The Story of the Old Man who Made Withered Trees to Flower

Long, long ago there lived an old man and his wife who supported themselves by cultivating a small plot of land. Their life had been a very happy and peaceful one save for one great sorrow, and this was they had no child. Their only pet was a dog named Shiro, and on him they lavished all the affection of their old age. Indeed, they loved him so much that whenever they had anything nice to eat they denied themselves to give it to Shiro. Now Shiro means “white,” and he was so called because of his color. He was a real Japanese dog, and very like a small wolf in appearance.

むかしむかし、小さな畑を耕して暮らしを立てている爺さんと婆さんが住んでいた。二人の暮らしは、ひとつの大きな嘆きを除けばたいそう幸せで穏やかであった。その嘆きとは、子がないということである。たった一つの慰めはシロという名の犬で、二人は老いの愛情のすべてをこの犬に注いでいた。まことに、あまりに愛していたので、何かうまいものが手に入ると、自分たちは我慢してシロに与えるほどであった。さてシロとは「白」という意味で、その毛の色からそう呼ばれていた。生粋の日本の犬で、見かけは小さな狼にたいそうよく似ていた。

The happiest hour of the day both for the old man and his dog was when the man returned from his work in the field, and having finished his frugal supper of rice and vegetables, would take what he had saved from the meal out to the little veranda that ran round the cottage. Sure enough, Shiro was waiting for his master and the evening tit-bit. Then the old man said “Chin, chin!” and Shiro sat up and begged, and his master gave him the food. Next door to this good old couple there lived another old man and his wife who were both wicked and cruel, and who hated their good neighbors and the dog Shiro with all their might. Whenever Shiro happened to look into their kitchen they at once kicked him or threw something at him, sometimes even wounding him.

爺さんにとっても犬にとっても、一日でいちばん幸せなときは、爺さんが畑仕事から帰り、米と野菜のつましい夕餉をすませて、小屋をぐるりと回る小さな縁側へ、膳から取り分けておいたものを持って出るときであった。果たしてシロは、主人と夕方のごちそうを待っていた。すると爺さんが「ちんちん!」と言い、シロは後ろ足で座ってねだり、主人はその食べ物を与えるのだった。このよい老夫婦の隣には、もう一組の爺さんと婆さんが住んでいた。二人とも意地が悪くむごい性で、善良な隣人と犬のシロをこのうえなく憎んでいた。シロがたまたま彼らの台所をのぞくと、二人はすぐさま蹴ったり物を投げつけたりして、ときには傷を負わせることさえあった。

One day Shiro was heard barking for a long time in the field at the back of his master’s house. The old man, thinking that perhaps some birds were attacking the corn, hurried out to see what was the matter. As soon as Shiro saw his master he ran to meet him, wagging his tail, and, seizing the end of his kimono, dragged him under a large yenoki tree. Here he began to dig very industriously with his paws, yelping with joy all the time. The old man, unable to understand what it all meant, stood looking on in bewilderment. But Shiro went on barking and digging with all his might.

ある日、シロが主人の家の裏の畑で長いこと吠えているのが聞こえた。爺さんは、鳥でも麦を荒らしているのかと思って、何事かと急いで出ていった。シロは主人を見るやいなや、尾を振りながら迎えに駆け寄り、その着物の裾をくわえて、大きな榎(えのき)の木の下へ引っぱっていった。そしてそこで前足でたいそう熱心に掘りはじめ、そのあいだじゅう喜んでくんくん鳴いた。爺さんは何のことか分からず、当惑して立って見ていた。けれどもシロは力のかぎり吠え、掘りつづけた。

The thought that something might be hidden beneath the tree, and that the dog had scented it, at last struck the old man. He ran back to the house, fetched his spade and began to dig the ground at that spot. What was his astonishment when, after digging for some time, he came upon a heap of old and valuable coins, and the deeper he dug the more gold coins did he find. So intent was the old man on his work that he never saw the cross face of his neighbor peering at him through the bamboo hedge. At last all the gold coins lay shining on the ground. Shiro sat by erect with pride and looking fondly at his master as if to say, “You see, though only a dog, I can make some return for all the kindness you show me.”

