There was a time when Madri, the cat, and Ketki, the mouse, were friends. They were such good friends that they lived in the same house. They played together, and went on hunts together too. Between the two, Ketki was the one with foresight. "Can you feel the chill in the air?" she asked her friend. "Winter is coming. And we haven't saved any food! Let's do it now or we will have to go hungry when winter sets in". Madri had not thought of winter. That was the way she was - she never thought much. But, Ketki's comment got her worried. "Yes, yes," she said. "Let us go out to see what we can find." The two set out on a hunt and came across a jar of sweet, yellow butter. "How lovely this butter looks," cried Madri. "Think how marvelous it will taste when the days grow cold."
"Yes, indeed", squeaked Ketki. "But where will we keep it?" "How about the hollow of the tree near our house?" suggested Madri. "No one would think of searching in the hollow of a tree." Ketki agreed. And that's where the jar went. Then the two friends went home. But, Madri could not stop thinking about the jar of butter. "How good it will taste! I wish I had some now," she thought. After sometime, she could bear it no longer. She had to do something about it. So she went to Ketki and said, "I'm so excited. My sister is getting married today and I can't wait to go. Will you keep the house while I'm gone?" Ketki agreed and off Madri went, heading straight for the hollow of the tree where the jar of sweet butter was hidden. She dug into the butter and licked and licked till she had polished the top off. Then she put the jar back into the hollow and went home. Ketki was surprised to see her friend back so soon. "That was the shortest wedding ever. Did you enjoy yourself?" "Oh yes," sighed Madri. "And how I ate!" Life continued as usual. The two friends would play together and plan for hunts. But, all this while, Madri could stop pining for the butter. Whenever she thought of it, she drooled. At last, she could stand it no longer. She went to Katki and told her she had a second sister who was getting married. "I have to go", she said. "Will you keep house for me again?" "Sure," said Ketki, though she did wonder how many sisters her friend had.
This time, too, Madri went straight for the butter jar. And began to hog. She licked and licked until half of it was gone. When she returned, Ketki asked how the wedding had been. "Much better", she murmured. "What food there was!" After this, Madri admonished herself to stay away from the thought of butter. But, greed is greed. And Madri could not stop herself for long. Once again, she told Ketki about a third sister's wedding and went to the tree's hollow. This time, she polished off the whole jar. "So how was it?" asked the trusting Ketki when Madri returned. "The best of all three," replied Madri. Then, life went on as usual, until winter arrived. With winter, came a scarcity of food, since it was very cold outside and the friends could not go out to hunt. There was nothing in the house to eat. Ketki thought of the jar of butter. "Come Madri, let's get our jar," she said. "Yes, yes let's. I just hope nobody has eaten it," said Madri. They came to the hollow of the tree and took out the jar. There was nothing in it, of course. Madri tried to act surprised. "Oh how terrible. Someone has eaten our butter. What will we do?" But, Ketki was not one to be fooled. She thought hard about all the times Madri went out to attend weddings of sisters she never said she had before. "You false friend. I see it all now. You were the one who ate the butter," she said. "Shut up or I'll eat you too," growled Madri and sprang at her. Ketki jumped into the hollow and although Madri tried to follow her, she could not. The hole was too small. She went home. And that was the end of their relationship. Cats and mice have never been friends again.
A temple was being built in a town. There were many different workmen busy with their work. The masons were building the walls. The sculptor was finishing the idols. And the carpenters were making wooden frames from logs of wood. In the afternoon, all the workmen used to sit together for lunch. One day while the workmen were eating, a group of monkeys came to the temple site. They started playing with the things the workmen had left behind. One monkey came upon a log of wood, on which a carpenter had been working. Before going for lunch, the carpenter had cut through half of it. He had inserted a wedge, a small piece of wood, inside the half-cut log. That way the two sides of the cut log would not come together again.
The monkey found this very interesting and started to play with it. He wondered what would happen if he took the wedge out. So he started pulling at the wedge. It was stuck. He tried harder. Suddenly the wedge came out and the two sides of the log came together with a loud "thuk". "Ow," screamed the monkey. His long tail was stuck in between. The monkey started shouting loudly. His tail really hurt and he couldn’t get free. His friends rushed to help him. But they could not free the monkey’s tail from between the log.
Finally, some of the workmen heard the shouting and came to see what the noise was all about. As soon as they saw the monkey’s tail stuck between the log, they rushed to help him. After much pulling and tugging, they finally got him free. But now he was a monkey without a tail. His long tail was still stuck fast between the log. As the carpenter scolded him, the monkey looked sadly at his tailless bottom. "This is what happens when I stick my nose where it doesn't belong. I've lost my tail."
Bobby and Sophia grew up on the farm. Even though they were polite and helpful children, there was one thing they would not do. Bobby and Sophia would not share. Only Bobby could play with Bobby’s toys and only Sophia could play with Sophia’s toys. The same was true for their horses. Bossy was for Bobby and Stiffy was for Sophia.
Mother always reminded them to be kind to one another, whenever she heard Bobby and Sophia yelling and fighting. Mother would tell them, “Remember, sharing brings happiness.” Unfortunately, the siblings were too selfish to listen. They thought sharing would make them miserable.
