"Yes," he said, "a new son has come to our unworthy house on this morning of the New Year." Umé bowed her forehead to the floor, "Omedeto, O Chichi San," she said. "I am most respectfully happy. May I go to see him and bid him honorable welcome?" "After the breakfast is faithfully eaten, it may perhaps be permitted," answered her father. Then he asked, "Was there not some gift you have asked from the gods in the year that has passed?" "I have asked many times for a gift, but neither the gods nor the goddesses have yet given it to me." "Have you ever asked the generous mother for it?" "No, O Chichi San." "Why have you not asked your insignificant father?" "O Chichi San, I feared you would not permit me to have what I most wished." Her father looked at her gravely and took a package from his kimono sleeve. He gave it to Umé, saying as he did so, "Your thoughtful mother asked me to buy this in the foreign shop and give it to you this morning." The package was tied with red and white paper string. Umé took it in both hands, raised it to her forehead, bowed her thanks, and opened it. Inside the package was a pair of red shoes with black heels! "O Chichi San, how worthily beautiful!" and Umé danced about the room, clasping the pretty things to her heart. "This is what I have asked of Benten Sama and Kwannon and of the other goddesses," she said with shining eyes. Then she stood still and said wonderingly, "But I did not ask for a baby brother, although he was more to be desired." "Your mother gives both the shoes and the baby brother to you," said her father. "May I not go to her and give her many thanks truly?" asked Umé. "Your mother is ill," said her father. "It may be that she will never speak to us again." "Oh, no!" cried Umé in great distress. She looked at the little red shoes and suddenly dropped them to the floor. "Benten Sama may have them, if she will only make my honorable mother well," she said. The pretty things which she had dreamed of, and longed for, and begged of all the gods, suddenly became of no value to her except as an offering to save her mother's life. She knelt at her father's feet and bowed her head to the floor. "Have I your noble permission to go to Asakusa Temple and pray to the good Kwannon that my mother may become well?" she asked. "Yes," her father answered, "and it may be that a gift of that which you most treasure will be pleasing to the Goddess of Mercy." Umé looked down at the little red shoes, gathered them up and tucked them into her kimono sleeve; then ran to ask old Maru to go with her to the temple. The little girl had never before been to the temple on so sad an errand. "See," said old Maru as the jinrikisha-man took up his shafts, "the gate-pine-tree is giving you an honorable message."