There are represented the old wars, the
old feuds, the struggle of Daimio against Daimio--in short, the history of
old Japan. When an actor gave pleasure, the audience flung their hats on
the stage. These were collected by an attendant, and kept until the owners
redeemed them by giving a present. For six hours O Hara San and Taro sat
in their little box, laughing, shouting, eating, and drinking, while the
play went on. Then it was over, for it was only a short play, at a cheap
theatre. "Ah!" said their father, "when I was a boy we had real plays. We
used to rise early and be in the theatre by six o'clock in the morning.
There we would stay enjoying ourselves until eleven at night. But now the
decree of the Government is that no play shall last more than nine hours.
It is too little!"
The children quite agreed with him as they helped their grandmother to
gather the pots and pans and dishes which were scattered about their box.
Then each took the wooden ticket which would secure the shoes which they
had left outside with the attendants, and went slowly from the theatre.
When they had obtained their shoes and put them on, Miss Blossom and Master
Eldest Son strolled slowly homewards through the fair. They had not another
rin to spend--their farthing's worth of fun was over.
CHAPTER XIII
KITE-FLYING
About a fortnight after the fair, on a fine windy afternoon, there was a
holiday, and Taro, with his father and his younger brother Ito, turned
out to fly kites.
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