Kotto: Being Japanese Curios, with Sundry Cobwebs

SIR EDWIN ARNOLD
GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
KIND WORDS
The following nine tales have been selected from the Shin-Chomon-Shū Hyaku Monogatari, Uji-Jūi-Monogatari-Shō, and other old Japanese books, to illustrate some strange beliefs. They are only Curios.
Near the village of Kurosaka, in the province of Hōki, there is a waterfall called Yurei-Daki, or The Cascade of Ghosts. Why it is so called I do not know. Near the foot of the fall there is a small Shintō shrine of the god of the locality, whom the people name Taki-Daimyōjin; and in front of the shrine is a little wooden money-box— saisen-bako —to receive the offerings of believers. And there is a story about that money-box.
One icy winter's evening, thirty-five years ago, the women and girls employed at a certain asa-toriba , or hemp-factory, in Kurosaka, gathered around the big brazier in the spinning-room after their day's work had been done. Then they amused themselves by telling ghost-stories. By the time that a dozen stories had been told, most of the gathering felt uncomfortable; and a girl cried out, just to heighten the pleasure of fear, Only think of going this night, all by one's self, to the Yurei-Daki! The suggestion provoked a general scream, followed by nervous bursts of laughter.... I'll give all the hemp I spun to-day, mockingly said one of the party, to the person who goes! So will I, exclaimed another. And I, said a third. All of us, affirmed a fourth.... Then from among the spinners stood up one Yasumoto O-Katsu, the wife of a carpenter;—she had her only son, a boy of two years old, snugly wrapped up and asleep upon her back. Listen, said O-Katsu; if you will all really agree to make over to me all the hemp spun to-day, I will go to the Yurei-Daki. Her proposal was received with cries of astonishment and of defiance. But after having been several times repeated, it was seriously taken. Each of the spinners in turn agreed to give up her share of the day's work to O-Katsu, providing that O-Katsu should go to the Yurei-Daki. But how are we to know if she really goes there? a sharp voice asked. Why, let her bring back the money-box of the god, answered an old woman whom the spinners called Obaa-San, the Grandmother; that will be proof enough. I'll bring it, cried O-Katsu. And out she darted into the street, with her sleeping boy upon her back.