go hungry.'





Uraschimataro and the Turtle
From the Japanische Marchen und Sagen, von David Brauns (Leipzig:
Wilhelm Friedrich).




There was once a worthy old couple who lived on the coast, and
supported themselves by fishing. They had only one child, a son,
who was their pride and joy, and for his sake they were ready to
work hard all day long, and never felt tired or discontented with
their lot. This son's name was Uraschimataro, which means in
Japanese, 'Son of the island,' and he was a fine well-grown youth
and a good fisherman, minding neither wind nor weather. Not the
bravest sailor in the whole village dared venture so far out to
sea as Uraschimataro, and many a time the neighbours used to
shake their heads and say to his parents, 'If your son goes on
being so rash, one day he will try his luck once too often, and
the waves will end by swallowing him up.' But Uraschimataro paid
no heed to these remarks, and as he was really very clever in
managing a boat, the old people were very seldom anxious about
him.

One beautiful bright morning, as he was hauling his well-filled