An old couple lived alone in a small village. The old man was kind but his wife, the old woman had a bad temper and would get angry at smallest things. Since they had no children, the old man wanted to adopt a son but his wife would not agree. In his old age, he kept a tiny sparrow as a companion and took care of it though the old woman did not like this pet.

On the washing day, the old woman is in worse mood because she would get a back and knee pain after bending. One time, on the washing day, the woman put the red wooden bowl filled with starch outside to cool but when her back was turned, the sparrow hopped up to the bowl and pecked the starch.

As soon as the old woman turned around and saw this scene, she was filled with rage. In anger, she cut the sparrow’s tongue with scissors and threw the sparrow quickly out of the house. The sparrow still bleeding flew away

The old man came back home and found his per missing, he got to know what had happened from his wife and was devasted. He went in search for his sparrow while shouting his name.

Some time later, the old man was wandering on the mountain and came across his sparrow. Both of them greeted each other happily after the abrupt parting. The old man was happy to know his friend was doing well.

The sparrow invited his old friend to visit his home and he introduced his wife and two daughters. The sparrow’s house was beautiful, a small waterfall with stepping stone was in the bamboo back garden. The sparrow’s wife served him sweet potato custard and many delicious things.

The sparrow’s eldest daughter, Miss Suzumi also respectably offered tea to her father’s friend. The old man was impressed the sparrow family’s care and ate food happily. After being insisted, he agreed to stay for some nights. The next few days, the old man was relaxed and enjoyed the food and care.

He played go with sparrow’s youngest daughter and tried different refreshments. He sung and danced with Sparrow and enjoyed himself. In the happiness, he forget about his angry and difficult wife back home.

After staying for four days, the old man got ready to leave on the fifth day. To send the old man off, sparrow prepared two baskets of plaited rattan and requested him to accept the parting gift. One basket of heavy and the other was light, the old man chose the lighter one without hesitation and set for the journey back home.

Once he stepped into the house, his wife began scolding him for being away for so long. The old man was tired, he explained her how he met the sparrow and opened the basket he brought back. Both the old man and woman were shocked on seeing what was inside.

The basket was full of silver and gold coins, precious books, gems, ambers and many other priceless things. While the old man was surprised, the old woman thoughts were full of greed, if her husband can get it why can’t she?

She went to the mountain and knocked on the sparrow’s house. The sparrow politely invited her and served her a cup of tea. Unlike before, he made no invitation for her to stay nor did he introduce her to his family.

As the old woman leaving, she realized he is not giving her a goodbye present so she boldly asked for one. Sparrow put two baskets in front of her, the old woman immediately picked up the heavier one and left without a ‘thank you’.

The old woman opened the basket but instead of gold and treasures, a cuttlefish jumped at her and a horned demon snapped his tusks at her. A long snake coiled around and squeezed her till her bones cracked and breath left her.

The old man buried his wife and adopted a son as a companion. He lived a leisurely life with the help of the treasures his sparrow friend gifted him.

LESSON

The old woman’s greedy choice resulted in her death while the old man treated everyone with kindness lived his life with happiness. The old man valued his friendship with sparrow and cared about his friend, his choice of not being greedy was rewarded. The sparrow also returned care he received from the old man.