"My heart is greatly joyous over so many blossoms," answered the little girl. "It has grown so big that I would feel better if it should take itself to the godown and leave me without it."
"Foolish Umé!" said her mother, but she smiled at the child's fancy.
"The joy began to grow with the first pink buds," Umé went on, "and now that all the cherry trees everywhere are in blossom,--in our garden, in Tei's garden, and in all the gardens; along the streets and river banks, and in all the parks, my heart is bursting with gladness."
"When hearts feel that way," said her mother, "it is because they wish to offer thanks to the gods. We will all go to the temple to-day and leave a gift, and then we will go to the beautiful Ueno Park, where there will be many others who feel the way that you do in their hearts."
"It is the way we Japanese always feel when the cherry trees hang out their pink garlands," said Umé's father.
Tara was bouncing a ball in the garden and heard this talk about the cherry blossoms.
"Wait until my festival," he said, "and then you will see what it is really like to feel gladness."
"Your festival," said Umé, "and pray what may your honorable festival be?"
"The fish-tree festival is the one I like," answered Tara, and he gave his ball a great toss into the air.
Umé looked puzzled for a moment, then she cried, "Oh, he means the Flag Festival!"