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Lafcadio Hearn - Kokoro
existence - heirlooms, trinkets, costly robes, crested lacquer-ware - passed cheaply to those whom misery
makes rich, and whose wealth is called by the people Namida no kane, - "the Money of Tears."
Help from the living was scanty, - for most of the samurai-families of kin were in like distress. But when
there was nothing left to sell, - not even Al's little school-books, - help was sought from the dead.
For it was remembered that the father of Al's father had been buried with his sword, the gift of a daimyo;
and that the mountings of the weapon were of gold. So the grave was opened, and the grand hilt of
curious workmanship exchanged for a common one, and the ornaments of the lacquered sheath removed.
But the good blade was not taken, because the warrior might need it. Ai saw his face as he sat erect in the
great red-clay urn which served in lieu of coffin to the samurai of high rank when buried by the ancient
rite. His features were still recognizable after all those years of sepulture; and he seemed to nod a grim
assent to what had been done as his sword was given back to him.
At last the mother of Ai became too weak and ill to work at the loom; and the gold of the dead had been
spent. Ai said: - "Mother, I know there is but one thing now to do. Let me be sold to the dancing-girls."
The mother wept, and made no reply. Ai did not weep, but went out alone.
She remembered that in other days, when banquets were given in her father's house, and dancers served
the wine, a free geisha named Kimika had often caressed her. She went straight to the house of Kimika.
"I want you to buy me," said Ai; - "and I want a great deal of money." Kimika laughed, and petted her,
and made her eat, and heard her story, - which was bravely told, without one tear. "My child," said
Kimika, "I cannot give you a great deal of money; for I have very little. But this I can do: - I can promise
to support your mother. That will be better than to give her much money for you, - because your mother,
my child, has been a great lady, and therefore cannot know how to use money cunningly. Ask your
honored mother to sign the bond, - promising that you will stay with me till you are twenty-four years
old, or until such time as you can pay me back. And what money I can now spare, take home with you as
a free gift."
Thus Ai became a geisha; and Kimika renamed her Kimiko, and kept the pledge to maintain the mother
and the child-sister. The mother died before Kimiko became famous; the little sister was put to school.
Afterwards those things already told came to pass.
The young man who had wanted to die for love of a dancing-girl was worthy of better things. He was an
only son and his parents, wealthy and titled people, were willing to make any sacrifice for him, - even
that of accepting a geisha for daughter-in-law. Moreover they were not altogether displeased with
Kimiko, because of her sympathy for their boy.
Before going away, Kimiko attended the wedding of her young sister, Ume, who had just finished
school. She was good and pretty. Kimiko had made the match, and used her wicked knowledge of men in
making it. She chose a very plain, honest, old-fashioned merchant, - a man who could not have been bad,
even if he tried. Ume did not question the wisdom of her sister's choice, which time proved fortunate.
IV
It was in the period of the fourth moon that Kimiko was carried away to the home prepared for her, - a
place in which to forget all the unpleasant realities of life,-a sort of fairy-palace lost in the charmed
repose of great shadowy silent high-walled gardens. Therein she might have felt as one reborn, by reason
of good deeds, into the realm of Horai. But the spring passed, and the summer came, - and Kimiko
remained simply Kimiko. Three times she had contrived, for reasons unspoken, to put off the
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