to his library I found hi to and fro with his hands upon the breast I asked hiot a new sickness”
”What is your new sickness?” Husband: ”The heart-sickness” I: ”You are always over anxious” At once I sent for our doctor Kizaith a jinrikisha furnished with two riksha ht, and ordered to leave hi I advised him to be quiet ”Let”This is a letter addressed to Mr Uood counsel when any difficulty happen to you If any greater pain of this kind comes upon me I shall perhaps die,” he said; and then adht to keep ave ard to the future of children, concluding with the words, ”Could you understand?” Then again he said: ”Never weep if I die Buy for my coffin a little earthen pot of three or four cents worth; bury me in the yard of a little temple in some lonesome quarter Never be sorry
You had better play cards with children Do not inform to others of my departure If any should happen to inquire of erly res Such will never happen” He said: ”This is a serious”It cannot be held,” he kept quiet
A few minutes passed; the pain relaxed ”I would like to take bath,” he said He wanted cold bath; went to the bath-rooe!” he said, ”I am quite well now” He recovered entirely, and asked me: ”Mamma San! Sickness fleay from me Shall I take soood for heart But if you are so fond of it I will offer it to youup the cup, he said: ”I shall no more die” He then told o he had the same experience of pain
He lay down upon the bed then with a book When the doctor arrived at our house, ”What shall I do?” he said Leaving the book, he went out to the parlour, and said ”Pardon one” The doctor found no bad sy followed between them
He was always averse to take medicine or to be attended by a doctor He would never take medicine if I had not been careful; and if I happen to be late in offering hiot” If not engaged in writing, he used to walk in h the corridor So even in the time of sickness he would not like to reladness: ”Mamma San! I am very pleased about this” I asked him what it was ”I wrote this newspaper article: 'Lafcadio Hearn disappeared fro! The world will see o away in secret--I shall become a hermit--in some remote mountain, with you and with Kazuo”
It was a few days before his departure Osaki, a hter of Otokitsu of Yaidzu, found a blosso in one of the branches of cherry-tree in the garden She toldI always told it to hi hly valued For instance, as the following things:--
To-day a young shoot appeared on a arden
Look! an yellow butterfly is flying there
In the ba bamboo-sprout raised its head from the earth
Kazuo found a mound made by ants