Mr. Bamboo _and the_ Honorable Little God

 A Christmas Story

 _Fannie C. Macaulay_ _Author of "The Lady of The Decoration"_

 _By Courtesy of_ _The Century Publishing Company_ _to_ _Louisville Kindergarten Alumnae Club_

MR. BAMBOO AND THE HONORABLE LITTLE GOD

During sundry long and lonely evenings in a Japanese mission school, a young native teacher sought to while away the hours for a homesickexile. She was girlish and fair, with the soft voice and gentle, indescribable charm characteristic of the women of her race. Her taleswere of the kindergarten, happenings in her life and the lives ofothers, and I have sought to set them down as she told them to me inher quaint, broken English. But they miss the earnest eyes and dramaticgestures of the little story-teller as she sat in the glow of thehibachi fire, with a background of paper doors, with shadow picturesof pine-trees and bamboo etched by the moonlight, the far-off song ofa nightingale, and the air sweet with incense from nearby shrines. 

He wear name of Tãke Nishimura, which in English say' Mr. Bamboo of theWest Village. He most funny little boy in my kindergarten class. But hehave such sweet heart. It all time speaking out nice thoughtfuls throughhis big round eyes, which no seem like Japanese eyes of long and narrow. 

His so much slim of body make him look like baby. But his mama say' hebeen here four years. She nice lady and loving mother. One more thingwhy that child's most funny small enfant. He have papa who is greatgeneral of war, with big spirit. Tãke Chan fixed idea in his head he'sjust same kind big warrior man. He use same walk and the same commandof speak. 

This time I relate you about was most Christmas-time. I tell story tochildren of long time ago, when big star say to all worlds Christ babylay in manger, and I say soon we celebrate joyful day in kindergarten. That little Tãke Chan never hear 'bout it before, and he get look inhis face same as John boy in picture what always have crooked stickin his hand, and he speak this word: "A new God? Will He be our gueston feast-day?"

We learn song 'bout star and cradle and 'gain he speak his thought. He say: "What is cradle, Sensei? I know 'bout star. Every night at myhonorable home I open shoji to see old priest strike bell and make himsing. Then I see big star hang out light over topmost of mountain. " Onemore time he say, like thinking to himself: "Cradle. Maybe him shrinefor new God of foreign country. "

I know English for long time, but Japanese childs never know cradle. It have not come to this land. 

Christmas-story was telled many times, for children like to hear aboutit. When I say this time, on that day we get pine-tree and dress himup with many gifts, Tãke Chan clap his hands and say: "Banzai! We makeoffering of tree to new God. "

Sometimes many troubles press my mind how I make childs know muchdifference of real God, which he never see, and those wooden-stones wesee all time with burning of lights before them and leaves of bambooand pine. 

We work very hard all days before morning of Christmas-tree, but not onechild in whole class could make things such fast as Tãke Chan. His handsso small they look 'most like bird-foots hopping round quick in flowergarden when he construct ornaments of bright color. Sometimes he havelook of tired in his face, and bad coughs take his throat. For which, if I did not know 'bout Christmas-story and all other many things likethat, I would have a thought that fox spirit was industrious to enterhis body. 

Then I mention, "Go play in garden", for I know well how he have likeof play in lovely garden of his home, where, with body of bare, he racebig dragon-flies what paint the summer air all gold and blue. But TãkeChan makes the laughs for me when looks so firmly and say: "No. I havethe busy to make ready for honorable guest coming on feast-day ofChristman. " All times he not singing he talk 'bout what big welcome wegive to new God. 

Ah, that little boy! I can no' make him have the right understand';but he walk right into my heart, and give me the joyful of love andmuch sad. 

No, I never forget that Christmas day. It makes of my mind a canvas andpaints pictures on it what will never wash away nor burn. 

In morning, sun 'most so slow climbing over mountain as snail creepingup Fuji. He get big surprise when his eye come into kindergarten windowand find me very busy for a long time. 

All teachers have many works, and very soon they turn their playroominto lovely feast-place. Paper flowers and ornaments which childrensbuild with hands, and red berries they bring from forest, haveexpression same as growing from walls and windows. Same thought as allteachers to give the happy to glad Christmas-day. Many Japanese childsis just getting news of this birthday. 

Quick we put piano where it can sing best, chairs all in circle. Bigspot in middle for tree, which comes at very last from that other room. 

While I work postman bring long box from foreign country, which oneteacher open. It had gift for kindergarten. It was such beautiful thing. Many childrens never see same as this before. All teachers give quickdecide to make secret of present, and put on Christmas-tree as bigsurprise. 

In very middle of most happy time by opening box, idea arrive in mymind. Wonder if those coughs permission Tãke Chan to come kindergartenthat day? One desire knock very loud at my heart for that little Bambooboy to know rightly 'bout Christ-child. I know for surely. Once I go toforeign country, and my life have experience of seventeen. But Japanesechild of now must see God and everything. 

Then glad thought come. If Tãke Chan do not make absence this day, hisown eye will tell him trulier than stiff speech of tongue that cradle isnot shrine, and Christ child not blazon image of wooden stone, but greatspirit of invisible which have much love for childrens. I learn thosewords out of book, but meaning come out my own heart, which I have thedifficult to give childs. 

Beginning time for morning march grow very near. Him not come, and theanxious so restless my body I run to big gate and view round and up. 

