The morning after Heikichi was thrown to the pool by his father, his mother was planning to go to the indigo dyeing house. Heikichi said to his mother, "God told me that Father's demand was not unreasonable. So, from today onward, God will cure blindness. God said that the blind should come to me and I will cure them." But his mother paid no attention to him and went instead to the dyeing house.
After arriving at the dyeing house, his mother was asked about Heikichi because his eccentricities had stirred the curiosity of the villagers. His mother said, "Everyday, Heikichi causes us so much trouble. Only yesterday, my husband threw Heikichi into the pond to drive the fox out of him, but it didn't work. This morning, before I came here, Heikichi told me to bring anyone suffering from blindness and God would cure them. I don't think it's true."
Strangely enough, there was that day at the dyeing house an old blind man who had suffered from cataracts since his youth. The old man said, "This is good news. I want to have God cure my eyes." Shortly thereafter, the old man's granddaughter led him to Heikichi, who told him, "Come again tomorrow and you will be cured." When the old man came the next day, Heikichi again told him, "Come tomorrow." He repeated the same words everyday for the next week.
One snowy day, the old man managed to visit Heikichi led by his granddaughter, but Heikichi told the old man the same thing, "Come again tomorrow." Heikichi's father felt very sorry for the old man and scolded Heikichi. His father then said to the old man, "Don't take this boy seriously. Please don't trouble yourself by coming again." But the old man said to his father, "Since God said to come I will come as many times as I have to. I will come anytime. If God tells me to come in the middle of the night, I will come." Then the old man returned home with his granddaughter.
Later that same day, the old man was sitting by a fireplace in his house when he suddenly called out to his granddaughter as she passed, "Is that you Ohatsu?" Ohatsu was surprised and said, "Can you see me, Grandfather?" The old man said, "No, I can't see you directly. But I sensed your shadow as if reflected on a Syoji (Japanese paper panel door), and thought it must be you." From the day on, the old man gradually recovered his sight.
After hearing the news of the old man regaining his sight, the village was in an uproar. Thereafter, many people who suffered from blindness came to visit Heikichi. Some came from long distances, and, with the exception of one woman, all of them were miraculously cured.
After arriving at the dyeing house, his mother was asked about Heikichi because his eccentricities had stirred the curiosity of the villagers. His mother said, "Everyday, Heikichi causes us so much trouble. Only yesterday, my husband threw Heikichi into the pond to drive the fox out of him, but it didn't work. This morning, before I came here, Heikichi told me to bring anyone suffering from blindness and God would cure them. I don't think it's true."
Strangely enough, there was that day at the dyeing house an old blind man who had suffered from cataracts since his youth. The old man said, "This is good news. I want to have God cure my eyes." Shortly thereafter, the old man's granddaughter led him to Heikichi, who told him, "Come again tomorrow and you will be cured." When the old man came the next day, Heikichi again told him, "Come tomorrow." He repeated the same words everyday for the next week.
One snowy day, the old man managed to visit Heikichi led by his granddaughter, but Heikichi told the old man the same thing, "Come again tomorrow." Heikichi's father felt very sorry for the old man and scolded Heikichi. His father then said to the old man, "Don't take this boy seriously. Please don't trouble yourself by coming again." But the old man said to his father, "Since God said to come I will come as many times as I have to. I will come anytime. If God tells me to come in the middle of the night, I will come." Then the old man returned home with his granddaughter.
Later that same day, the old man was sitting by a fireplace in his house when he suddenly called out to his granddaughter as she passed, "Is that you Ohatsu?" Ohatsu was surprised and said, "Can you see me, Grandfather?" The old man said, "No, I can't see you directly. But I sensed your shadow as if reflected on a Syoji (Japanese paper panel door), and thought it must be you." From the day on, the old man gradually recovered his sight.
After hearing the news of the old man regaining his sight, the village was in an uproar. Thereafter, many people who suffered from blindness came to visit Heikichi. Some came from long distances, and, with the exception of one woman, all of them were miraculously cured.
