Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/121

Rh be a hermit one must obey strict rules; he must eat only fruit and berries, and cut himself off from the ways of the world, so that he may become pure and free from unworthy desire.

"You, Opulo, have always been a lazy man, and have been too fond of good living. Do you think you could go barefoot and wear only one thin dress during the cold of winter? No, the life of a hermit is not for you!

"But there is something else I will do for you, and that is to send you to the Island of Continual Life, where death is unknown."

Then Jofuku gave Opulo a small bird made of paper, and told him to sit upon it.

This the wondering Opulo did, and the bird began to grow. Soon it was large enough for him to ride on comfortably. With wings outspread it rose high up in the air, and away it flew.

The flight through the air was swift; on and on they went for hundreds and hundreds of miles without a stop, until at last they came to an island, and there the bird alighted.