Bobby and Sophia did not know that Bossy and Stiffy had become just like them – unfriendly and unkind. Once Bobby hopped onto Stiffy for a ride, but she stiffened her neck and would not move! Sophia’s horse was only for Sophia, not for Bobby! When Sophia tried to sneak a ride on Bossy, the obstinate horse dug in his feet and would not move. He was not going to take Sophia anywhere, he was the boss! Bobby’s horse was only for Bobby, not for Sophia!
Mother and Father shook their heads in disappointment. They felt it was time to teach the children a lesson. The next morning, Father tiptoed into the barn, being very careful not to wake the sleeping horses. He picked up the rope that was around Bossy’s neck. Then he got the rope that was around Stiffy’s neck. Quietly, he tied the ends together.
When it was time for breakfast, Bobby and Sophia called for their horses. Bossy and Stiffy stretched and yawned, then headed straight for their food. As the horses neared the hay, they felt a heavy tug at their necks. Suddenly they stopped! The children stared in shock and wondered how the horses got tangled and tied up in knots.
Bossy and Stiffy did not care about the rope or the knots. They were hungry and wanted to eat. They began pulling harder and harder, but the harder they pulled, the knots got tighter and tighter. And they were not getting any closer to the food! Bobby and Sophia started to quarrel and argue about what they should do. They snapped at each other, blaming the other person for the sorry state that the horses were in. Meanwhile, Bossy and Stiffy kept tugging.
Finally the children agreed to get a pair of shears from the barn to cut the rope. As Bobby grabbed the shears, Sophia shouted. “Wait, look!” Bobby and Sophia ran toward the horses. Bossy and Stiffy were still tied up in knots, but both horses were eating! Bossy and Stiffy were happily bent over Stiffy’s trough, gobbling up the hay. When Stiffy’s food was gone, the horses walked over to Bossy’s pile of hay and began munching again. “How simple!” said Bobby, shaking his head. “They learned to share!” Sophia nodded in delight, as she remembered what Mother had said. Sharing does bring happiness!
Though the lesson came from two horses, Bobby and Sophia never forgot what they had learned that day. Being selfish and stubborn makes you sad and miserable, and gets you tied up in knots… Sharing brings joy, happiness and harmony!
A Lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used todwell. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he camenear they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever wayhe approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. Atlast, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and eachwent off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. Thenthe Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of allfour.
For our first 'Harmony' integrated lesson, we did a still picture of the mental image that we had derived from the short passage that was being read out. It seems like everyone has got pretty much the same image. With our fine actors and actresses' help, we managed to recreate the mental image for everyone else to see.
Thanks to Qing Xiao, Elize, Elgin, Jun Yi, Darren & Cheow Yan for being so sporting!
Here is the timing and instructions for the SPA this coming Thursday.
P4.6- 8.15 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. P4.8- 9.30 a.m. to 9.45 a.m.
You will have to get into 4 rows for the assessment. Row 1 - Index no. 1 to 10 Row 2- Index no. 11 to 20 Row 3- Index no. 21 to 30 Row 4- Index no. 31 to 40
I will further brief you on the movement during the assessment tomorrow.
We will be having our Science Practical Assessment (SPA) on 2 August 2007 (Thursday). The total marks awarded will be 10, and it will go into your final grade for SA2.
Abukashan was a wealthy merchant, notorious for his stingy nature. He had a pair of slippers that were famous in town because they were completely worn out. The slippers had outlived their lives but Abukashan simply refused to buy a new pair.
One day he went to a public bath, visited by all the rich and famous people. He left his slippers outside and went into the shower. A few minutes later a judge entered the bath leaving his new and shining slippers outside. When Abukashan came out of the bath, he could not find his slippers, but saw a pair of new slippers instead. He thought, some friend of mine must have left these as a gift for me. So Abukashan wore the new slippers and went about his business.
Meanwhile, when the judge came out of the bath, he found his slippers missing. His attendant said "Sir I can’t find your slippers, but here are Abukashan’s. He must have taken your slippers."
When Abukashan was found, wearing the Judge’s slippers, he was brought to court. Abukashan tried to explain his side of the story, but nobody believed him. The judge imposed a heavy fine on Abukashan in light of his great wealth and stingy nature. So he paid the fine, took his old slippers back, and went home.
Abukashan was angry with his slippers for causing him so much trouble. So he threw them out of his window into the river below. Unfortunately, the slippers got caught in a fisherman’s net, who was fishing nearby. The old, worn out slippers damaged the net. Naturally, the poor fisherman was angry and he threw the slippers back into Abukashan’s house. The slippers flew through an open window, dashed against some valuable crystal displayed in the house, and in a moment, Abukashan lost his favorite expensive vase.
Now Abukashan was really very upset with his slippers. He knew he had to get rid of them immediately. So he went to a nearby pond and threw the slippers in. But as luck would have it, the slippers logged themselves in a pipe that supplied water, and blocked the supply. When the water supply people finally found what was blocking the pipes, they recognized Abukashan’s famous slippers. So, once again, he was produced in court. And, again, a very heavy fine was imposed on him.
A rather unhappy Abukashan looked with disgust at his slippers. Throwing they away just didn’t seem to be working. He decided he would burn them instead. So he picked up the wet slippers and put them out on the roof of his house for drying. As they were drying, the neighbors’ cat saw them and started playing with them. Just then, a women carrying a heavy load on her head was walking by Abukashan’s house. As the cat was playing with the slipper, it fell off the roof and landed on the head of the passing woman. Unfortunately the woman was pregnant and had to rush to the hospital. Once again Abukashan was produced in court and once again a very heavy fine was imposed.
