He was perched in an old cherry-tree, where with vandal hand he was plucking the blossoms.
“O-o-oo!” exclaimed Plum Blossom. “You ba’ boy! No can pig flower. Tha’s nod ride!”
“Why, father said we were to fill our sleeves—get all we could,” called down Billy.
“Yes, pig from ground,” said Plum Blossom; “never mus’ pig from tree.”
“Billy, you vandal, what are you doing up there?”
Mr. Kurukawa had joined the children in the garden. He, too, was in Japanese dress.
“Why,” said Billy, “you said—”
“Now, my boy, come down.”
Very promptly Billy obeyed.
Taking his step-son by the hand, Mr. Kurukawa taught him a lesson known to all Japanese children.