f a
certain Hatamoto called Sakurai Shozayemon, and changed his name to
Tsunehei. Now this Sakurai Shozayemon had a son, called Shonosuke, a
young man in his seventeenth year, who grew so fond of Tsunehei that
he took him with him wherever he went, and treated him in all ways as
an equal.

When Shonosuke went to the fencing-school Tsunehei would accompany
him, and thus, as he was by nature strong and active, soon became a
good swordsman.

One day, when Shozayemon had gone out, his son Shonosuke said to
Tsunehei--

"You know how fond my father is of playing at football: it must be
great sport. As he has gone out to-day, suppose you and I have a
game?"

"That will be rare sport," answered Tsunehei. "Let us make haste and
play, before my lord comes home."

So the two boys went out into the garden, and began trying to kick the
football; but, lacking skill, do what they would, they could not lift
it from the ground. At last Shonosuke, with a vigorous kick, raised
the football; but, having missed his aim, it went tumbling over the
wall into the next garden, which belonged to one Hikosaka Zempachi, a
teacher of lance exercise, who was known to be a surly, ill-tempered
fellow.

"Oh, dear! what shall we do?" said Shonosuke. "We have lost my
father's football in his absence; and if we go and ask for it back
from that churlish neighbour of ours, we shall only be scolded and
sworn at for our pains."

"Oh, never mind," answered Tsunehei; "I will go and apologize for our
carelessness, and get the football back."

"Well, but then you will be chidden, and I don't want that."

"Never mind me. Little care I for his cross words." So Tsunehei went
to the next-door house to reclaim the ball.

Now it so happened that Zempachi, the surly neighbour, had been
walking in his garden whilst the two youths were playing; and as he
was admiring the beauty of his favourite chrysanthemums, the football
came flying over the wall and struck him full in the face. Zempachi,
not used to anything but flattery and coaxing, flew into a violent
rage at this; and while he was thinking how he would revenge himself
upon any one who might be sent to ask for the lost ball, Tsunehei came
in, and said to one of Zempachi's servants--

"I am sorry to say that in my lord's absence I took his football, and,
in trying to play with it, clumsily kicked it over your wall. I beg
you to excuse my carelessness, and to be so good as to give me back
the ball."