This time Abukashan decided to bury his slippers. So he came home and immediately started digging a hole in his backyard. A neighbor saw Abukashan digging and thought that he must be burying a treasure. According to the law of that land, citizens were required to notify the government and pay a tax on all treasures. The neighbor informed the government and once again Abukashan was produced in court.
By now the Judge was quite fed up of Abukashan, so he imposed an even heavier fine. Abukashan was now in tears and pleaded to the judge, "Sir, I am tired of my slippers. I have lost all my wealth just trying to get rid of them. Please take my slippers and me into custody. At least that should prevent the slippers from getting me into more trouble."
The judge was a kind-hearted man, and he could understand Abukashan’s troubles. He said "As we go through life we acquire different things and positions in life. We should thank god for showering them on us. But at the same time we should not get attached to them. We must realize that just as good things come, they must go. We should welcome them and enjoy them, when they come. And when it is time for them to go, we should not hold on to them. We must learn to give up our old shoes at the right time".
Once upon a time there was an old man called Sthira, who lived alone in a village. He would go about his business alone, even in his old age. He was a nice, friendly man who was liked by all the people in the village. They would often come over to the old man’s house and express their sympathy that his only son had gone so far away to study. They wondered aloud if his son would ever return. To all their concern, Sthira would always thank them and say, "Whatever happens, happens for the good."
One day, the old man’s son returned to the village. The entire village was very happy for Sthira, and streams of villagers came over to congratulate him. Like always, the old man was polite. He thanked all of them for coming over and said, "Whatever happens, happens for the good."
Barely a few days had passed, when one day, Sthira’s son fell off a horse’s back and broke his leg. Once again the entire village came over to Sthira’s house to express their concern. And once again the old man thanked them for their sympathy and said, "Whatever happens, happens for the good." Some of the villagers were surprised to hear this and wondered what good could there possibly be in a broken leg.
A few days later, a small army of the local king came to the village and recruited all able-bodied young men into the army. When they came to Sthira’s house they found his son with a broken leg. So they left him behind. Once again, all the villagers came to the old man’s house to congratulate him for his good luck. And like always, the old man thanked them for their concern and said, "Whatever happens, happens for the good."
A folk tale of the Mishimis of north east India, retold from 'When the World was Young', by Verrier Elwin. The book is a fascinating collection of folktales from the tribal peoples of India. Elwin was a pioneering anthropologist; he spent his entire life getting to know the ways of life of the tribal peoples.
This is a story of the time when humans first walked the earth. And in those days they did not wear clothes, for they did not know how to weave cloth.
One day, the god Matai decided to teach the art of weaving to one person. The god taught a girl called Hambrumai. And what were the designs the girl wove? She sat by the river side and saw the ripples and circles made by water. She wove the ripple pattern on cloth.
She spent days in the forest looking up at trees and the designs made by their branches. She saw patches of the sky between branches and wove in all those designs on cloth. She saw nature's patterns very clearly, be it in trees, water, flowers, or leaf. When she wore the cloth she wove, it was as if she was clothed in nature. She was beautiful. And many young men wanted to marry her.
One day, Hairum, the Porcupine, came to her cave to steal her cloth. As he tried to get inside the cave, he pushed a rock. The rock fell by the riverside, and crushed Hambrumai. It also broke the loom on which she used to weave cloth.
Parts of the loom fell into the river. They were carried by the water in its journey from the hills to the plains. Wherever people found a part of the loom, they learnt to weave. The Mishimis believe that the designs Hambrumai made, became butterflies.
To this day the patterns on butterflies' wings carry the designs the girl made. And people remember Hambrumai to this day as the girl who taught the world to weave.
Once upon a time, there lived many doves in the jungle. One day they went out in search of food. They flew long distances but did not get anything to eat. All of them were now completely exhausted.
A young dove asked the King Dove, "Your majesty, please permit us to take some rest." The king replied, "Have courage, my dear young fellow. We shall definitely get something to eat very soon."
The young dove started flapping his wings with force and soon left everyone behind. After sometime, he turned back and spoke to others, "Hey, I see lots of grains down there." Hearing this, all the doves started rushing towards the scattered rice under a banyan tree. Suddenly the King Dove said, "It is too good to be true. There is something amiss. Don’t rush towards the grains, it may be a trick. Some hunter must have laid a trap."
But the doves were ravenous. The sight of the grains were too tempting. Without giving a thought to the king's advice, they swooped down and started eating the grains. After having their fill they tried to fly only to realise that they were caught in a net. The King Dove said, "I told you before that it is a trick of some hunter." All of them felt ashamed and scared.
One of them said, "O, King of doves, Kindly save us. We’re sorry for what we did. This has happened for the first time with us. We won’t do it again. Do anything but just save us." So the king Dove said , "all of you must try to fly with the net in unison, all of you." Just then they saw a hunter approaching towards them. The King Dove said, "Now all of you, fly together".
So all the doves flapped their wings together and flew with the net. The hunter stood dazed. He couldn't believe what he had just seen.