木の下に何かが隠されていて、犬がその匂いを嗅ぎつけたのではないか——とうとうそんな考えが爺さんの頭に浮かんだ。爺さんは家へ駆け戻って鋤を取ってきて、その場所の地面を掘りはじめた。しばらく掘るうちに、古くて値打ちのある貨幣の山に行き当たったときの驚きようといったらなかった。深く掘れば掘るほど、金貨がいくつも出てきた。爺さんは仕事にあまりに夢中で、竹垣ごしに隣人の意地の悪い顔がのぞいているのにまるで気づかなかった。とうとう金貨はみな地面の上に輝いて並んだ。シロは誇らしげに背筋を伸ばして座り、いとおしそうに主人を見ていた。まるでこう言うかのように。「ごらんなさい、ただの犬ですが、あなたのくださった親切のお返しが少しはできるのですよ。」

The old man ran in to call his wife, and together they carried home the treasure. Thus in one day the poor old man became rich. His gratitude to the faithful dog knew no bounds, and he loved and petted him more than ever, if that were possible.

爺さんは婆さんを呼びに駆け込み、二人でその宝を家へ運んだ。こうして一日で、貧しい爺さんは富んだ者となった。忠実な犬への感謝は限りなく、もしそんなことがありうるなら、前にも増して犬を愛しかわいがった。

The cross old neighbor, attracted by Shiro’s barking, had been an unseen and envious witness of the finding of the treasure. He began to think that he, too, would like to find a fortune. So a few days later he called at the old man’s house and very ceremoniously asked permission to borrow Shiro for a short time.

意地の悪い隣の爺さんは、シロの吠え声に引かれて、宝が見つかるのを人知れず妬ましく見ていた。そして自分も一財産見つけたいものだと思いはじめた。そこで何日かのち、爺さんの家を訪ねて、たいそう仰々しく、少しのあいだシロを貸してほしいと願い出た。

Shiro’s master thought this a strange request, because he knew quite well that not only did his neighbor not love his pet dog, but that he never lost an opportunity of striking and tormenting him whenever the dog crossed his path. But the good old man was too kind-hearted to refuse his neighbor, so he consented to lend the dog on condition that he should be taken great care of.

シロの主人はこれを妙な頼みだと思った。隣人が飼い犬をかわいがらないどころか、道で行き会うたびに叩いたりいじめたりする機会を逃さないことを、よく知っていたからである。けれどもこの善良な爺さんは心が優しすぎて隣人を断れず、大事に扱ってくれるならという条件で、犬を貸すことに承知した。

The wicked old man returned to his home with an evil smile on his face, and told his wife how he had succeeded in his crafty intentions. He then took his spade and hastened to his own field, forcing the unwilling Shiro to follow him. As soon as he reached a yenoki tree, he said to the dog, threateningly:

悪い隣の爺さんは、顔に邪な笑みを浮かべて家へ戻り、狡い目論見がうまくいったことを婆さんに話した。それから鋤を取って自分の畑へ急ぎ、嫌がるシロを無理やり従えていった。榎の木のところに着くとすぐ、脅すように犬に言った。

“If there were gold coins under your master’s tree, there must also be gold coins under my tree. You must find them for me! Where are they? Where? Where?”

「おまえの主人の木の下に金貨があったのなら、おれの木の下にも金貨があるはずだ。それを見つけろ! どこだ。どこだ。どこだ!」

And catching hold of Shiro’s neck he held the dog’s head to the ground, so that Shiro began to scratch and dig in order to free himself from the horrid old man’s grasp.

そしてシロの首をつかんで、その頭を地面に押しつけたので、シロはこの恐ろしい爺さんの手から逃れようと、地面を掻いて掘りはじめた。

The old man was very pleased when he saw the dog begin to scratch and dig, for he at once supposed that some gold coins lay buried under his tree as well as under his neighbor’s, and that the dog had scented them as before; so pushing Shiro away he began to dig himself, but there was nothing to be found. As he went on digging a foul smell was noticeable, and he at last came upon a refuse heap.

爺さんは犬が掻いて掘りはじめたのを見てたいそう喜んだ。隣の木の下と同じく自分の木の下にも金貨が埋まっていて、犬が前と同じようにその匂いを嗅ぎつけたのだと、すぐさま思い込んだからである。そこでシロを押しのけて自分で掘りはじめたが、何も出てこなかった。掘りつづけるうちに嫌な臭いが漂いはじめ、とうとうごみの山に掘り当てた。

The old man’s disgust can be imagined. This soon gave way to anger. He had seen his neighbor’s good fortune, and hoping for the same luck himself, he had borrowed the dog Shiro; and now, just as he seemed on the point of finding what he sought, only a horrid smelling refuse heap had rewarded him for a morning’s digging. Instead of blaming his own greed for his disappointment, he blamed the poor dog. He seized his spade, and with all his strength struck Shiro and killed him on the spot. He then threw the dog’s body into the hole which he had dug in the hope of finding a treasure of gold coins, and covered it over with the earth. Then he returned to the house, telling no one, not even his wife, what he had done.

