Haru ya Mukashi (translation) (3)

In the old Shogunate days, when it comes to education systems, Japan might have achieved the world standard. Some of its states might have surpassed the levels of other civilized nations.
Iyo Matsuyama State has a state school:
"Mei-kyoh Kan [namely, Clear Instruction College]."
All the samurai sons enter the school. Mei-kyoh Kan had an affiliated elementary school "Yoh-sei Sha [namely, Bring-up House]." Usually, they entered the house in their eighth year.
Akiyama Yoshifuru, who used to be called Shin-san, entered the school at the age of 8.
As it had become Meiji, in its 4th year, elementary schools were started, and samurai children entered the elementary schools as well as townie children did. Shin-san, however, was 13 years old with his unfortunate timing, and was on the border.
"That was why I didn't enter."
Thus spoke Yoshifuru later. He did not enter, however, not only because of his age, but also because of the extreme poverty of his family due to the impoverishment of samurai families after Meiji Restoration.
In the 7th year of Meiji, a secondary school was subsequently founded in Matsuyama.
Shin-san did not enter it either. What is even worse, Shin-san's every day was that of laborers.
"He used to be heating water for a bathhouse."
Such a hearsay has been handed down in Matsuyama. Shin-san is already 16 years old.
He had fair skin, enormously big eyes, and a too tall nose. He looked, so to speak, un-Japanese.
"He looks like a foreigner in Nagasaki."
That was the talk of the town. His big eyes were drooping, which was a charm of his. With his lips as red as those of girls, as Shin-san walked along a town street, young girls gossiped with their voice dropped.
To be plain, a bathhouse was built in his neighborhood. It is Mr. Kaita, ex-samurai, who built it. He was gossiped in the whole town:
"Samuurai started a bathhouse."
It was more an ill fame than a simple gossip. They blamed him, "Why on the earth samurai runs a business to wash off others' dirt?"
"Running a bathhouse is not so bad. Akiyama family's son is heating water for the worse."
Thus gossips heated up. Actually, Shin-san asked for the job.
"Very well. Your wage is a Tempoh coin [a nickel] a day."
Thus said Mr. Kaita. Once getting started, he realized what a hard labor it is.
First, he has to start from gathering fuel. In the eastern suburb, there is Mt. Yokotani. He goes there to gather twigs. Then he draws a well bucket for many times to fill the bath, and heats it.
He even makes a watcher at the bathhouse.
"Shin-san does really well."
Mr. Kaita praised him everyday. This mister is a good flatterer. He had a bad reputation for flattering neighborhood children into sweat.
"Shin-san is miserable. He is driven hard with a single Tempoh coin a day. He will be worked hard to the bone."
Thus neighborers accused of and pitied in this Shin-san's case.