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17, KAMI NCGISHI, TOKYO,




The Wonderful TeaKetBo*



A LONG long time ago, at
the temple of Morinji, in
the province of Kotsuke there lived
* an old priest

This old priest was very fond of
the ceremonial preparing and drink-
ing of tea known as Chanoyu;



indeed, it was his chief interest
and pleasure in life to conduct
this ceremony.

One day he chanced to find in a
second hand shop a very nice look-
ing old tea-kettle, which he bought
and took home with him, highly
pleased by its fine shape and artistic
appearance.

Next day he brought out his new
purchase, and sat for a long time
turning it round on this side and
on that, and admiring it.

a You are a regular Beauty,
that's what you are," he said, "I



shall invite all my friends to the
Chanoyu, and how astonished they
will be at finding such an exqui-
site kettle as this!"







He placed his treasure on the top
of a box where he could see it to
the best advantage, and sat admir-
ing it and planning how he should
invite his guests. After a while
he became drowsy and began to
nod, and at last fell forward, his
head on his desk, fast asleep.

Then a wonderful transformation
took place. The tea-kettle began
to move. From its spout appeared
a hairy head, at the other side out
came a fine bushy tail, next, four
feet made themselves visible, while
fine fur seemed gradually to cover



the surface of the kettle. At last,
jumping off the box, it began
capering about the room for all
the world just like a badger.




Three young novices who were
at study in the next room heard
the noise, and, when one of them
peeped through the sliding doors,
what was his astonishment to see
the tea-kettle on four feet, dancing
up and down the room!

He cried out Oh ! what a
horrible thing ! The tea-kettle is
changed into a badger!"







"What!" said the second novice,

1 1

Do you mean to say that the

tea-kettle is turned

into a badger 1

What nonsense!"

So saying, he

pushed his

companion





to one side and



peeped in, but he also was

rified by what he saw and screamed.



"It's a goblin! It's coming at us,
let us run away!"

The third novice was not so
easily frightened.

"Come, this is rather ftin," said
he, how the creature does jump,
to be sure! I will rouse the
master and let him see too."

So he went into
the room and shook
the priest, crying.
Wake ! Master,
Wake ! A strange
thing has happened."

What's the matter?" said the




old man, drowsily rubbing his eyes
"what a noisy fellow!"

Anyone would he noisy when
such a strange thing as this is



going on




Only look master, your tea-kettle
has got feet and is running about."

"What! What! What! What's
that you say!" asked the priest
again. The kettle got feet!
What's this! Let me see!"

But by the time the old man
was thoroughly roused the tea-kettle
had turned into its ordinary shape,
and stood quietly on its box again.

"What foolish young fellows you
are!" said the priest "There stands
a kettle on the top of a box ? surely
there is nothing very strange in
that No, no, I have heard of the



rolling-pin that grew a pair of wings
and flew away, but, long as I have
lived, never have I heard before
of a tea-kettle walking about on

p

its own feet. You will never make
me believe that. M

But for all that, the priest was
a little uneasy in his mind, and
kept thinking of the incident all
that day. When evening came, and
he was alone in his room, he took
down the kettle, filled
it with water, and
set it upon the
embers to boil,




intending to make some tea. But, as
soon as the water began to boil
Hot! Hot!" cried the kettle, and
jumped off the fire.

"Help! Help!" cried the priest*
terrified out of his wits.




But when the novices rushed to his
help, the kettle at once resumed its
natural form; so, one of them, seiz-
ing a stick cried.









"We'll soon find out whether
it's alive or not," and began beat-
ing it with might and main. There
was evidently no life in the thing,
and only a metalic clang! clang!
responded to his



lusty blows.




Then the old priest heartily re-
pented having bought the mischiev-
ous tea-kettle, and was debating in
his own mind how he should get
rid of it, when who should drop
in but the tinker!"

Here's the very man," thought

the priest.
A bargain



was soon
r struck,




the tinker bought the tea-kettle for
a few coppers, and carried it home>
well pleased with his purchace.

Before going to bed he took
another look at it, and found it
still better than he had at first
thought, so he went to sleep that
night in the best
of spirits.

In the midst
of a pleasant
dream the tin-
ker suddenly
started up,
thinking he




heard somebody moving in the room,
but when he opened his eyes and
looked about, he could see nobody.
It was only a dream, I suppose, 1 *
said he to himself, as he turned
over, and went to sleep again.




But he was disturbed once more
by some one calling "Tinker! Tin-
ker! Get up! Get up!"

This time he sprang up, wide
awake, and lo and behold, there
was the tea-kettle with the head,
tail, feet and fur of a badge*,
strutting up and down the room!

Goblin! Goblin!" shrieked the
tinker. But the tea-kettle laughed
and said.

"Don't be frightened, my dear
Tinker. I am not a goblin, only
a wonderful tea-kettle. My name
is Bumbuku-Chagamcty and I will



bring good luck to anyone who
treats me well; but of course, I
don't like to be set on the fire,
and then beaten with sticks, as
happened to me up at the temple
yesterday."




r




How can I please you, then!"
asked the tinker. "Shall I keep
you in a box!"

Oh! no, no," answered the tea-
kettle, I like nice sweet things to
eat, and sometimes a little wine to
drink, just like yourself. Will you
keep me in your house and feed
me? And, as I would not be a
burden upon you, I will work for
you in any way you like."

To this the tinker agreed.

Next morning he provided a
good feast for umbuku 9 who then
spoke



I certainly am a wonderful
and accomplished tea-kettle, and my
advice is that you take me round
the country as a show with accom-
paniments of singing and music."

The tinker thinking well

i

of this advice, at once start-
ed a show

f+H





^ which named the
Bumbuku-
The lucky tea-kettle
at once made the affair a success,
for not only did he walk about
on four legs, but he danced the
tight rope, and went through all





acrobatic
ances, end-



kinds of
perform-
ing by




i making a



profound
bow to the
spectators, and
their future



begging for
patronage*

3*




The feme of these performances
soon spread abroad, and the theatre
was filled daily to overflowing, until,
at length even the princes of the
land sent to order the tinker and
his kettle to come to them, and
the show would take place, to the
great delight of the princesses and
ladies of the court.

At last the tinker grew so rich
that he retired from business, and
wishing his faithful kettle also to
be at rest, he took it back, together
with a large share of his wealth,
to the Temple of Morinji, where



it was laid up as a precious trea-
sure, and some say, even worshipped
as a saint





^