爺さんの嫌気は想像がつくだろう。それはすぐさま怒りに変わった。隣人の幸運を見て、自分も同じ運にあずかりたいと犬のシロを借りたのに、今や求めるものを見つけようというまさにそのときに、ひと朝の掘り仕事の報いは、おぞましい臭いのごみの山でしかなかった。爺さんは、落胆を自分の欲深さのせいにする代わりに、哀れな犬を責めた。鋤をつかみ、力のかぎりシロを打って、その場で殺してしまった。それから犬の亡骸を、金貨の宝を見つけたいと掘った穴に投げ込み、土をかぶせた。そして家へ帰り、自分がしたことを、婆さんにさえ誰にも話さなかった。

After waiting several days, as the dog Shiro did not return, his master began to grow anxious. Day after day went by and the good old man waited in vain. Then he went to his neighbor and asked him to give him back his dog. Without any shame or hesitation, the wicked neighbor answered that he had killed Shiro because of his bad behavior. At this dreadful news Shiro’s master wept many sad and bitter tears. Great indeed, was his woful surprise, but he was too good and gentle to reproach his bad neighbor. Learning that Shiro was buried under the yenoki tree in the field, he asked the old man to give him the tree, in remembrance of his poor dog Shiro.

幾日か待っても犬のシロが帰ってこないので、主人は心配になってきた。日が一日また一日と過ぎ、善良な爺さんはむなしく待った。そこで隣人のところへ行き、犬を返してくれと頼んだ。悪い隣人は、恥じらいもためらいもなく、行いが悪いのでシロを殺したと答えた。この恐ろしい知らせに、シロの主人は悲しく苦い涙を幾度も流した。その痛ましい驚きはまことに大きかったが、爺さんは善良で穏やかすぎて、悪い隣人を責めることもできなかった。シロが畑の榎の木の下に埋められていると知ると、爺さんは、哀れな犬シロの形見にその木をくださいと頼んだ。

Even the cross old neighbor could not refuse such a simple request, so he consented to give the old man the tree under which Shiro lay buried. Shiro’s master then cut the tree down and carried it home. Out of the trunk he made a mortar. In this his wife put some rice, and he began to pound it with the intention of making a festival to the memory of his dog Shiro.

意地の悪い隣の爺さんも、これほど素朴な願いは断れず、シロの埋まっている木を譲ることに承知した。シロの主人はその木を切り倒して家へ運んだ。そしてその幹から臼をこしらえた。婆さんがそこに米を入れ、爺さんは犬シロの供養の餅をつこうとして、それを搗きはじめた。

A strange thing happened! His wife put the rice into the mortar, and no sooner had he begun to pound it to make the cakes, than it began to increase in quantity gradually till it was about five times the original amount, and the cakes were turned out of the mortar as if an invisible hand were at work.

不思議なことが起きた! 婆さんが米を臼に入れ、爺さんが餅にしようと搗きはじめるやいなや、米は次第に量を増していって、とうとうもとの五倍ほどになり、餅は目に見えぬ手が働いているかのように臼から次々と出てきたのである。

When the old man and his wife saw this, they understood that it was a reward to them from Shiro for their faithful love to him. They tasted the cakes and found them nicer than any other food. So from this time they never troubled about food, for they lived upon the cakes with which the mortar never ceased to supply them.

爺さんと婆さんはこれを見て、これは自分たちの変わらぬ愛への、シロからの褒美なのだと悟った。二人は餅を味わい、それがどんな食べ物よりもうまいことを知った。そこでこのときから、二人は食べ物に困ることがなくなった。臼が絶えず出しつづける餅で暮らしたからである。

The greedy neighbor, hearing of this new piece of good luck, was filled with envy as before, and called on the old man and asked leave to borrow the wonderful mortar for a short time, pretending that he, too, sorrowed for the death of Shiro, and wished to make cakes for a festival to the dog’s memory.

