The peach began to come to her. stopped. So she sang again : "Far waters are bitter, near waters are sweet, Then it The peach rolled nearer, but still she could not reach it. So she sang the third time: "Far waters are bitter, near waters are sweet, Strange to say, the peach rolled right into her hand. "How glad my husband will be!" said she, as she picked it up. She ran all the way home. Her husband was just coming home, so she ran to meet him and showed him the peach. 66 It is wonderful! cried he. Where did you buy it?" "Buy it? I did not buy it." Then she told him the story. "I am hungry," said the husband. eat the peach right now." "Let us So they got out a board on which to cut it. Just then they heard a child's voice, "Wait! Wait!" The peach fell in two and out danced a little boy. Was not this strange? The old man and his wife fell back. "Do not be afraid of me. You have no child. The gods have sent me to you," said the boy. The old people were so happy they could not say one word. They took the tiny little boy and gave him everything that he wished. They called him Peachling, because he had come in the peach. The years went by. brave, handsome man. 66 II Peachling became a fine, One day he came to his father and said, Father, for many years your kindness has been as high as the sky and as deep as the sea. How can I thank you and mother?" "Do not thank us. We have been happy in bringing you up. Besides, when we are old, you will care for us." You may be sure that I shall always care for you both," said Peachling. "Now I wish to go away for a short time." "Go away! Where will you go?" "There are great demons in the north of Japan," said Peachling. "They not only steal gold but they kill many people. They must be put to death." "You were sent to us by the gods, my son," said his father. "I will not stop you. Take care of yourself." The mother gave him some big sweet dumplings to eat on the way. Then the old people told him good-by with tears in their eyes. At noon he sat down to eat one of his dumplings. Suddenly a dog barked at him and showed his teeth. "Bow-wow!" barked the dog. "You have come into my country without asking. Give me your dinner or I will eat you." "Indeed, you will not," said Peachling. "I am going to fight the demons in north Japan. If you come in my way I will kill you." 66 "O, you are Peachling! I did not dream you were he. Pray, let me go with you." "Very well, you may go," said Peachling. "Here is some dumpling for you." "Thank you," barked the dog, and ate it. After they had eaten they went on to find the demons. Suddenly a monkey jumped from a tree and bowed down before them. "Are you not the great Peachling? Pray, let me go with you." So Peachling gave the monkey half of a dumpling and they went on. As they entered the forest a wonderful bird flew before them. "Is this the great Peachling? Pray, let me go with you." So Peachling gave the bird half a dumpling and they went on. Now there was a great gate before the city where the demons lived. There they stopped. Peachling said to the bird, "You have wings. Fly over the gate and see what the demons are doing." The demons were all on top of their houses looking for Peachling. They were red, blue and black. "I come from the great Peachling," said the bird. "Give up at once or you will be put to death." "We can fight as well as you," said the demons. "Come on!" The bird flew down and |