The Tongue-Cut Sparrow
Japanese Folktale
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Once upon a time, in a quiet village nestled among the rolling hills of Japan, there lived an old man and his neighbor, an old woman. The old man was kind and gentle, always tending to his small garden and helping his neighbors with a warm smile. The old woman, however, was harsh and quick-tempered, often scolding others for the smallest things.
One bright morning, as the old man worked in his garden, he found a little sparrow hopping about. The poor thing looked weak and hungry, so he carefully picked it up and carried it home. There, he fed it some rice and gave it water within a few days the sparrow chirped happily, fluttering around his small house.
The old man loved the little bird and often spoke to it as he went about his work. But the old woman did not share his affection. She scowled whenever she saw the sparrow, calling it a nuisance.
One day, while the old man was away in the fields, the sparrow pecked at a bowl of starch that the old woman had left out. When she returned and saw what had happened, she flew into a rage. "How dare this wretched bird ruin my starch!" she cried. In her fury, she grabbed the tiny creature and, without a second thought, cut off its tongue before throwing it into the air. The poor sparrow fluttered away, disappearing into the trees.
When the old man returned home and learned what had happened, he was heartbroken. He called out for the sparrow, searching through the village, but it was nowhere to be found. Saddened, he continued his days, missing the cheerful chirps that had once greeted him.
Then, one afternoon, as he rested beneath a tree, he heard a familiar song. Looking up, he saw the little sparrow perched on a branch, its eyes bright with joy. "Dear friend, I have been looking for you!" the old man exclaimed.
The sparrow fluttered closer and, with a happy tilt of its head, beckoned the old man to follow. It led him deep into the forest, along winding paths and over sparkling streams, until they reached a hidden place. It was a beautiful sparrow home, nestled among the trees. Other sparrows greeted the old man warmly, and he was invited inside, where a feast was prepared in his honor. They danced and sang, filling the air with laughter and joy.
After some time, the sparrows brought out two baskets, one large and one small. "You may choose one as a gift for your kindness," the little sparrow said, revealing that in this magical place it could talk.
The old man, humble as always, chose the small basket. He thanked the sparrows and made his way home. That evening, when he opened the basket, he gasped in surprise. It was filled with gold, silver, and precious jewels! He could hardly believe his fortune, but he was most grateful for having found his little friend again.
When the old woman saw the treasure and heard his story, her eyes gleamed with greed. "If the small basket held such riches, imagine what must be in the larger one!" she said. Without a moment's hesitation, she demanded to know where the sparrow home was and set off the next morning to find it.
After much searching, she finally found the sparrow home. Though she had
never shown kindness, the sparrows welcomed her as a guest. They prepared a feast and, just as before, offered her a choice between two baskets.
Eager for more riches, the old woman immediately snatched up the large basket. Without even thanking the sparrows, she hurried home, dreaming of the wealth inside.
But when she opened the basket, instead of gold and jewels, out sprang a swarm of horrible creatures, goblins, snakes, and buzzing insects! The old woman shrieked and stumbled back as the creatures filled her home, sending her running in fear. From that day on, she lived with regret, learning too late that greed only brings misfortune.
As for the kind old man, he continued to live humbly, but happily, treasuring the friendship he had found with the little sparrow.
Source: James, Grace. Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales. Gutenberg.org, MacMillan and C., 1912, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/35853/pg35853-images.html#TONGUE-CUT_SPARROW 