欲深い隣人はこの新たな幸運のことを聞き、前と同じく妬みでいっぱいになり、爺さんを訪ねて、少しのあいだあの不思議な臼を貸してくれと頼んだ。自分もシロの死を悲しんでいて、犬の供養の餅をつきたいのだと偽ったのである。

The old man did not in the least wish to lend it to his cruel neighbor, but he was too kind to refuse. So the envious man carried home the mortar, but he never brought it back.

爺さんはこのむごい隣人に貸す気などみじんもなかったが、優しすぎて断れなかった。そこで妬み深い男は臼を家へ運んでいったが、二度と返しに来なかった。

Several days passed, and Shiro’s master waited in vain for the mortar, so he went to call on the borrower, and asked him to be good enough to return the mortar if he had finished with it. He found him sitting by a big fire made of pieces of wood. On the ground lay what looked very much like pieces of a broken mortar. In answer to the old man’s inquiry, the wicked neighbor answered haughtily:

幾日か過ぎ、シロの主人はむなしく臼を待っていたので、借り手のところへ出かけて、もう使い終わったのなら返してくださいと頼んだ。行ってみると、隣人は木切れをくべた大きな火のそばに座っていた。地面には、砕けた臼の破片としか見えないものが転がっていた。爺さんが尋ねると、悪い隣人は横柄に答えた。

“Have you come to ask me for your mortar? I broke it to pieces, and now I am making a fire of the wood, for when I tried to pound cakes in it only some horrid smelling stuff came out.”

「臼を返せと言いに来たのか。粉々に割って、いま薪にして燃やしているところだ。あれで餅をつこうとしたら、恐ろしい臭いのするものしか出てこなかったのでな。」

The good old man said:

善良な爺さんは言った。

“I am very sorry for that. It is a great pity you did not ask me for the cakes if you wanted them. I would have given you as many as ever you wanted. Now please give me the ashes of the mortar, as I wish to keep them in remembrance of my dog.”

「それはたいそう気の毒なことをした。餅が欲しかったのなら、わたしに言ってくれればよかったものを。いくらでも欲しいだけ差し上げたのに。では、どうかその臼の灰をくださらんか。犬の形見に取っておきたいのです。」

The neighbor consented at once, and the old man carried home a basket full of ashes.

隣人はすぐに承知し、爺さんは籠いっぱいの灰を家へ運んだ。

Not long after this the old man accidentally scattered some of the ashes made by the burning of the mortar on the trees of his garden. A wonderful thing happened!

それからほどなく、爺さんはうっかりして、臼を燃やしてできた灰を庭の木に少し振りかけた。すると不思議なことが起きた!

It was late in autumn and all the trees had shed their leaves, but no sooner did the ashes touch their branches than the cherry trees, the plum trees, and all other blossoming shrubs burst into bloom, so that the old man’s garden was suddenly transformed into a beautiful picture of spring. The old man’s delight knew no bounds, and he carefully preserved the remaining ashes.

秋も更けていて、木はみな葉を落としていた。ところが灰が枝に触れるやいなや、桜も梅も、そのほか花をつける木という木がぱっと咲き誇り、爺さんの庭はたちまち春の美しい絵に変わった。爺さんの喜びは限りなく、残りの灰を大切にしまっておいた。

The story of the old man’s garden spread far and wide, and people from far and near came to see the wonderful sight.

爺さんの庭の話は遠く広くに伝わり、遠近から人々がこの不思議な眺めを見にやって来た。

One day, soon after this, the old man heard some one knocking at his door, and going to the porch to see who it was he was surprised to see a Knight standing there. This Knight told him that he was a retainer of a great Daimio (Earl); that one of the favorite cherry trees in this nobleman’s garden had withered, and that though every one in his service had tried all manner of means to revive it, none took effect. The Knight was sore perplexed when he saw what great displeasure the loss of his favorite cherry tree caused the Daimio. At this point, fortunately, they had heard that there was a wonderful old man who could make withered trees to blossom, and that his Lord had sent him to ask the old man to come to him.