As the doves approached a temple, the King Dove said, "Get down near the temple. A rat, who is an old friend of mine, lives there. He will nibble the net with his sharp teeth and get us free."
So everyone was thrilled at their success. They headed for the temple and descended near it along with the net. Then the King Dove called the rat, "O my friend! Come out and help us. We are in trouble."
The rat recognised his friend’s voice. He peeped out of his hole.He said, "Just wait for sometime, I’ll call some of my friends who will set you free."Saying so he went to get his friends. After sometime a number of rats came and began to nibble the net.They nibbled all the strings of the net. Soon the rats set the doves free.The doves thanked the rats and flew back to their nests.
Kancharam had been flying for 10 hours without a halt. He had come to the western state of Gujarat to attend his childhood friend Bholuram's wedding. He had stayed just for the wedding.
As soon as it was over, he said good bye to his friend and left. Now he was flying back home. That was in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He was very, very tired. And thirsty, too. The burning heat of the midday sun made him feel faint. Kancharam looked around for water. There was none.
Then he remembered that he was flying over the Saurashtra district in Gujarat. There was a terrible drought there: No water for people or cattle. He remembered Bholuram's one-eyed grandfather saying that it was the worst drought in a 100 years.
The cattle were dying and the people were leaving their homes to go to places where they could find water. Kancharam got really scared. Where could he find water? He had no strength left in his wings.
It was then that he saw a yellow pitcher on the ground. A pitcher of water!. Yippee, he told himself. He would have danced if he had not felt so weak. Kancharam went near the pitcher and thirstily put his head inside. Nothing but disappointment. The neck of the pitcher was too long and slender. His beak was short. Very short.
He felt like crying. So he sobbed his heart out. He looked around wildly; his eyes fell on some pebbles nearby. Yes! He got an idea.
He picked up the pebbles one by one and threw them into the pitcher. As the pebbles went inside, the water level rose. Soon it came up to the mouth of the pitcher.
This time, Kancharam did a little jig. Only a little, for he was thirsty indeed. For the next couple of minutes, the only sound that could be heard was that of someone gulping water. Kancharam was hard at work.
After he had quenched his thirst, he was ready to fly back home. So that he could tell his friends how smart he was.
A wandering youth once met Bholu, an illiterate villager, who knew how to perform a miracle. Everyday Bholu would go into the forest, stand under a mango tree and utter a charm. The tree would immediately become heavy with fruit. The next moment the mangoes would ripen and then they would fall to the ground. Bholu would collect them, eat some and distribute the rest among his neighbours who were poor.
Keshav the youth fell at Bholu’s feet, even though the latter belonged to a lower caste, and begged him to teach him the charm. The man reluctantly agreed but warned him, "You must never use the charm to satisfy your greed. Moreover, the charm will only work as long as you do not tell a lie."
As soon as Keshav was back in his village he repeated the charm several times daily and got large quantities of delicious mangoes. These he sold in the market and in few months he became very rich.
The king heard of the miracle. He summoned Keshav and asked, " Where did you learn your charm?".
The proud youth, unwilling to confess that he had learnt it from a man of a lower caste, replied, " O king, I learnt it after much study under a group of great scholars in a famous far away university!"
"Well, perform the miracle in front of us," ordered the king. The king, his family and a crowd of ministers and officers followed the youth into the royal orchard. Keshav selected a big mango tree and recited the charm. But nothing happened, for he had told a lie.
Greatly humiliated, Keshav confessed the truth to the king. The king said, "You have been ungrateful to your teacher out of vanity. Go and apologise to him and perhaps the charm will work again."
The young man did so. But the charm did not work ever again because he had misused it to satisfy his greed.
Long ago there was a small little town called Devpur. In this town lived a washerman and his old, lean donkey called Bhola. Bhola helped the washerman with his work. Every morning Bhola carried a pile of dirty clothes to the ghats and got back washed clothes in the evening. At nights Bhola was allowed to roam around and do whatever he wanted.
One night during his usual nightly stroll he met a fox named Bijli. Bhola and Bijli soon became friends. They would meet regularly at nights and jointly look for something to eat.
One night while exploring they came across a cucumber farm. Bhola’s mouth started watering at the sight of the luscious, juicy cucumbers. They tiptoed to the field. While Bhola feasted on the cucumbers, Bijli devoured fowls from the adjacent poultry farm. And at the break of dawn they returned to their respective homes. The second night they visited the cucumber farm once again and had their fill. Soon this became an everyday affair. The thin and weak Bhola soon looked well-fed, thanks to the cucumbers.
One particular night Bhola, after having his usual dinner of juicy cucumbers, was in a cheerful mood. He told his new friend, "Look at the sky. The full moon looks so beautiful and there is a gentle breeze blowing. This is a perfect night and I’m in the mood for singing."
Bijli smiled and said, "My friend, don’t start singing now lest we awaken the watchmen of the farm. We are stealing their cucumbers and we would be inviting trouble by singing".
But Bhola was in no mood to listen. "What are you saying. The weather is fabulous and I’m very happy and contended. So isn’t that a good excuse to sing", he asked.
The fox persisted, "no dear friend, no. It’s better to keep quiet. Moreover you don’t sing very well. And your voice is also quite harsh." Bhola could not take it anymore.
