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They had a real picnic. At half-past three all their lessons were finished, and the Twins ran home. Their Mother was waiting for them on the porch, with Bot'Chan in her arms. "See what we made for you!" the Twins cried. They gave her the letters they had made that morning. "You have made them beautifully, for the first time," she said.
"Maybe; it's so small just the right size for Bot'Chan," Taro whispered back. The Twins looked carefully all around the pine tree, but its trunk was gnarled and old. It is hard to believe that so little a tree could be so old, but the Japanese know how to keep a tree small, like a toy tree, even if it has been growing for a hundred years.
The drummer boy began, "rat-a-tat-tat," and the whole victorious army marched down the street and right into Taro's garden! As he passed his Father and Mother and Grannie and Bot'Chan, Taro saluted. His Father saluted Taro, and every one of the family Grannie and all cried "Banzai! Banzai!" That means the same as hurrah!
Glory seemed pleased to have a little brother, and Take promised that she should wear him on her back whenever she wanted to. Take bought a little doll for Bot'Chan, too, with her own money. It was a funny little doll without any legs. He was fat, and when any one knocked him over, he sat up again right away. She called him a "Daruma." Bot'Chan seemed to like the Daruma.
"It's going to be in the street. I'm the General," said Taro. "Oh, how I wish I could be a General," cried Take. But Taro never even heard her. He was already on his way to join his regiment. In a few minutes Take heard the "rap-a-tap, tap! rap-a-tap, tap!" of a drum. "They're coming! They're coming!" she called to her Mother and Father. The Mother rolled Bot'Chan on to her back.
She sang over and over, and softer and softer, about the little bells; and by the time the hairdresser had finished the Mother's hair and gone away, Bot'Chan was fast asleep. Then Natsu put him down on some soft mats, and combed Take's hair. Take stood still, like a brave little girl, though there were three snarls in it, and Natsu pulled dreadfully!
Soon their Father and Mother and Grandmother came in. Then there was great laughing and talking, and many polite bows. Bot'Chan was passed from one to another. Everybody said he was the finest baby ever seen, and that he looked like his Father! And his Mother! And his Grandmother! Some even said he looked like the Twins! Everybody brought presents to the baby.
They took Bot'Chan with them to the Kura. Take carried him on her back. "It's Bot'Chan's birthday, too," she said, "so he must go." In the Kura was a long bamboo pole. The Twins' Father took the pole and set it up in the street before their house. Then he brought out two great paper fish. They were almost larger than Taro. They had great round mouths and round eyes.
They put Glory in the garden, beside the tiny pond. But a horrible accident happened! Glory fell over again, and this time she fell into the pond! At least her head did. Her legs were too long to go in. She might have been drowned if Take hadn't picked her out in a hurry. Just as Take was wiping Morning Glory's face, her Mother came in dressed for the street. She had Bot'Chan on her back.
When Take remembered that they were going to take Bot'Chan to the Temple, she clapped her little brown hands. "Oh, I'm so glad!" she said. Then she popped out from under the covers of her bed and stood up on the soft straw matting. She was no sooner out of bed than from far away came the "Cling-cling-clang" of a great gong. And then, "Tum-tum-t-y-y-rum" rolled a great drum. "Hark!" said Taro.
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