The Story of Chugoro by Lafcadio Hearn

“The Story of Chugoro” by Lafcadio Hearn, printed in 1900, is a haunting story rooted in Japanese folklore. The story recounts the eerie experiences of Chugoro, a person who mysteriously vanishes for a number of days, solely to return with a wierd story of being seduced by a fantastic lady who seems to be a frog and a vampire-like spirit. Via vivid descriptions and a fragile exploration of supernatural themes, Hearn delves into the chilling penalties of human encounters with the spirit world. “The Story of Chugoro” exemplifies Hearn’s potential to weave cultural folklore into compelling and atmospheric prose, providing readers a glimpse into the wealthy tapestry of Japanese myths and legends. His most well-known works are retellings of Japanese and Chinese language folktales, specifically these of a ghostly or macabre nature.

The Story of Chugoro by Lafcadio Hearn (1900) 

Alongside time in the past there lived, within the Koishi-kawa quarter of Yedo, a hatamoto named Suzuki, whose yashiki was located on the financial institution of the Yedogawa, not removed from the bridge referred to as Naka-no-hashi. And among the many retainers of this Suzuki there was an ashigaru named Chūgorō. Chūgorō was a good-looking lad, very amiable and intelligent, and far favored by his comrades.

For a number of years Chūgorō remained within the service of Suzuki, conducting himself so properly that no fault was discovered with him. However finally the opposite ashigaru found that Chūgorō was within the behavior of leaving the yashiki each night time, by the use of the backyard, and staying out till slightly earlier than daybreak. At first they stated nothing to him about this unusual behaviour; for his absences didn’t intervene with any common responsibility, and had been alleged to be attributable to some love-affair. However after a time he started to look pale and weak; and his comrades, suspecting some critical folly, determined to intervene. Due to this fact, one night, simply as he was about to steal away from the home, an aged retainer referred to as him apart, and stated:—

“Chūgorō, my lad, we all know that you simply exit each night time and keep away till early morning; and we’ve got noticed that you’re wanting unwell. We worry that you’re retaining dangerous firm, and injuring your well being. And except you may give a superb cause on your conduct, we will suppose that it’s our responsibility to report this matter to the Chief Officer. In any case, since we’re your comrades and mates, it’s however proper that we must always know why you exit at night time, opposite to the customized of this home.”

Chūgorō seemed to be very a lot embarrassed and alarmed by these phrases. However after a brief silence he handed into the backyard, adopted by his comrade. When the 2 discovered themselves properly out of listening to of the remaining, Chūgorō stopped, and stated:—

“I’ll now inform you every thing; however I need to entreat you to maintain my secret. If you happen to repeat what I inform you, some nice misfortune could befall me.

“It was within the early a part of final spring—about 5 months in the past—that I first started to exit at night time, on account of a love-affair. One night, after I was returning to the yashiki after a go to to my dad and mom, I noticed a lady standing by the riverside, not removed from the principle gateway. She was dressed like an individual of excessive rank; and I believed it unusual {that a} lady so finely dressed ought to be standing there alone at such an hour. However I didn’t suppose that I had any proper to query her; and I used to be about to go her by, with out talking, when she stepped ahead and pulled me by the sleeve. Then I noticed that she was very younger and good-looking. ‘Will you not stroll with me so far as the bridge?’ she stated; ‘I’ve one thing to inform you.’ Her voice was very smooth and nice; and she or he smiled as she spoke; and her smile was onerous to withstand. So I walked along with her towards the bridge; and on the way in which she advised me that she had typically seen me going out and in of the yashiki, and had taken a elaborate to me. ‘I want to have you ever for my husband,’ she stated;—’for those who can like me, we will have the ability to make one another very completely satisfied.’ I didn’t know tips on how to reply her; however I believed her very charming. As we neared the bridge, she pulled my sleeve once more, and led me down the financial institution to the very fringe of the river. ‘Are available with me,’ she whispered, and pulled me towards the water. It’s deep there, as you recognize; and I turned all of sudden afraid of her, and tried to show again. She smiled, and caught me by the wrist, and stated, ‘Oh, you could by no means be afraid with me!’ And, someway, on the contact of her hand, I turned extra helpless than a baby. I felt like an individual in a dream who tries to run, and can’t transfer hand or foot. Into the deep water she stepped, and drew me along with her; and I neither noticed nor heard nor felt something extra till I discovered myself strolling beside her by means of what appeared to be a fantastic palace, full of sunshine. I used to be neither moist nor chilly: every thing round me was dry and heat and exquisite. I couldn’t perceive the place I used to be, nor how I had come there. The girl led me by the hand: we handed by means of room after room,—by means of ever so many rooms, all empty, however very positive,—till we entered right into a guest-room of a thousand mats. Earlier than a fantastic alcove, on the farther finish, lights had been burning, and cushions laid as for a feast; however I noticed no visitors. She led me to the place of honour, by the alcove, and seated herself in entrance of me, and stated: ‘That is my dwelling: do you suppose that you could possibly be pleased with me right here?’ As she requested the query she smiled; and I believed that her smile was extra stunning than anything on this planet; and out of my coronary heart I answered, ‘Sure….’ In the identical second I remembered the story of Urashima; and I imagined that she is likely to be the daughter of a god; however I feared to ask her any questions…. Presently maid-servants got here in, bearing rice-wine and plenty of dishes, which they set earlier than us. Then she who sat earlier than me stated: ‘To-night shall be our bridal night time, since you like me; and that is our wedding-feast.’ We pledged ourselves to one another for the time of seven existences; and after the banquet we had been carried out to a bridal chamber, which had been ready for us.

