Our temple was the nearest to the sea of the row on Temple street, which I referred to in the earlier portion of this sketch5. The head-priest was an amiable6, gentle person, very learned they say, though giving no indication of being such. He did his duty, to be sure, in sermons, but never cared much to distinguish himself in eloquence7; he would rather read or entertain visitors in the quiet of his tastefully upholstered zashiki (guest room), sipping8 the excellent Uji tea and viewing the artistic9 beds of chrysanthemum10 laid out with great formality. He cultivated exquisite11 flowers; the slender stems bent12 under the large flaunting13 heads, and the priest-gardener took pity and provided them with firm props14; he was as attached to them as a father to his children. If a storm by night passed over them and he discovered them in the morning sagged15, matted, and drenched16 with rain, his compassion17 knew no bounds.
It must be confessed that at times his fine taste shaded into squeamishness; he could not help being captious18 about his servitor's slipshod management of business, and yet extremely averse20 was he to giving his own opinion utterance21, always turning aside in silent disgust. He suffered little children, however, nay22, loved them; he took quite a fancy to me, calling me pet names, gladdening me on my visits with goodies and a bunch of chrysanthemum flowers from his garden, and always sending me home safely by a boy-priest. This last, found vegetating23 in almost every temple, is a young lad of poor parentage sent thither24 to be taken care of out of charity. The specimen25 I found here was a poor boy, hence happy; he was sure of dinner now and more full of fun than well became his cloth.
Once he frightened me half to death. It happened in this way: I accompanied some one of my relatives to our family burying ground in the temple yard, on the eve of the annual memorial day for the dead, when every family sends a delegate to the tombs and invites the spirits home. The delegate delivers the oral message with profound respect and formality, bowing low to the ground before the ancestral tombstones as in an august presence. Then he turns about and asks the invisible to get on his back, secures him with both hands behind and gravely walks homeward. At home, in the yard on a bed of sand taken from the sea-shore a fire is built of flax stems, according to religious custom. This is called the "reception fire." The spirits are next requested to alight carefully at the high home altar so as not to bruise27 their shanks. In Japan each house has a sacred closet wherein are enshrined images, ancestral tablets, charms and amulets28, where cake and oranges, flowers and incense29 are offered, and before which the family commemorate30 the days of their ancestors' death. This elevated place is called the "Buddha's shelf." Let me remark here that the Eastern people are regardful of their dead; they do not slight them because they are dead. Revile31 as you may and wrongly call it "ancestor worship," the spirit that prompts the act is entirely32 praiseworthy. Besides the closet, the tops of cabinet, cupboard and similar pieces of household furniture are turned into the depositories of Shinto relics33 and paper gods. These "gods' shelves" are, too, carefully served with such offerings as salt fish, saké, and light in the evening.
But I am wandering from the main narrative34; my talk too often gallops35 into minor36 tracks unbridled. As I commenced the narration37, I was stooping before the resting places of my grandfather (of whose quiet departure from our hearth38, by the bye, I haven't told you), of my grandmother and of my sister who passed on before I had ever thought of appearing. Regarding the last two relatives of mine, having never seen them in life, I was in the habit of asking a heap of questions in the tiresome39 inquisitiveness40 of children. My mother deigned41 to tell me, especially in a reminiscent mood, a great deal concerning them, without minding my sisters, who took occasion to upbraid42 me merrily on this, my singular ignorance, in face of my other positive assertion that I had witnessed my mother's wedding. Dear mamma's stories, interesting as they are, touching43 as they do not a little on the pleasures, fashions and general social regime of Old Japan, I feel obliged to omit. For the present, I must go on with my own story.
I was stooping, I say, before the tombs, all about being silent and gloomy; my young animated44 imagination dwelling45 not on my grandfather's goodness but on old wives' awful tales of graveyards46 and dark nights, pale apparitions47 and grinning skeletons; and my whole being surcharged with fear, requiring but the shrill48 wind to make my hair stand on end, and ready to start at my own shadow, when suddenly there came a moan from behind the adjoining slabs49, and a moment later a ghost shot up with a wild shriek50. I drew back involuntarily and caught my breath, so did my companion. Then the ghost shook its gaunt sides and burst out laughing in ghoulish delight. We were taken aback, but soon rallied courage sufficiently51 to peer at the merry spook. How provoking! The young priest stood on one of the tombstones, with the broad sleeve of his monkish52 habiliment over his face. He came down to us quickly, wearing a mischievous53 smile, passed over the whole thing as a huge jest, putting in a slight excuse for causing our undue54 alarm, and politely offered his service in carrying the flowers and water-pail. His words and manners smoothed away our ruffled55 temper and rendered a scolding impossible; a few more hours made it look too slight to report to the head-priest. In the main the young priest had the best of us; he earned what he liked better than a good dinner,—some capital fun.
