from her girdle. The boys placed the little frightened animal in her lap and ran away, pleased to be so rich. The cub felt the touch of her soft hand, and trembled no longer. She loosened carefully the knot and noose and string. She stroked the red fur smooth again, and bound up the little bleeding leg. She offered it rice and fish to eat, but the black eyes plainly said, "This is very nice, but I hear my parents grieving near yonder bean straw stack. I long to go and comfort them." She set the little fox gently on the ground, and, forgetting its wounded leg, it leaped through the bushes at one happy bound. The two old foxes gravely looked it over neck and breast. They licked it from its bushy tail to its smooth, brown crown. Then, sitting up on their haunches, they gave two sharp barks of gratitude. That was their way of saying, "We send you thanks, sweet maid." As she walked home by the riverside, all the world seemed more beautiful to O Haru San. * * * * * * * The summer time came and the blossoms upon the cherry trees became rich, ripe fruit. But there was no joy in the emperor's house. His daughter, the gentle O Haru San, was ill. She grew paler and weaker each day. Physicians came from far and near, and shook their wise heads gravely. When the emperor's magician saw her, he said, "No one can heal such sickness. A charm falls upon her every night which steals away her strength. He alone can break the spell, who, with sleepless eyes, can watch beside her bedside until sunrise." Gray-haired nurses sat by her until morning, but a deep sleep fell upon them at midnight. Next fourscore maidens of the court, who loved her well, kept bright lights burning all night, yet they, too, fell asleep. Five counselors of state watched with her father at the bedside. Though they propped their eyes open with their fingers, yet in the middle of the night slumber overcame them. All believed that the gentle maid must die. The emperor was in despair, but Ito, a brave soldier, said, "I shall not sleep; let me one night guard the sweet O Haru San." Her father led him to the chamber. Just at midnight Ito felt his eyes grow heavy. He rose and held his sword above his head. "Rather will I die than sleep," he said. Then came a great struggle. Often his head nodded, but by his love and strength Ito conquered sleep. Suddenly he heard a voice which said, "Grate foxes' livers in the princess' rice broth and all her ills will disappear." The next morning the hunters searched far and near for foxes. They knew that to the emperor a fox was worth its weight in gold. All day and night they were in the woods without food or rest. At last they came sadly back to their homes. They brought no fox. "All the foxes know," they said, "and have hidden themselves away." The emperor in 

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