He
was still, when Masaki knew him, much weakened by his
hardships in prison; and the presentation sword, three feet
long, was too heavy for him to wear without distress; yet he
would always gird it on when he went to dig in his garden.
That is a touch which qualifies the man. A weaker nature
would have shrunk from the sight of what only commemorated a
failure. But he was of Thoreau's mind, that if you can "make
your failure tragical by courage, it will not differ from
success." He could look back without confusion to his
enthusiastic promise. If events had been contrary, and he
found himself unable to carry out that purpose - well, there
was but the more reason to be brave and constant in another;
if he could not carry the sword into barbarian lands, it
should at least be witness to a life spent entirely for
Japan.
(1) I understood that the merchant was endeavouring
surreptitiously to obtain for his son instruction to which he
was not entitled. - F. J.
This is the sight we have of him as he appeared to
schoolboys, but not related in the schoolboy spirit. A man
so careless of the graces must be out of court with boys and
women. And, indeed, as we have all been more or less to
school, it will astonish no one that Yoshida was regarded by
his scholars as a laughing-stock. The schoolboy has a keen
sense of humour.
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