"You are plain jealous, Bhola thundered, "What do you know about raag and taal. What do you know about singing anyway." " Maybe you’re right" Bijli said, " I do not know a thing about music. But once you start singing you will wake up the watchmen. One thing I know is that they will reward you appropriately for your song, a reward you will always remember. So listen to me and forget about your singing urges for the time being." "Ha, I always knew you were foolish" Bhola countered, "you have doubts about my singing talent. Well here is one for you." Saying this Bhola raised his head towards the skies.
Stop, stop, cried Bijli."If you want to go ahead, then at least let me get out of here. Once I’m out of the fields you can sing to your heart’s content. I’ll wait for you outside the farm."
As soon as the fox left, the donkey started singing at the top of his voice. The silence of the night was broken by Bhola’s loud braying sounds. The watchmen who were fast asleep were rudely woken by the braying sounds. Armed with their sticks, they ran towards the donkey.
Bhola lost in singing was completely taken aback when he felt the lashes on his back. The watchmen continued with their lashes till the donkey collapsed. They then proceeded to tie a huge boulder round Bhola’s neck and left him there. Meanwhile Bijli kept waiting for Bhola outside the fields.
After some time Bhola regained consciousness and managed to reach the gate. As soon as Bijli saw his friend tottering along, he went up to him and congratulated him. "Well, my friend, I see that you have been rewarded for your singing." Bhola sheepishly replied, " Don’t rub it further, I’m ashamed about not listening to you."
Retold from ''When the World was Young', by pioneering anthropologist, Verrier Elwin. It is a fascinating collection of folktales from the tribal peoples of India. This happened a long, long time ago. Humans had big ears then. And they would flap in the wind.
Their ears were so big that they found a use for them. Sometimes they would lie down upon one ear, using it as a mattress. Other times they would cover themselves up with the other ear. The ears were warm and soft blankets. The ears were very useful. With them, humans could hear really well, stay warm, and even, flap away the flies.
One day, something terrible happened. God was out hunting and he killed what he thought was an animal. He heard a scream from the point where he had sent his arrow. It did not sound like an animal at all. God rushed to the spot. He was horrified.
In front of him lay the injured human. God had mistaken man for an animal. It was the big ears that had fooled him. He became very sad. He had not meant to kill a human being. He had to do something so that he never made that mistake again.
To make up for his mistake, God cut off the man's big ears. He then brought him back to life. Since then, humans have had small ears. Now humans cannot hear as well as many animals, and they certainly need blankets to stay warm. Most of all, they cannot flap and fly away.
Retold by: Chitra Padmanabhan; Illustrations by Sudheer Nath A Saora folk tale from Orissa retold from 'When the World was Young', by Verrier Elwin. The book is a fascinating collection of folktales from the tribal peoples of India. Elwin was a pioneering anthropologist; he spent his entire life getting to know the ways of life of the tribal peoples.) A long time ago, humans were only as tall as hens and rabbits. These tiny "humans", if you can call them that, lived under trees. Living in trees was not very nice. During rains they got wet. In summers they sweated madly, and in winter they almost froze into ice.
Life was tough.
So they started living in burrows, just the way rabbits do. They thought that at least this way they will be dry in the rains. And in summer, they will be safe from the hot sun. But, often, the roofs fell upon them without warning. They would get trapped inside, unable to come out.
Life was still tough.
Then the humans decided to make a tree house. They created an umbrella of branches and leaves and lived under them. The roof did not fall upon them. Life became a bit better. But the houses did not have any walls. People continued to feel the heat and cold.
Finally, they learnt the trick of making walls. They made the first real houses. There was no doubt any more that it was a good life. It became even better when the humans made houses close to each other so that they would never feel alone.
Once upon a time in the country of Japan there lived two frogs, one of whom made his home in a ditch near the town of Osaka, on the sea coast, while the other dwelt in a clear little stream which ran through the city of Kyoto. At such a great distance apart, they had never even heard of each other; but, funnily enough, the idea came into both their heads at once that they should like to see a little of the world, and the frog who lived at Kyoto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at Osaka wished to go to Kyoto, where the great Mikado had his palace.
So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that led from Kyoto to Osaka, one from one end and the other from the other. The journey was more tiring than they expected, for they did not know much about traveling, and halfway between the two towns there arose a mountain which had to be climbed. It took them a long time and a great many hops to reach the top, but there they were at last, and what was the surprise of each to see another frog before him!
They looked at each other for a moment without speaking, and then fell into conversation, explaining the cause of their meeting so far from their homes. It was delightful to find that they both felt the same wish--to learn a little more of their native country--and as there was no sort of hurry they stretched themselves out in a cool, damp place, and agreed that they would have a good rest before they parted to go their ways.
"What a pity we are not bigger," said the Osaka frog; "for then we could see both towns from here, and tell if it is worth our while going on."
"Oh, that is easily managed," returned the Kyoto frog. "We have only got to stand up on our hind legs, and hold onto each other, and then we can each look at the town he is traveling to."
This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws on the shoulder of his friend, who had risen also. There they both stood, stretching themselves as high as they could, and holding each other tightly, so that they might not fall down. The Kyoto frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nose towards Kyoto; but the foolish things forgot that when they stood up their great eyes lay in the backs of their heads, and that though their noses might point to the places to which they wanted to go, their eyes beheld the places from which they had come.
