k
June, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
183
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B y OPAL LEONORE GIBBS Tokyo, Japan
the cupboard. My aunt placed a kotatsu in her bed last night and forgot to remain wakeful to guard it, so a coal jumped out and burned a hole in her bed. She was very repentant about it when uncle reprimanded her this morn ing. I saw also when she went to bring in more soup for breakfast, that her foot was wrapped, so I suppose she burned herself as well, but she did not speak of it. Matsu Chan has a tin bottle in his bed with hot water in it, a thing which I also feign would to purchase, but Uncle would become angry. He often declares heatedly that we are becoming soft and luxurious in our national life. But I do not care about national life so much as the warm bed. The song we did sing at the foreigner’s house echoes in my ear, but still I think I have no sins to speak o f and need not any man to bear them for me. F ebruary 27. Many wrestlers were on the tram today. Mr. McEd- ward and I sat side by side watching them. One huge fel low must weigh, he said, over three hundred pounds. He was like an elephant and sat over as much seat as three o f us. His silk kimono was so fine that I think he is per haps champion wrestler and very rich. He is tall, too, as Mr. Me. I wonder how it feels to have hair long, as wrestlers have, and tied up like women. As we approach to the annual examinations in March, I must study incessantly, and I decided in my heart to absent myself from the Bible class this night. But Mr. Me. talked to me about attendance, and without almost know ing it, I promised him my going. O f course I need not be present for that reason, but still it is interesting and very warm, not only warm for body but for heart, I think. Matsu Chan said also he would go. And so we did finally. The discussion was based on verse 12, in John, first chapter. W e learned further what is faith. The teacher told to us o f his own second birth into this faith, and it was most interesting to hear to. He dis covered God for himself, not in church, but in a field. For
S y n o psis : Jinsaburo Tajima, a young Japanese student who is living with an uncle in Tokyo while he attends college, has been assigned the writing of a 5,000-word English diary for extra credit in an advanced English composition class. In his journal, he tells of his everyday life, of his friendship with another student, Mr. Matsumura, familiarly called Matsu Chan, and of how he meets a foreign teacher who invites him to an evening Bible class. Anxious for a chance to use and improve their English, Jinsaburo and his friend make their way to Mr. McEdward’s home on the appointed night, but they arrive too late for all but refreshments. The following week, they attend again, and out of the reading o f John 1 :3 there arises a discussion of evolution and creation, which extends far into the night. Jinsaburo’s entry for February 13 closes with the words: “I think I am beginning to comprehend Christianity, but my mind inclines so rationally that I cannot believe it.” CHAPTER II F ebruary 19. n letter has come from my mother. Father is not well, and she is troubled because he goes out at night to drink and play. He is an officer in the textile department o f the Imperial Army, and appears so grand in his uniform that I dare say the maids of the licensed quarters think him very splendid. Once when I was visiting at home last sum mer, he wished me to go with him to a tea house, but I re fused stubbornly. When he laughed at me for being an innocent baby, I became angry and silent. My heart ached with the wish that my father did not do so, but no doubt he is as every other man. Nevertheless o f this I am sure, that Christians do not go out thus to play. My brother, Shozo San, is studying hardly for exam inations, and sister Akiko also. Mother says she has frozen her hands and ankles again this year, so they must be wrapped in medicated bandages, but she speaks not o f the pain, bending always diligently over her books. I am glad to have so brave a sister. She is like the plum tree which is now blossomed in Uncle’s garden, and lifts its white faces to the icy wind. There is no snow now, and the roads are frozen like concrete. I go each night to bath to warm my body for sleep. The bed mattresses are very, very cold when I draw them from
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