SON-OF-A-PEACH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 261, 3 November 1928, Page 23 (Supplement)

SON-OF-A-PEACH.

There was once a poor old Japanese couple who suffered greatly from want, for they had not strength and health enough to do much work. Often they wished foir sons and daughters who would have helped them. One day the old woman was washing clothes in the stream when she saw an immense peach floating towards her. She drew it in, delighted to think what a good meal it would make her husband, for it was nearly as big as a melon. However, the fruit burst open, and there lay a lovely little child. The old woman's joy knew no bounds, for she saw that Heaven had taken pity on them and sent this child to comfort their old age. The old man was equally rejoiced, and called the newcomer Son-of-a-Peach. He grew ten times faster than other children, end every tree he touched seemed to bear ten times as much fruit. The poor little garden flourished like a king's when he began to tend it. One day he said to his father, when his mother was not near: "I have heard of an island not far from the mainland where a band of goblins live. They make raids on the country and carry off children. They plunder and kill. I should like to go and fight these wicked monsters." The old man's heart sank at the thought of losing his son, but he said to himself: "He was sent by Heaven, and perhaps it is Heaven's .will that he should deliver people from the goblins. I have no right to hold him back." So he gave Son-of-a-Peach permission to go, and some money for the journey. It was not much; the boy spent it all on provisions, and set off on foot. At the end of the first day's journey he sat down in a wood to eat his supper. A big dog jumped out of the undergrowth, and said:— "If you don't give me food I will tear you to pieces! lam starving." "If you threaten me," replied the boy calmly, "you shan't have a crumb, but if you ask civilly I shall be pleased to give you half my ration."

"Please, honourable sir," said the dog, with a bow, "give a~ hungry fellow a cake and tell him where you are going."

When Son-of-a-Peach told him what he proposed to do the dog said:—

"That's an adventure after my own heart. Let me come as your squire." _ Son-of-a-Peach agreed, and they slept side by side. At the end of the second day' 3 journey, as they were talking of their plans, a monkey dropped out of the tree above. The dog sprang at him, but Son-of-a-Peach pulled him off, and the monkey cried that he had heard their conversation and wanted to enlist in the expedition. Soon after a pheasant flew down to pick up the crumbs of their supper. The dog flew at him and pulled out two tail feathers before the boy could catch him. The pheasant sprang to the boy'a shoulder, and said pleadingly:— "Let me come with you too. I shall not eat half so much as your other companions, and I can show you a short cut to the island." So next day the boy and his three retainers arrived at the shore. Quite close they could see the lovely island and the fortress of the goblins. First of all Son-of-a-Peach went to the nearest village and asked for the loan of a boat and a sword. Seeing hia strange company, the people thought he must be something supernatural and dared not refuse. They soon rowed off, and landed on the goblin island. After hiding their boat in a cave they advanced cautiously. Presently they heard weeping, and saw two lovely maidens washing linen in a stream. Son-of-a-Peach did not dare to speak to them in case they should be startled and cry out, so the pheasant fluttered up and whispered gently: "Why are you weeping, maidens ?" "Once we lived in palaces," one replied, "but now we are slaves *--o the four demons who live in that fort. We shall never see our homes again. Perhaps they will kill us soon." "I and my comrades," said the pheasant importantly, "have come to deliver you. Tell us how it would be best to attack your wicked masters?" "Ckjme to the fort at dusk," said the maiden, "when the demons are sleepy with wine and food. We will open the side door for you. Pray Heaven you do not fail, for if you do I shall have to make a pie of you, and it will break my heart to do that." "We are invincible, never fear," said the pheasant, and returned to his friends. The four lay in hiding until dusk. They saw lights in the fort, and heard music. One of the slaves was playing to the demons. The door was ajar. In they rushed. The dog sprang at one demon's throat, the ape strangled another, Son-of-a-Peach cut off the head of a third, and the pheasant pecked at another one's eyes, so that he was helpless, and the boy soon killed that monster too.

The castle was full of treasure, which Son-of-a-Peach gave to his old parents. He took the maidens home to their royal father, who made the four rescuers noblemen. Then for the rest of their days they wandered about Japan slaying monsters and helping the weak, till eveiy one of them was as famous as Jack the Giant Killer. But the dog never quite got over his jealousy.