A Japanese Story

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 February 1930, Page 17

A Japanese Story

“HOW THE JELLYFISH LOST HIS BONES” Once upon u time the queen of the fishes was very sick. None of the royal doctors could cure her. At last a very wise old doctor was called in and he examined the queen. “There is only one thing that will cure her majesty,” lie said. “What is that?” cried all the courtiers together. “The liver of a live monkey,” he replied. At first all the other doctors laughed at this, but when they isaw the queen was not getting any better, they decided to try this strange prescription. Thus they called all the fish together and drew lots as to who was to get a live monkey. The lot fell on the jelly-fish, who in those days still had his bones, and was quite a strong fish. After making his few preparations, therefore, he set off on his strange! quest. He swam and swam and swam fox* five days and then lie came in sight of an island. When lie came near the shore lie saw many monkeys up in the -ti-ees on the island. So he called out! to a big monkey that was eating a: nut: “Mr Monkey, would you like to’ go to a place where there are plenty ofnuts and fruit?”

“Yes, I would,’’ replied the monkey. “Well, jump on my back and I will take you to a place I know of,” said the jelly-fish. The monkey then slid down the tree and jumped on to the back of the jelly-fish and they started on their j long journey. After the jelly-fish had | been swimming for four days lie sud-. denly said, “Mr Monkey, have you got i a liver?” “Why, yes,” said the! monkey, “why do you ask?” “Well, I you see,” said the jellyfish, “the! queen of the fishes is very sick and the i doctor said she must have the liver of a live money to make her better again. ’ ’

“Oh, why didn’t you tell me that before, ’ ’ said the monkey. ‘‘As a matter of fact, I have two livers, but I left them on the island. It has been very wet lately and I bung them on a tree to dry. ’ ’ “I suppose the onß* thing to do then, is to go back again, ’ ’ said the poor jelly-fish.

So he turned round and swam wearily back to the island again. When they got near to the shore the monkey sprang up a nearby tree and said, “I’m very sorry, Mr Jellyfish, but I only have one liver and I want it myself. ’ ’ Thereupon the jellyfish swam home again and told his story. The other fish were so angry that they took sticks and beat tlie jellyfish to a plup. And that is bow the jellyfish lost all his bones.