And in this connection, here comes bounding toward me in my remembrance our pet dog Gem19. I will relate how he came to be so closely associated in my thought with the grave; it is a sad, good story. My young brother, who had a boy's fondness for animal pets in an eminent56 degree, got him from another boy whose dog had a litter of several puppies. When my brother brought him home in his arms, Gem was but a mass of tender flesh covered over with soft down; he had just been weaned; consequently by night he yelped57, and cried piteously for his mother, under the piazza58 where my brother shielded him from the paternal59 eye. My father was not a great lover of pets: the cat he could not bear for her soft-voiced, velvet-pawed deceitfulness; the dog for his belligerent60, deep-mouthed barks at strangers and for fear of his becoming mad in summer time; and the canary bird—poor thing—it was too bad that people should deprive it of its native freedom.
We had our doubts, therefore, how Gem and papa were to get along. However, we were not without a ray of hope that in time they would come to be good friends, for papa had once shown that he did not altogether lack the love of dumb animals. It was when I began to love the little white and spotted61 mice penned in a box with a glass front and a wheel within. My father suffered them to be kept in the house out of his love for me; gradually his curiosity was awakened62 to take a look occasionally at what his son exhibited such absorbing interest in; next he became a keen admirer of my little revelers,—their gambols63, their assiduous turning of the wheel, their cunning way of holding rice grains, and their house-keeping in a wad of cotton in the drawer beneath, to which they could descend64 by a hole in the floor of the box. After a while I grew negligent65 about them, and then it was my father who fed them and took care of them.
On the whole, he bade fair to come to a better understanding with our precious Gem. Nevertheless, Gem—or rather my young brother—had trouble with him during his canine66 minority. When the puppy had grown big, true to our prophecy, my father began to show his just appreciation67 of him. Gem would sit beside him on his hind26 legs at meal times and watch intently the movements of the chopsticks, with his head inclined on one side one moment and on the other the next, letting out an occasional faint guttural cooing by way of imploring68 a morsel69. Should there haply fall from the table an unexpected gift, say a sardine's head, Gem with the utmost alacrity70 would pick it up and occupy himself for a few minutes, then, licking his chops and wagging his tail, he would turn up to my father a gaze at once thankful for what was given and hopeful for more. Little Gem took a fancy to grandpa, and when the children were away at school, he would pay him a visit and pitpat into his room unceremoniously, like one of the grandchildren, when the old gentleman was dozing71 over the past at the kotatsu (fire-place). This Gem of ours had an idea that it was rude to surprise one in his meditation72, and thought it proper to stop short a few yards from grandpa and utter one of his gutturals, as much as to say, "How do you do, grandpa?" Whereat our good, old grandpa was obliged to break off to receive his fourfooted visitor cordially.
A time came when grandpa was no more, and a perfect stillness settled on our home. Dear little Gem could ill comprehend what all the house meant and went about as happily and innocently as before: he had now his playmates all day at home. His conduct caused us to think how glad we should be to know no grief, and to such a place we felt sure must our grandpa have gone. Early every morning for the first week or two somebody from the house repaired to the church-yard to see that things were right and to put up prayers; once or twice Gem was taken along for company, and since then he counted it his duty to attend us to the temple. My father and I would get up some morning on this errand, and no sooner had we appeared at the gate than Gem uncurled from his comfortable sleeping posture73, rose and shook his hair and looked his "I am ready." He generally paced before us, but frequently tarried behind to salute74 his dog-neighbor with a good morning. Sometimes he would course sportively away from our sight; we whistled loud without any response; but knowing he could find his way back, we gave up the search and hastened to the temple. Upon our arrival, before grandpa's stone sat a little dog looking out on the alert. Gem received us in the capacity of host and conducted us to the grave, saying as plainly as ever dog said, "Don't you see? I know the way."
