Untitled

AMONG THE PORCELAIN-MAKERS. 185
" On hearing these words, Ikiu, who still remained with
his face close to the ground, fumbled in the sleeve of his robe,
and produced the fragment of pottery. Holding it above his
r
head, he said, This is! '
(broken).
:? The boy's knowledge and wit so pleased his superior
that he not only forgave the persons who had destroyed his
treasure, but advanced Ikiu several degrees, and ever afterwards
took a great interest in him."
rest.
Mrs. Nambo paused, bowed, and said in her gentle way,
:f
That is the story of Ikiu; what do you think of it?"
tc
I think he was real smart," said Fitz, answering for the
" Here comes our lunch."
When they had partaken of the meal, they
entered their
jin-riki-sha and started for Meguro, en route passing through
quite a rural district, containing rice swamps, in which women,
wading knee deep, were bedding out the young plants.
* What hard work! " said Johnnie.
:?
Just imagine, every
spear of the crop has to be replanted in that way! If our peo-
ple had to raise their bread as yours do they
would starve. I
guess you would not get American women to wade for days in
mud."
" If our people did not do that, they would starve," quietly
answered Oto.
" I do not think it is much worse than cran-
berry picking."
K I never tried the latter," said Johnnie.
right, doctor."
?t
Guess you are
Although each jin-riki-sha was drawn by two men, they
took an hour going to Meguro, on arriving at which place the
party gave their servants money for refreshments and proceeded
to see the irises.
'The valley of Meguro is celebrated for its temples," said
Mrs. Nambo. w I think we ought to go to that of Taku-yaku-