These were my mother's last words. My mother had been afraid of the Japanese police, she fainted several times. Throughout her uneventful life, all she had wanted was peace. When she found it was impossibe to live a peaceful, uneventful life, she became strong and did not fear death.

She was not the type to make a fuss, but she would do whatever she believed to be right.

     I had an elder brother who had become a policeman. He relied on the Japanese, intimidating and taking advantage of the people in our village. When my mother heard of his doings, she investiagted the rumor to see if it was true, then insisted that we sever our relationshop with him. She banished him from our home. She had such a strong personality.

     After I left for Tokyo, she endured much hardship, but she refused to accept any help from my elder brother. In the end she lost a daughter and a little boy, and had to ask my uncle to take care of her youngest remaining son before she committed suicide. That was the kind of woman she was.

XV.
      Now when I think about it, I believe that if my mother had had the chance to read more books, books about people enduring hardships, books about revolutionaries who overcame many difficulties, books about people who struggled to save others?Kthen when my father was arrested because of his refusal to sell his land, she would have taken a more effective, practical approach to the problem instead of fainting and falling ill. After reading my mother's will, my heart was filled with sorrow and I was greatly disturbed that I didn't have any determination of my own. After lying down for a long time, I gradually calmed down and took out my uncle's letter to read. "Your mother hung herself early the morning of xxxxx. I wanted to cable you right away but I found this letter in hr hand. I understood her last wishes and waited until now to notify you.

     Your mother had sincere hopes for you. She was afraid you would return immediately upon hearing the news of her death. To do so would be a waste of your time and money, and you might miss an important opportunity in Tokyo. You represented her last hope. Your older brother is too selfish, and eventually became a target of hatred for everyone here; and your younger brother is still too young to understand anything. Your mother said she took this road to cut off your worries, and to allow you to concentrate wholeheartedly, so that you could pursue what you believe in with all your heart - - working and studying in tokyo.