148 ALL ABOARD FOR SUNRISE LANDS.

that is irreverent, superstitious and idolatrous. They are not a rich
people; and yet they have lavished many gifts on their temples.

“ See those poles running through the trees before the gateway! On
festival days, you will see flags and mottoes flapping from those poles,
and wreaths, also. The little houses you notice are occupied by priests.
When the priest is wanted, he comes out, hears the business of his caller,
and, careful to receive his fee, gives the help that may be needed. If
his prayers are wanted, and if it be a Buddhist temple, he may turn
to a prayer-wheel, and set that to revolving.

“Tt is well to notice the accompaniments of a temple. Near it isa
vat, where, with holy water, worshippers may purify themselves. You
can find, also, in the neighborhood, a cup of tea or saké; and conven-
iences for lighting your pipe, if you are a smoker. On great days
you would think you had come to a show.”

When they had taken dinner, on their return from this trip, the
boys reminded the doctor about the promised story, and he began
immediately :

“ Well, once upon a time there was a man, and the man had a wife.
The man was very absent-minded, and so forgot himself at times as to
cut up very queer capers. His wife wanted him to go to a certain
temple, and beg a favor of the god; and like a good, obedient husband,
he promised to go. Of course he must take an offering to the god.
Gods can’t be expected to do things for nothing, especially when they
are made of wood, paper and paint. I think you would have to do
considerable for such a god, to get anything in return. The woman was
thinking what to send. Under the floor of her house was a jar, and
in the jar was a rush-bag, and in the rush-bag was some coin. She
took out a hundred cash and set it aside with a lunch-box for her
husband. In the morning, what did the absent-minded booby do but
leave the lunch-box and take, instead, what they call a pillow: a set