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shape," answered Kimura.
AT A FAN-MAKER'S. 141
" Many a warrior lias had the
thread of his existence cut short with one of those things." o
"
Boys," said Oto, " are you aware that it is past one
o'clock? We had better go to the temple of Temman-gu."
They all thanked Mr. Kimura, who, collecting his family,
accompanied his visitors to the porch and bade them farewell,
saying,
"It is, only a few paces from here to the Shin-ji no ike.
Your visit has rilled my soul with the greatest pleasure, and, as
long as I live, I shall not forget the happiness of this hour.
Never, in all my life, have I been thus honored."
They returned his compliments, in Japanese fashion, and
left him and his family bowing and crying, ^Saionara"
"
Follow me," said Oto.
"
I know the way, for I have often
been to this place with my honorable mother."
Upon arriving at the temple they passed through the main
gate and saw a great number of people looking at the wistarias,
the blooms of which hung in long fronds, and were exceedingly
beautiful.
The trees grew all round the pond and were supported by
trellis-work that, in some places, overhung the water.
" " How beautiful those flowers are," said Sallie. Many of
the bunches must be over a yard in length."
"Yes, they are lovely," said Johnnie, in a thoughtful tone,
"still I admire our wistaria quite as much as these,
the fronds
being shorter and the flowers closer together. What do you
Fitz ? "
say,
"Why, there are fishes in that pond," murmured the boy,
"and tortoises. Jemmy! wouldn't I like to have a hook and
line! Flowers are very elegant, but I like fun. I
whether the bozu would sell any of the kame"
* You have tortoises on the brain," said Sallie.
wonder
"
I feel
very tired ; had we not better be going home ? "