"Dear me!" cried the Osaka frog, "Kyoto is exactly like Osaka. It is certainly not worth such a long journey. I shall go home!"
"If I had had any idea that Osaka was only a copy of Kyoto I should never have traveled all this way," exclaimed the frog from Kyoto, and as he spoke he took his hands from his friend's shoulders, and they both fell down on the grass. Then they took a polite farewell of each other, and set off for home again, and to the end of their lives they believed that Osaka and Kyoto, which are as different to look at as two towns can be, were as alike as two peas.
Source: Andrew Lang, The Violet Fairy Book (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1901), pp. 125-126.
A long time ago there was an old man who had a big lump on the right side of his face. One day he went into the mountain to cut wood, when the rain began to pour and the wind to blow so very hard, that finding it impossible to return home, and filled with fear, he took refuge in the hollow of an old tree. While sitting there all doubled up and unable to sleep, he heard the confused sound of many voices in the distance gradually approaching to where he was. He said to himself, "how strange! I thought I was all alone in the mountain but I hear the voices of many people";
So taking courage he peeped out, and saw a great crowd of strange looking beings. Some were red and dresses in green clothes; others were black and dresses in red clothes; some had only one eye; others had no mouth; indeed it is quite impossible to describe their varied and strange looks.
They kindled a fire, so that it became as bright as day. They sat down in two cross rows, and began to drink wine and make merry just like human beings. They passed the wine cup around so often that many of them became very drunk. One of the young devils got up and began to sing a merry song and to dance; so also many others; some danced well, others badly. One said, "we have had uncommon fun to-night, but I would like to see something new".
The old man losing all fear, thought he would like to dance, and saying "let come what will, if I die for it I will have a dance too", crept out of the hollow tree, and with his cap slipped over his nose and his axe sticking in his belt began to dance. The devils in great surprise jumped up saying, "who is this"; but the old man advancing and receding, swaying to and fro, and posturing this way and that way, the whole crowd laughed and enjoyed the fun, saying, "how well the old man dances, you must always come and join us in our sport;
but for fear you might not come you must give us a pledge that you will". So the devils consulted together and agreeing that the lump on his face, which was a token of wealth, was what he valued most highly, demanded that it should be taken. The old man replied, "I have had this lump many years and would not without good reason part with it; but you may have it, or an eye or my nose either if you wish". So the devils laid hold of it, twisting and pulling, and took it off without giving him any pain, and put it away as a pledge that he would come back. Just then the day began to dawn and the birds to sing, so the devils hurried away.
The old man felt his face and found it quite smooth and not a trace of the lump left. He forgot all about cutting wood, and hastened home. His wife seeing him, exclaimed in great surprise "what has happened to you". So he told her all that had befallen him.
Now among the neighbors there was another old man who had a big lump on the left side of his face. Hearing all about how the old man had got rid of his lump, he determined that he would also try the same plan to get rid of his lump. So he went and crept into the hollow tree and waited for the devils to come. Sure enough, they came just as he was told. They sat down, drank wine and made merry just as they did before. The old man afraid and trembling crept out of the hollow tree. The devils welcomed him saying, "the old man has come now let us see him dance" This old man was awkward and did not dance as well as the other.
So the devils cried out, "You dance badly, and are getting worse and worse, we will give you back the lump which we took from you as a pledge". Upon this one of the devils brought the lump and stuck it on the other side of his face; so the old man returned home with a lump on each side of his face.
Many hundred years ago there lived an honest old woodcutter and his wife. One fine morning the old man went off to the hills with his billhook, to gather a faggot of sticks, while his wife went down to the river to wash the dirty clothes. When she came to the river, she saw a peach floating down the stream; so she picked it up, and carried it home with her, thinking to give it to her husband to eat when he should come in.
The old man soon came down from the hills, and the good wife set the peach before him, when, just as she was inviting him to eat it, the fruit split in two, and a little puling baby was born into the world. So the old couple took the babe, and brought it up as their own; and, because it had been born in a peach, they called it Momotaro, or Little Peachling.
By degrees Little Peachling grew up to be strong and brave, and at last one day he said to his old foster parents: "I am going to the ogres' island to carry off the riches that they have stored up there. Pray, then, make me some millet dumplings for my journey." So the old folks ground the millet, and made the dumplings for him; and Little Peachling, after taking an affectionate leave of them, cheerfully set out on his travels.
As he was journeying on, he fell in with a monkey, who gibbered at him, and said: "Kia! kia! kia! where are you off to, Little Peachling?"
"I'm going to the ogres' island, to carry off their treasure," answered Little Peachling. "What are you carrying at your girdle?" "I'm carrying the very best millet dumplings in all Japan." "If you'll give me one, I will go with you," said the monkey.
So Little Peachling gave one of his dumplings to the monkey, who received it and followed him. When he had gone a little further, he heard a pheasant calling: "Ken! ken! ken! where are you off to, Master Peachling?"
Little Peachling answered as before; and the pheasant, having begged and obtained a millet dumpling, entered his service, and followed him.
A little while after this, they met a dog, who cried: "Bow! wow! wow! whither away, Master Peachling?"
"I'm going off to the ogres' island, to carry off their treasure." "If you will give me one of those nice millet dumplings of yours, I will go with you," said the dog. "With all my heart," said Little Peachling. So he went on his way, with the monkey, the pheasant, and the dog following after him.
