ys, pray loose the little fox. See his parents weeping in the rocks."

The boys shook their heads.

"We shall sell the fox's skin," they said. "The liver, too, if well
powdered, will be used to cure fevers in the fall."

"Listen," cried O Haru San, "It is springtime, and everything rejoices.
How can you kill such a small soft beast?

"See, here is twice your price; take it all," and she drew copper money
and silver money from her girdle.

The boys placed the little frightened animal in her lap and ran away,
pleased to be so rich.

The cub felt the touch of her soft hand, and trembled no longer. She
loosened carefully the knot and noose and string.

She stroked the red fur smooth again, and bound up the little bleeding
leg. She offered it rice and fish to eat, but the black eyes plainly
said, "This is very nice, but I hear my parents grieving near yonder
beanstraw stack. I long to go and comfort them."

She set the little fox gently on the ground, and, forgetting its wounded
leg, it leaped through the bushes at one happy bound.

The two old foxes gravely looked it over neck and breast.

They licked it from its bushy tail to its smooth, brown crown. Then,
sitting up on their haunches, they gave two sharp barks of gratitude.

That was their way of saying, "We send you thanks, sweet maid."

As she walked home by the river side, all the world seemed more
beautiful to O Haru San.

* * * * *

The summer time came and the blossoms upon the cherry trees became rich,
ripe fruit. But there was no joy in the emperor's house.

His daughter, the gentle O Haru San, was ill. She grew paler and weaker
each day. Physicians came from far and near, and shook their wise heads
gravely.

When the emperor's magician saw her, he said, "No one can heal such
sickness. A charm falls upon her every night which steals away her
strength. He alone can break the spell, who, with sleepless eyes, can
watch beside her bedside until sunrise."

Gray haired nurses sat by her until morning, but a deep sleep fell upon
them at midnight.

Next fourscore maidens of the court, who loved her well, kept bright
lights burning all the night, yet they, too, fell asleep.

Five counselors of state watched with her father at the bedside. Though
they propped their eyes open with their fingers, yet in the middle of
the night slumber overcame them.

All believed that the gentle maid must die.

The emperor was in despai