“It was but early within the morning when she awoke me, and stated: ‘My pricey one, you are actually certainly my husband. However for causes which I can’t inform you, and which you could not ask, it’s crucial that our marriage stay secret. To maintain you right here till dawn would price each of us our lives. Due to this fact don’t, I urge of you, really feel displeased as a result of I need to now ship you again to the home of your lord. You possibly can come to me to-night once more, and each night time hereafter, on the identical hour that we first met. Wait all the time for me by the bridge; and you’ll not have to attend lengthy. However bear in mind, above all issues, that our marriage should be a secret, and that, for those who speak about it, we will in all probability be separated eternally.’

“I promised to obey her in all issues,—remembering the destiny of Urashima,—and she or he carried out me by means of many rooms, all empty and exquisite, to the doorway. There she once more took me by the wrist, and every thing all of a sudden turned darkish, and I knew nothing extra till I discovered myself standing alone on the river financial institution, near the Naka-no-hashi. Once I bought again to the yashiki, the temple bells had not but begun to ring.

“Within the night I went once more to the bridge, on the hour she had named, and I discovered her ready for me. She took me along with her, as earlier than, into the deep water, and into the fantastic place the place we had handed our bridal night time. And each night time, since then, I’ve met and parted from her in the identical means. To-night she will definitely be ready for me, and I’d somewhat die than disappoint her: subsequently I need to go…. However let me once more entreat you, my good friend, by no means to talk to anyone about what I’ve advised you.”

*

The elder ashigaru was stunned and alarmed by this story. He felt that Chūgorō had advised him the reality; and the reality steered disagreeable prospects. Most likely the entire expertise was an phantasm, and an phantasm produced by some evil energy for a malevolent finish. Nonetheless, if actually bewitched, the lad was somewhat to be pitied than blamed; and any forcible interference could be more likely to lead to mischief. So the ashigaru answered kindly:—

“I shall by no means communicate of what you have got advised me—by no means, at the very least, when you stay alive and properly. Go and meet the lady; however—watch out for her! I worry that you’re being deceived by some depraved spirit.”

Chūgorō solely smiled on the outdated man’s warning, and hastened away. A number of hours later he reentered the yashiki, with a surprisingly dejected look. “Did you meet her?” whispered his comrade. “No,” replied Chūgorō; “she was not there. For the primary time, she was not there. I feel that she is going to by no means meet me once more. I did mistaken to inform you;—I used to be very silly to interrupt my promise….” The opposite vainly tried to console him. Chūgorō lay down, and spoke no phrase extra. He was trembling from head to foot, as if he had caught a chill.

*

When the temple bells introduced the hour of daybreak, Chūgorō tried to rise up, and fell again mindless. He was evidently sick,—deathly sick. A Chinese language doctor was summoned.

“Why, the person has no blood!” exclaimed the physician, after a cautious examination;—”there’s nothing however water in his veins! It is going to be very tough to save lots of him…. What maleficence is that this?”

*

Every little thing was achieved that might be achieved to save lots of Chūgorō’s life—however in useless. He died because the solar went down. Then his comrade associated the entire story.

“Ah! I may need suspected as a lot!” exclaimed the physician…. “No energy may have saved him. He was not the primary whom she destroyed.”

“Who’s she?—or what’s she?” the ashigaru requested,—”a Fox-Lady?”

“No; she has been haunting this river from historical time. She loves the blood of the younger….”

“A Serpent-Lady?—A Dragon-Lady?”

“No, no! If you happen to had been to see her beneath that bridge by daylight, she would seem to you a really loathsome creature.”

“However what sort of a creature?”

“Merely a Frog,—a fantastic and ugly Frog!”

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