One morning Taro and Take heard their Father and Mother talking together. They thought the Twins were asleep, but they weren't.
The Mother said, "Honored Husband, don't you think it is time Taro and Take went to school?""Yes, indeed," the Father said; "they have many things to learn, and they should begin at once. Have you spoken to the teacher yet?""I saw him yesterday," the Mother answered. "He said they might enter to-day. I have everything ready."Taro and Take looked at each other.
"Do you suppose we shall like it?" Take whispered.
"I don't know," Taro whispered back. "I've liked everything so far, and I think going to school must be some fun, too. But of course, if I don't like it, I shall not say a word. A son of the Samurai should never complain, no matter how hard his lot.""No, of course not," Take answered.
Before they were dressed, the Mother came into their room. "The bath-tub is ready, Taro," she said. "Hop in and get your bath early to-day, for you and Take are to begin school."The Twins had a hot bath every day, but they usually took it before going to bed. The bath-tub was in a little room by itself.
It was shaped a little like a barrel, and it had a stove set right in the side of it to heat the water. Taro went to the bathroom and climbed over the edge of the tub. It was hard to get up because the tub was high. He dropped into the water with a great splash. Take and her Mother heard the splash.
Then they heard something else. They heard screams! "Ow-ow-ow!"shrieked Taro. "Take me out! take me out! I'm boiled!"The Mother and Take ran as fast as they could to the tub. Taro's head just showed over the edge. His mouth was open, the tears were streaming down his cheeks, and the air was full of "ows."His Mother reached her arm down into the water.
"It isn't so very hot, Taro," she said; "I can bear my hand in it.""Ow--ow!" said Taro. He didn't even say, "Ow! ow! Honorable Mother!" as one might have thought such a very polite boy would do.
And he tried to get both feet off the bottom of the tub at the same time!
The Mother put some cold water into the tub. Taro stopped screaming.
"Oh, Taro," Take called to him, "you aren't really and truly boiled, are you?""Almost," sniffed Taro; " I'm as red as a red dragon. I think my skin will come off.""I know you are dreadfully hurt, poor Taro," Take said, "because a son of the Samurai never complains, no matter how hard his lot."The water was cooler now. Taro's head disappeared below the edge of the tub. He splashed a minute, then he said:--"I guess a real truly Samurai would scream a little if he were boiled." His words made a big round sound coming out of the tub.
Pretty soon it was Take's turn. She climbed into the tub. She splashed, too, but she didn't scream. Then she stuck her head over the edge of the tub.
"I'm boiled, too," she called to Taro, "but I'm not going to cry.""Then the water isn't hot," was all Taro said.
When they had finished their baths, they were dressed in clean kimonos. Then they had their breakfast and at seven o'clock they were all ready for school.