Narrow street which walk by kindergarten house most lovely picture thanall other countries of universe. It have many trimmings of flags andbanners for greeting soon coming of New-Year. Even old plum-trees havehappy to break pink flowers out full, and lay on gray roof to look atbright sun. The big love of my heart for this Japanese country make meso delightful I have little forget 'bout late of Tãke Chan till I hearspank of many feet on hard earth. I look, and see one of those pictureswhich never melt off my mind. That sound of feet belong' to soldierscompany, and so quick they stop in long line and hold all hands to hatfor salute, I think maybe Oyama San coming. I give piercing look, and myeyes see marching straight by those big mens a speck of blue all trimmedwith gold braid. It was Tãke Chan. Same war clothes as his papa, evensame number stripes on his sleeve, and twelve inch' of sword on hisside, which make song on heel of shoe when they walk. Father's twosoldiers servants walk close behind Tãke Chan, and in smiles. Everybodyknow that little boy, and everybody love his earnest. I have severalfeelings when he walk up to me and say: "New guest have he come? I makeready to welcome with new clothes. "

Ah, me! I have the yearn to convey the right understand'; but he look soglad to give the welcome, and his war clothes so grand, the feeble fellon my heart. I not give correction. 

One servant say: "Last night Tãke Chan very sick with evil spirit cough. Mama say rest at home, but he say this great feast-day for new God. He must for certain come and offer pine-tree and have song and march. "I hurry away with Tãke Chan, and take seat on circle of kindergarten room. A feel of anxious press' hard. First we have grand parade, and thatlittle soldier boy in blue in front of all children have atmosphere samehe was marching before emperor. My keen of eye see all time he havefight with swallow in his throat. After march come song 'bout cradle andstar, but big cough catch Tãke Chan in middle, and when the strangle hadleft and tears of hot had wipe way, he heard childrens saying amen toprayer. His red lip have little shake, for he have great pride to saythat prayer faster than any childs. He have hospitable of soul, too. But Tãke Chan son of great general of war, and he never cry, even thoughmuch disappoint' come to his mind. I was hunting speech to give him thecomfort of heart when children give sound with mouth like storm breezehurrying through leaves. I look. Where door of other room always livedwas most beautiful Christmas-tree of any world, all light with flamingcandles and gold and silver balls. On very tip-most top the lovely bigsurprise from foreign country. It wore dress of spangly stars and white. Big brown eyes and hair like rice-straw when sun shines through it. It held out welcome arms. Every move of tree give sway to body. I knowtrulier, but surely, it have look of real life. Teacher rolled treeto middle of room in bare spot, which made glad to have it. Childrenlaughed and clapped hands happy of that day, and call' many funnysayings. I forget the anxious in my happy of that day, and turn withglad eye on Tãke Chan. Bamboo boy. Never I see such wonderful thingas the glory. First he see only it, and give low tight whisper, "TheOffering. " His eye fly to tip of top. He lean' way over like his bodybreak with eager. Joyful speech come with long sigh, "Ah--the guesthe is come!" For one minute room very still, and just same as fairygive him enchantment Tãke Chan rose from floor till he come right undertree. Other childrens make such merries. They have thought it play. But all sounds and peoples passes away from my vision. Nothing leftbut picture of one small blue soldier looking up through blazon flamesof Christmas-tree to shining thing above. His cheeks so full of red withfighting cough, eyes so bright with wet of tears, he fold his handsfor prayer, and soft like pigeon talking with mate he speak: "O mostHonorable Little God! How splendid! You are real; come live with me. Inmy garden I am a soldier; I'll show you the dragon-flies and the river. Please will you come?" My heart have pause of beat. I think fever giveTãke Chan's mind delirious. Quick I uncement my feet from floor to go tohim. "Tahke Chan, " I say with lovely voice, "that is not a God nor evenimage. Listen: it's only a big foreign doll which postman bring thismorning as great surprise from America. Teacher put it up high so allchilds could see it. Look what kindergarten give you--most beautifulkite, like dragon-fly you love more better. Come rest in your chair. We sing. "

Ah, that little play soldier! Door of his ear all shut to my every speakof love. He just stand with eyes uplift' and plead: "Please come playwith me. I know your song 'bout cradle and star. And I can march. See. "But his body rock from each side to other. Then I press my arms roundand whisper with much tender: "I bring doll home with you. " He look 'wayup high on Christmas-tree, then he leave his conscious in kindergartenroom. 

Me and two soldier servants convey Tãke Chan and foreign doll to hishome. I stay in honorable house with them. One day go by, and 'nothernight come. Sick boy's mama have look of ivory lady as she rest hertired, and maid girl make tea. I watch by side of bed on floor. Big achein heart clutch' me when I look round room and see blue soldier's suithang' near. It have look of empty and lonely, dragon-fly kite in cornerhave broken wing. But when I bring gaze back Tãke Chan, loveliest sightof all visit me. That little child reach out and find hand of foreigndoll. He hold very tight, and give it look of love. Such heaven lightcome on his face! I suspend my breath and listen to his low speech whichcome in broken pieces: "You are my Tomidachi. Do not go; I soon be wellI come play in your garden. Dragon-flies--cradle--star--Ah, LittleGod--you grow so big!"

Something made me open shoji quick. Old priest make bell sing. Lovelystar hangs its light over mountain. All things have great stillness. Noteven leaf tremble in white moonlight. Strange feel hold me. Then I knowTãke Chan have gone to play in Christ-child's garden. 

Ah, me! Tears of my heart are many for that little Bamboo. But I havethe joyful too; Now he have the right understand'.