The Japanese Twins [22]
than Taro. They had great round mouths and round eyes. A string was fastened to their mouths. "There's one fish for Taro and one for Bot'Chan," said the Father. "We have two boys in our house." He tied the fish to the pole. The wind filled the great round mouths and soon away up in the air the two fish were bobbing and blowing about just as if they were alive! There was a bamboo pole with one or two--and sometimes three or four--fish on it before every house in the street! "My! how many boys there are in the world!" Take said; "more than I can count!" The street was as gay as a great flower-garden. There were not only fish flags; there was the flag of Japan, with a great round red disk on it. And there was the flag of the navy, which was a great round red sun like the other, only with red rays around it, and there were banners of all colors waving in the breeze. "Why are the fish flags all made just like the carp in the pond at the Temple?" asked Take. "Because the carp is such a plucky fish," the Father answered. "He isn't a lazy fish that only wants to swim downstream, the easy way. He swims up the rivers and jumps up the falls. That's the way we want our Japanese boys to be. Their lives must be brave and strong, like the carp." "And clean and bright like the sword, too?" Taro said. "Yes," said his Father. "I'm glad you remember about the sword." When the fish flags were bobbing about in the air, the Father and children went back into the house. There were the steps in the side of the room again, just where they were when Take had her birthday. And Taro had his dolls, too. They were not like Take's. They were soldier dolls, enough for a whole army. Taro set them up in rows, as if they were marching! There were General dolls, and officers on horseback, and bands. There were even two nurses, following after the procession. There were toy guns, and ever and ever so many flags all in a row. Taro was so excited he could hardly eat any breakfast! As soon as he had finished, he sprang up from his cushion. He almost upset his table, he was in such a hurry. He put on a play uniform like a soldier. And he had a wooden sword! "There's going to be a war!" he said to Take. "Where?" asked Take; "can I see it?" "It's going to be in the street. I'm the General," said Taro. "Oh, how I wish I could be a General," cried Take. But Taro never even heard her. He was already on his way to join his regiment. In a few minutes Take heard the "rap- a-tap, tap! rap-a-tap, tap!" of a drum. "They're coming! They're coming!" she called to her Mother and Father. The Mother rolled Bot'Chan on to her back. Take took her Father's hand. They all ran to the gate to see the procession. The servants came out, too, and last of all Grannie. They gave Grannie the best place to see. Soon around the corner came the procession. First marched a color-bearer with the big Japanese flag. Then came Taro. He looked very proud and straight, walking all alone at the head of the procession. He was the General because he had a sword! All the boys carried flags. They kept step like little soldiers. "Oh, doesn't Taro look beautiful?" said Take. She climbed up on the gate-post. She waved a little flag with all her might, but Taro never looked round. He just marched straight along. Just then "rub-a-dub-dub" came the sound of another drum. Around the next corner came another army of little boys. They carried flags, too. They marched straight toward Taro's army. "Now the war is coming! Now the war is coming!" shouted Take. All at once Taro's soldiers began to run. The other soldiers ran, too. They ran straight toward each other and tried to get each others' flags. Take saw Taro wave his sword. "On, soldiers, on!" he shouted. Then there was a great mix-up of boys and flags. It seemed like a bundle of waving arms and legs and banners. Every boy was shouting at the top of his voice. Take climbed right on top of the gate- post, she was so excited. She stood up on it and waved her arms! "Look at that child," cried the Mother. "She'll fall." Take was dancing for joy. "There they come!