home, she was lifted out of it and carried into the house with a great fuss, for it is not lucky to allow the bride to walk in for the first time lest she should touch with her feet certain places, and that would be a bad omen. She was first taken to the Buddha shelf, the family shrine, and to the Shelf of the Gods and other places, to kneel before them and pray to be admitted into the family, and for prosperity to her new home—she still wearing her beautiful new silk dresses and the veil of floss silk over her head. Then she was led to the best room, where a grand feast was spread out, and seated beside Chiyo-taro. They drank wine from the same cup, whilst the friends clapped their hands and congratulated them. She was then led to a side room, and her robes were changed for a beautiful bright-coloured crepe dress and a gold brocade girdle. During the feast her robes were changed several times, to exhibit to admiring friends the extent of her wardrobe, and by the time daylight was dawning every one had feasted so heartily that they Avere nearly all asleep.
This was said to be the grandest wedding known in the forest for many long years. Chiyo-taro was a good, kind, husband, and he and Osuzu were happy and prospered, living to a good old age.
A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.
ONG ago there was a lazy man whom the little children of the village always teased and played pranks upon when they could. One very warm day they found him asleep in the shade, so they twisted up some paper and put the end in his nose; they watched until he awoke, taking care, however, to be at a safe distance.
The tickling of the paper in his nose woke him, and putting his hand up to his face he felt the paper, and started in a great fright shouting out, "Oh! Oh, have I been changed to an ox, tied by the nose, to be a beast of burden; is this a punishment for my sins?"
Though the children laughed, and so did the old people when they heard of it, the lazy man never forgot it, and he was persuaded by the priests of the village temple that it was a warning to him from the great Buddha.