When they got to the ogres' island, the pheasant flew over the castle gate, and the monkey clambered over the castle wall, while Little Peachling, leading the dog, forced in the gate, and got into the castle.
Then they did battle with the ogres, and put them to flight, and took their king prisoner. So all the ogres did homage to Little Peachling, and brought out the treasures which they had laid up. There were caps and coats that made their wearers invisible, jewels which governed the ebb and flow of the tide, coral, musk, emeralds, amber, and tortoise shell, besides gold and silver. All these were laid before Little Peachling by the conquered ogres. So Little Peachling went home laden with riches, and maintained his foster parents in peace and plenty for the remainder of their lives.
Source: A. B. Mitford, Tales of Old Japan, (London: Macmillan, 1871), vol. 1, pp. 267-269.
His Highness Fire-flash was a Prince who was fond of fishing; and so great was his luck that big fishes, and little fishes, and all kinds of fishes came to his line. His younger brother, Prince Fire-fade, was fond of hunting, and all his luck was on the hills, and in the woods, where he caught birds and beasts of every kind.
One day Prince Fire-fade said to his elder brother Prince Fire-flash; "Let us change. You go and hunt instead of me, and I will try my luck at fishing, if you will lend me your line and hook." Prince Fire-flash did not care much to change, and at first said No; but his brother kept on teasing him about it, until at last he said, "Very well, then; let us change." Then Prince Fire-fade tried his luck at fishing, but not a single fish did he catch; and, what was worse, he lost his brother's hook in the sea. Prince Fire-flash asked him for the hook, saying: "Hunting is one thing, and fishing is another. Let us both go back to our own ways."
Then said Prince Fire-fade, "I did not catch a single fish with your hook, and at last I lost it in the sea." But Prince Fire-flash said: "I must and shall have my fish-hook." So the younger brother broke his long sword, that was girded on him, and, of the pieces, made five hundred fish-hooks, and begged Prince Fire-flash to take them, but he would not. Then Prince Fire-fade made a thousand fish-hooks and said; "Please take them instead of the one which I lost." But the elder brother said; "No, I must have my own hook, and I will not take another. Then Prince Fire-fade was very sorry, and sat down by the sea shore, crying bitterly.
By and by the Wise Old Man of the Sea came to him and asked: "Why are you crying so bitterly Prince Fire-fade?" Fire-fade told him the story of the lost fish-hook, and how that his brother was angry, still saying that he must have the very same hook and no other. Then the Wise Old Man of the Sea built a stout little boat, and made Prince Fire-fade sit in it. Having pushed it a little from the land, he said; "Now go on for some time in the boat; it will be very pleasant, for the sea is calm. Soon you will come to a palace built like a fish's scales: this is the palace of the Sea-King.
When you reach the gate, you will see a fine cassia-tree, growing above the well, by the side of the gate. If you will sit on the top of that tree, the Sea-King's daughter will see you, and tell you what to do. So prince Fire-fade did as he was told, and everything came to pass just as the Wise Old Man of the Sea had told him. As soon as he was come to the Sea-King's palace, he made haste, and climbed up into the cassia-tree, and sat there. Then came the maidens of the Princess Pearl, the Sea-King's daughter, carrying golden water-pots. They were just going to draw water, when they saw a flood of light upon the well. They looked up, and there in the cassia-tree, was a beautiful young man. Prince Fire-fade saw the maidens, and asked for some water. The maidens drew some, and put it in a golden cup, and gave him to drink. Without tasting the water, the Prince took the jewel that hung at his neck, put it between his lips, and let it drop into the golden cup. It stuck to the cup, so the maidens could not take it off; so they brought the cup, with the jewel in it, to the Princess Pearl.
When she saw the jewel, the Princess asked her maidens: "Is there anyone inside the gate?" So the maidens answered: "There is some one sitting at the top of the cassia-tree, above our well. It is a beautiful young man, -more beautiful even than our King. He asked for water, and we gave him some; but, without drinking it, he dropped this jewel from his lips into the cup, and we have brought it to you." Then Princess Pearl, thinking this very strange, went out to look. She was delighted at the sight. But not giving the Prince time to take more than one little peep at her, she ran to tell her father, saying; "Father, there is a beautiful person at our gate." Then the Sea-King himself went out to look. When he saw the young man on the top of the tree, he knew that it must be Prince Fire-fade.
He made him come down, and led him into the palace, where he seated him upon a throne made of sea-asses' skins, and silk rugs, eight layers each. Then a great feast was spread, and every one was so kind to Prince Fire-fade, that the end of it was, he married Princess Pearl, and lived in that land for three years.
Now, one night, when the three years had almost passed, Prince Fire-fade thought of his home, and what had happened there, and heaved one deep sigh. Princess Pearl was grieved, and told her father, saying; "We have been so happy these three years, and he never sighed before, but last night, he heaved one deep sigh. What can the meaning of it be?" So the Sea-King asked the Prince to tell him what ailed him, and also what had been the reason of his coming to that land. Then Prince Fire-fade told the Sea-King all the story of the fish-hook, and how his elder brother had behaved.