それからまもなくのある日、爺さんは戸を叩く音を聞き、誰かと玄関へ出てみると、そこに侍が一人立っているのを見て驚いた。この侍が言うには、自分はさる大名(だいみょう)の家来である。この殿の庭でお気に入りの桜の一本が枯れてしまい、家中の者がありとあらゆる手を尽くして生き返らせようとしたが、どれも効き目がなかった。お気に入りの桜を失ったことが殿をどれほど不機嫌にさせているかを見て、侍は途方に暮れていた。そこへ幸い、枯木に花を咲かせられる不思議な爺さんがいると聞き及んだので、殿がその爺さんを呼びに自分を遣わされたのだ、という。

“And,” added the Knight, “I shall be very much obliged if you will come at once.”

「そして」と侍は言い添えた。「すぐにお越しくださればたいそうありがたい。」

The good old man was greatly surprised at what he heard, but respectfully followed the Knight to the nobleman’s Palace.

善良な爺さんは聞いたことにたいそう驚いたが、うやうやしく侍に従って殿の館へ向かった。

The Daimio, who had been impatiently awaiting the old man’s coming, as soon as he saw him asked him at once:

爺さんの到着を待ちかねていた大名は、その姿を見るやいなや、すぐにこう尋ねた。

“Are you the old man who can make withered trees flower even out of season?”

「そなたが、季節はずれでも枯木に花を咲かせられるという爺か。」

The old man made an obeisance, and replied:

爺さんは平伏して答えた。

“I am that old man!”

「わたくしがその爺でございます!」

Then the Daimio said:

すると大名は言った。

“You must make that dead cherry tree in my garden blossom again by means of your famous ashes. I shall look on.”

「わが庭のあの枯れた桜を、そなたの名高い灰で、もう一度咲かせてみせよ。わしが見ておる。」

Then they all went into the garden—the Daimio and his retainers and the ladies-in waiting, who carried the Daimio’s sword.

それから一同は庭へ出た——大名と家来たち、そして大名の刀を捧げ持つ奥向きの女たちである。

The old man now tucked up his kimono and made ready to climb the tree. Saying “Excuse me,” he took the pot of ashes which he had brought with him, and began to climb the tree, every one watching his movements with great interest.

爺さんは着物の裾をからげて木に登る支度をした。「御免くださいませ」と言って、持ってきた灰の壺を取り、木に登りはじめた。誰もがその動きを大きな関心をもって見守った。

At last he climbed to the spot where the tree divided into two great branches, and taking up his position here, the old man sat down and scattered the ashes right and left all over the branches and twigs.

とうとう爺さんは木が二つの大枝に分かれるところまで登り、そこに腰を据えて座り、枝という枝、小枝という小枝の上へ、右へ左へと灰を振りまいた。

Wonderful, indeed, was the result! The withered tree at once burst into full bloom! The Daimio was so transported with joy that he looked as if he would go mad. He rose to his feet and spread out his fan, calling the old man down from the tree. He himself gave the old man a wine cup filled with the best SAKE, and rewarded him with much silver and gold and many other precious things. The Daimio ordered that henceforth the old man should call himself by the name of Hana-Saka-Jijii, or “The Old Man who makes the Trees to Blossom,” and that henceforth all were to recognize him by this name, and he sent him home with great honor.

その結果はまことに見事であった! 枯れた木はたちまち満開に咲き誇った! 大名は喜びのあまり我を忘れ、気が触れるのではないかと見えるほどであった。立ち上がって扇を広げ、爺さんを木から呼び下ろした。そして自ら最上の酒を満たした杯を爺さんに与え、多くの金銀とそのほか数々の貴い品を褒美として授けた。大名は、これからのちこの爺さんは花咲か爺(はなさかじじい)、すなわち「木に花を咲かせる爺」と名乗るように、そしてこれからは誰もがこの名で呼ぶようにと命じ、大いなる誉れとともに家へ帰した。

The wicked neighbor, as before, heard of the good old man’s fortune, and of all that had so auspiciously befallen him, and he could not suppress all the envy and jealousy that filled his heart. He called to mind how he had failed in his attempt to find the gold coins, and then in making the magic cakes; this time surely he must succeed if he imitated the old man, who made withered trees to flower simply by sprinkling ashes on them. This would be the simplest task of all.

