she promised to help him. Chiyo-suke was sorry his son had not made a grander match, but, as there was nothing to be said against the character of Osuzu and her family, he, with a little coaxing, consented.
The next thing to be done was to find some elderly woman, who was intimate with both families and a good match-maker, to act as a gobetween in such cases, and who was smart and clever in finding out everybody's business. Now there is rarely much trouble in finding out such a one, for, if they manage well, they are sure to receive nice presents from all parties, and they generally try hard to earn them. Dressing herself in her best clothes, and asking that one of Chiyo-suke's maidservants might attend upon her to make a little more show, the match-maker paid a visit to Osuzu's family. The good folk guessed the object of the visit to be an offer of marriage for their daughter, but as in duty bound, according to olden custom, they cleverly avoided appearing to know it, and evaded every attempt to bring round the chat to that subject. After many pipes of tobacco had been whiffed, and tiny cups of tea sipped, they at length admitted that Osuzu was not as yet betrothed, but they were in no hurry, there was plenty of time, and her pretty face and cleverness would get her a rich husband by-and-by. The match-maker hinted that Chyo-suke's son would be a very good match. He was rich, handsome, and clever, not any worse than other young men, and so forth. She pressed her point, and finally obtained the consent of Osuzu's friends to return to Chiyo-suke and arrange for a formal meeting of the two families.
Elated with her success, she commenced in earnest, and the result was that in a few days the middlemen or witnesses were appointed. The bridal gifts were chosen by the bridegroom, amongst other things a beautiful girdle, a bundle of white fibre, fish, wine, &c.
In return the bride's family sent him a complete dress of ceremony, wine, &c, and on the day of the wedding her bridal outfit would be sent to her future home.
A lucky day was now chosen for Osuzu to leave her old home, to go to her future one. Chiyo-taro's friends and neighbours met at his house on the evening of the happy day with their paper lanterns, which they lighted to go to meet the bride and her friends.
When the chair in which Osuzu was carried arrived at her new
