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THE BEGINNING OF ART. 35
and legal status, and they and their children live at
more or less peace with the lawful wife and offspring.
The young folks were talking about what their
father might bring them on his return, which would
be when the first frosts came and the wild geese flew
back from Yezo.
" Just think of it,
"
mother ! said
" Taro, he will
see the European people at Nagasaki, and the big
black ships, and the curious things they make in
Holland and other Western countries. How I should
like to cross the ocean and travel, and see all the
"
wonderful things
!
" What !
my brave boy, leave us all for many
years ? Besides, I am afraid you would not get
enough to eat, for how could you live on their
food?"
There was fun in the mother's eye as she asked
the
question.
"
O mother ' you know I do not any longer believe
what our man-servant Une! used to tell me, that the
Holland men eat worms, toads, and snakes. I used
to think so, but father has taught me better. They
eat meat and bread and vegetables and fruit."
" But, oh ! how they drink i
"
suggested the
mother.
" Yes : Doctor Sano once showed me a big earthenware
cup they call a mug, and another high glass
which they call by the funny name ' tumbler,' and
I thought right away of the Shoji, the scarlet-headed
demons who live near the seashore and swill liquor
and dippers."
out of pails