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A Japanese Folk Story
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Long ago in Japan there lived a traveling monkey man. What does a monkey man do? He earns his living by travelling with a monkey and showing off the animal’s tricks.
One evening, the man came home feeling angry and upset. He told his wife, “Tomorrow morning, I want you to send for the meat trader.”
The wife was confused and asked her husband, “Why do you wish me to send for the meat trader?”
“It’s no use taking that monkey around any longer. He’s too old, and he forgets his tricks. Even if I beat him with my stick, he won’t dance well. I must now sell him to the meat trader and make some money selling his meat. There is nothing else I can do.”
The woman felt sorry for the poor little animal. She begged her husband to spare the animal. “Please don’t sell him to the meat trader,” she cried. “He is such a cute little monkey!” But her begging was worthless. The man had made up his mind. He was going to sell the monkey for meat.
Now the monkey was in the next room, and he heard every word of the conversation. He quickly understood that he was to be killed, and he said to himself, “My murderous master! I have served him faithfully for years. But instead of allowing me to end my days in comfort and peace, he is going to let the meat trader cut me up in pieces! My poor body will be cooked up and eaten? What am I to do?”
The monkey thought for a while, and then an idea came to him. “I know a wild pig living in the forest nearby. I have heard that he is a wise pig. Maybe if I tell him my troubles, he will give me advice. I will go and try.”
There was no time to lose. The monkey slipped out of the house and ran quickly to the forest to find the pig. The pig was at home, and the monkey told the pig his sad story.
“Good Mr. Pig, I have heard of your excellent wisdom. I am in great trouble, and you alone can help me. I have grown old in the service of my master, and because I cannot dance properly, now he plans to kill me and sell the meat to the meat trader. What do you advise me to do? I know how clever you are!”
The pig was pleased to hear the kind words of praise. And he decided to help the monkey. He thought for a little while and then said . . .