The Sea-King at once called together all the fishes of the Sea, great and small, and asked; "Has any fish taken this fish-hook?" So all the fishes said; "The tai* (a kind of fish) has been complaining of something sticking in his throat, and hurting him when he eats, so perhaps he has taken the hook."
So they made the tai open his mouth, and looked in his throat, and there, sure enough, was the fish-hook. Then the hook was washed and given to Prince Fire-fade. The Sea-King also gave him two jewels. One was called the tide-flowing jewel, and the other was called the tide-ebbing jewel. And he said then to the Prince; "Go home now to your own land, and take back the fish-hook to your brother. In this way you shall plague him. If he plant rice-fields in the upland, make you your rice-fields in the valley; and if he makes rice-fields in the valley, do you make your rice-fields in the upland. I will rule the water so that it may do good to you, but harm to him. If Prince Fire-flash should be angry with you for this, and try to kill you; then put out the tide-flowing jewel, and the tide will come up to drown him. But if he is sorry, and asks pardon, then put out the tide-ebbing jewel, and the tide will go back, and let him live."
Then the Sea-King called all the crocodiles, and said; "His Highness Prince Fire-fade is going to the upper world; which of you will take him there quickly, and bring me back word?" And one crocodile, a fathom long, answered; "I will take him to the upper world, and come back in a day." "Do so, then" said the Sea-King, and be sure that you do not frighten him as you are crossing the middle of the sea." He then seated the Prince upon the crocodile's head, and saw him off.
The crocodile brought him safe home, in one day as he had promised. When the crocodile was going to start back again, Prince Fire-fade untied the dirk form his own belt, and setting it on the creature's neck, sent him away.
Then Prince Fire-fade gave the fish-hook to his elder bother; and, in all things, did as the Sea-King had told him to do. So from that time, Prince Fire-flash became poor, and came with great fury to kill his brother. But, just in time, Prince Fire-fade put forth the tide-flowing jewel to drown him. When he found himself in such danger, Prince Fire-flash said he was sorry. So his brother put forth the tide-ebbing jewel to save him.
When he had been plagued in this way for a long time, he bowed his head, saying; "From this time forth, I submit to you, my younger brother. I will be your guard by day and by night, and in all things serve you." His struggles in the water, when he thought he was drowning, are shown at the Emperor's Court even to this day.
This story is often told at Hinamatsuri (Girls' Festival), March 3rd, one of the traditional festivals still celebrated in Japan.
In ancient days there lived in a remote part of Japan a man and his wife, and they were blessed with a little girl, who was the pet and idol of her parents. On one occasion the man was called away on business in distant Kyoto. Before he went he told his daughter that if she were good and dutiful to her mother he would bring her back a present she would prize very highly. Then the good man took his departure, mother and daughter watching him go.
At last he returned to his home, and after his wife and child had taken off his large hat and sandals he sat down upon the white mats and opened a bamboo basket, watching the eager gaze of his little child. He took out a wonderful doll and a lacquer box of cakes and put them into her outstretched hands. Once more he dived into his basket, and presented his wife with a metal mirror. Its convex surface shone brightly, while upon its back there was a design of pine trees and storks.
The good man's wife had never seen a mirror before, and on gazing into it she was under the impression that another woman looked out upon her as she gazed with growing wonder. Her husband explained the mystery and bade her take great care of the mirror. Not long after this happy homecoming and distribution of presents the woman became very ill. Just before she died she called to her little daughter, and said: "Dear child, when I am dead take every care of your father. You will miss me when I have left you. But take this mirror, and when you feel most lonely look into it and you will always see me." Having said these words she passed away.
In due time the man married again, and his wife was not at all kind to her stepdaughter. But the little one, remembering her mother's words, would retire to a corner and eagerly look into the mirror, where it seemed to her that she saw her dear mother's face, not drawn in pain as she had seen it on her deathbed, but young and beautiful. One day this child's stepmother chanced to see her crouching in a corner over an object she could not quite see, murmuring to herself. This ignorant woman, who detested the child and believed that her stepdaughter detested her in return, fancied that this little one was performing some strange magical art--perhaps making an image and sticking pins into it. Full of these notions, the stepmother went to her husband and told him that his wicked child was doing her best to kill her by witchcraft.
When the master of the house had listened to this extraordinary recital he went straight to his daughter's room. He took her by surprise, and immediately the girl saw him she slipped the mirror into her sleeve. For the first time her doting father grew angry, and he feared that there was, after all, truth in what his wife had told him, and he repeated her tale forthwith. When his daughter had heard this unjust accusation she was amazed at her father's words, and she told him that she loved him far too well ever to attempt or wish to kill his wife, who she knew was dear to him. "What have you hidden in your sleeve?" said her father, only half convinced and still much puzzled.
"The mirror you gave my mother, and which she on her deathbed gave to me. Every time I look into its shining surface I see the face of my dear mother, young and beautiful. When my heart aches--and oh! it has ached so much lately--I take out the mirror, and mother's face, with sweet, kind smile, brings me peace, and helps me to bear hard words and cross looks." Then the man understood and loved his child the more for her filial piety. Even the girl's stepmother, when she knew what had really taken place, was ashamed and asked forgiveness. And this child, who believed she had seen her mother's face in the mirror, forgave, and trouble forever departed from the home.
Source: F. Hadland Davis, Myths and Legends of Japan (London: George G. Harrap, 1917), pp. 196-198.
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