One morning we rose to find our Gem gone. Inquiries75 revealed him lying at a short distance from the gate, with his fur dyed in his own life-blood. He was dead! Whether a prowling, ferocious76 animal had fallen on him in the night, or a cruel human brute77 had inflicted78 the wounds without just cause, we could not ascertain79. My young brother took Gem's cruel death to heart; my father, too, felt deeply the sad fate of the now-to-him priceless pet. And here naturally ends the story of our dog.
In our temple, as well as in those of all other denominations80, the birthday of the great common teacher Shaka (Gautama) is observed. It falls on the eighth, I think, of April; the observance is simple and quiet except for the distribution of ubuyu. In the East, when a child is born the midwife immediately plunges81 it in a tub of warm water. This water is called ubuyu or first bath. On the eighth of April, in every temple a bronze basin is placed before the altar; in the center of the basin stands a bronze image of the Infant Shaka; his attitude is much like that of the Boy Christ pictured in the illustrated82 Bibles and the Sunday-school cards as teaching a group of the scribes. The myth relates a marvelous account of his rising upright in the bath-tub and telling his astonished parents and old midwife whence he came, pointing to heaven, and what his mission on earth was. His exact words are recorded in the Buddhist's scriptures83.
The bronze vessel84 is filled with a decoction of a certain dried herb whose taste resembles liquorice. The drink is popularly known as the "sweet tea." The worshiper pours the liquid over the idol85 with a small dipper and then sips86 a little of the same, mumbling87 some devotional words.
The excitement of the day consists in the children's running to the temples, during the early part of the morning, with bottles for the sweet tea or the ubuyu, as it is called in this instance. In the temple kitchen the cook has boiled gallons and gallons of it, and from the dawn that functionary88 is prepared for the hubbub89 and the hard task of dispensing90 it expeditiously91 to the throng92. As the holiday comes in the same season of the year as Easter, the floral decoration of the temples are beautiful; the bronze roof above the basin and image is always artistically93 covered over with a quantity of a native flower named gengé, which the botanist94 may classify under the genus Trifolium, if I may trust my early observation. The flowers literally95 color the fields pink in the spring.
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1
irrelevant
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| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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3
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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7
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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8
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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chrysanthemum
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| n.菊，菊花 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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12
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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flaunting
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| adj.招摇的，扬扬得意的，夸耀的v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的现在分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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props
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| 小道具； 支柱( prop的名词复数 )； 支持者； 道具； （橄榄球中的）支柱前锋 | |
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15
sagged
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| 下垂的 | |
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drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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18
captious
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| adj.难讨好的，吹毛求疵的 | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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23
vegetating
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| v.过单调呆板的生活( vegetate的现在分词 )；植物似地生长；（瘤、疣等）长大 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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amulets
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| n.护身符( amulet的名词复数 ) | |
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incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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commemorate
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| vt.纪念，庆祝 | |
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revile
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| v.辱骂，谩骂 | |
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32
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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gallops
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| （马等）奔驰，骑马奔驰( gallop的名词复数 ) | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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38
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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inquisitiveness
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| 好奇，求知欲 | |
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41
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
upbraid
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| v.斥责，责骂，责备 | |
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43
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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44
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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46
graveyards
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| 墓地( graveyard的名词复数 )； 垃圾场； 废物堆积处； 收容所 | |
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47
apparitions
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| n.特异景象( apparition的名词复数 )；幽灵；鬼；（特异景象等的）出现 | |
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48
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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49
slabs
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| n.厚板，平板，厚片( slab的名词复数 )；厚胶片 | |
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50
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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51
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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52
monkish
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| adj.僧侣的，修道士的，禁欲的 | |
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53
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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54
undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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55
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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56
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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57
yelped
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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59
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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60
belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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62
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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63
gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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64
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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65
negligent
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| adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的 | |
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canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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67
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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70
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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71
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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72
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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74
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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75
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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76
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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77
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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78
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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80
denominations
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| n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称 | |
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81
plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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82
illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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83
scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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84
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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85
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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86
sips
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| n.小口喝，一小口的量( sip的名词复数 )v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的第三人称单数 ) | |
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87
mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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88
functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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89
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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90
dispensing
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| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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91
expeditiously
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| adv.迅速地，敏捷地 | |
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92
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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93
artistically
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| adv.艺术性地 | |
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94
botanist
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| n.植物学家 | |
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95
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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