(Apr 3)     Set out for a place called Kurobane in Nasu to see an acquaintance there and tried shortcut through fields. Caught sight of a village not too far off, made for it, rain starting, evening coming on. Passed night at a farmhouse and next morning tried crossing fields again. Horse pastured there. Asked the way of a fellow mowing nearby who, plain as he was, wasnt without courtesy. "Let me see," he says, "you know this here field cuts off different ways and if you dont know which is which, worse luck, easy to get lost, so better let the horse there take you as far as he can and when he stops, just send him back," and he lent us the horse.

Two tiny creatures scampered behind. One a darling called Kasane. A curious sweet name:

this kasane
pretty double pink's
name naturally

(Sora)

Soon at the village, tied something for owner to saddle and sent horse back.