悪い隣人は、前と同じく善良な爺さんの幸運と、その身に起きためでたいことのすべてを聞きつけ、心を満たす妬みとそねみを抑えることができなかった。金貨を見つけようとして、次に不思議な餅をつこうとして、どちらも失敗したことを思い返した。だが今度こそきっとうまくいくはずだ。灰を振りかけるだけで枯木に花を咲かせたあの爺さんを真似るのだから。これこそいちばんたやすい仕事だろう。

So he set to work and gathered together all the ashes which remained in the fire-place from the burning of the wonderful mortar. Then he set out in the hope of finding some great man to employ him, calling out loudly as he went along:

そこで隣人は仕事にかかり、あの不思議な臼を燃やしたときの灰が炉に残っているのをすっかりかき集めた。それから、自分を雇ってくれる偉い人を見つけようという望みを抱いて出かけ、道々大声で呼ばわった。

“Here comes the wonderful man who can make withered trees blossom! Here comes the old man who can make dead trees blossom!”

「枯木に花を咲かせる不思議な男が参ったぞ! 枯木に花を咲かせる爺が参ったぞ!」

The Daimio in his Palace heard this cry, and said:

館の大名はこの声を聞いて言った。

“That must be the Hana-Saka-Jijii passing. I have nothing to do to-day. Let him try his art again; it will amuse me to look on.”

「あれは花咲か爺が通っておるにちがいない。きょうは何もすることがない。またその術を試させよ。見ていれば慰みになろう。」

So the retainers went out and brought in the impostor before their Lord. The satisfaction of false old man can now be imagined.

そこで家来たちが出ていって、この偽者を殿の前に連れてきた。偽の爺さんの得意顔は想像がつくだろう。

But the Daimio looking at him, thought it strange that he was not at all like the old man he had seen before, so he asked him:

けれども大名はその男を見て、以前会った爺さんとまるで似ていないのを妙に思い、こう尋ねた。

“Are you the man whom I named Hana-Saka-Jijii?”

「そなたは、わしが花咲か爺と名づけた男か。」

And the envious neighbor answered with a lie:

すると妬み深い隣人は嘘をついて答えた。

“Yes, my Lord!”

「はい、殿さま!」

“That is strange!” said the Daimio. “I thought there was only one Hana-Saka-Jijii in the world! Has he now some disciples?”

「それは妙だ!」と大名は言った。「花咲か爺は世にただ一人だと思うておったが。今は弟子でもおるのか。」

“I am the true Hana-Saka-Jijii. The one who came to you before was only my disciple!” replied the old man again.

「わたくしこそまことの花咲か爺でございます。以前お目にかかりましたのは、わたくしの弟子にすぎませぬ!」と爺さんはまた答えた。

“Then you must be more skillful than the other. Try what you can do and let me see!”

「ならばそなたは、あの者よりも腕が立つはずだ。何ができるか試して、見せてみよ!」

The envious neighbor, with the Daimio and his Court following, then went into the garden, and approaching a dead tree, took out a handful of the ashes which he carried with him, and scattered them over the tree.

妬み深い隣人は、大名とその一同を従えて庭へ出ていき、枯れた木に近寄って、持ってきた灰をひとつかみ取り出し、木の上に振りまいた。

But not only did the tree not burst into flower, but not even a bud came forth. Thinking that he had not used enough ashes, the old man took handfuls and again sprinkled them over the withered tree. But all to no effect. After trying several times, the ashes were blown into the Daimio’s eyes. This made him very angry, and he ordered his retainers to arrest the false Hana-Saka-Jijii at once and put him in prison for an impostor. From this imprisonment the wicked old man was never freed. Thus did he meet with punishment at last for all his evil doings.

ところが木は咲き誇るどころか、蕾ひとつつけなかった。灰が足りなかったのだと思って、爺さんは何度もひとつかみずつ取り、枯木に振りかけた。けれどもまるで効き目がない。何度か試すうちに、灰が大名の目に吹き込んだ。大名はこれにたいそう怒り、家来たちに、この偽の花咲か爺をただちに捕らえ、騙りの罪で牢に入れよと命じた。この悪い爺さんは、その牢から二度と出ることはなかった。こうしてとうとう、その悪行のすべてに報いを受けたのである。

The good old man, however, with the treasure of gold coins which Shiro had found for him, and with all the gold and the silver which the Daimio had showered on him, became a rich and prosperous man in his old age, and lived a long and happy life, beloved and respected by all.

一方、善良な爺さんのほうは、シロが見つけてくれた金貨の宝と、大名が惜しみなく与えてくれた金銀とによって、老いてから富み栄える身となり、みなに慕われ敬われながら、長く幸せな生涯を送ったのである。