Son's Reward

A young woodcutter named Masao lived with his mom and dad on a lonely hillside. He works hard to fulfill his parent's wishes. He works hard all day long but earned very little money. One foggy evening when Masao with his parents sitting in a corner of their house a strong wind began to blow. Masao's old father felt very cold Masao's father said, I wish I had a cup of sake. It made Masao sadder than ever for the heartwarming drink called sake` was very costly. He decided to work harder than before. The next Morning Masao left his bed earlier than usual and made his way to the forest. He continued to chop as the sun climbed he felt hot and thirsty too, his face was wet with sweat. He thought about his father that if only my father was as warm as me. And with that, he began to chop. Then suddenly he heard a sound. He thought that it could possibly be rushing water. As he was thirsty he dropped his ax and ran towards the direction from where the sound was coming. Masao saw a beautiful little waterfall, he cupped a little in his hand and took a taste. He wondered that is that water or was a sake. He tasted it again and again but every time it was delicious sake. Masao quickly took a pitcher he had, filled it with sake, and ran towards his home. His old father loved the sake. A neighbor stopped by for a visit Masao's father offered him a cup of sake. Masao told her all the story of the magical waterfall. The greedy lady had spread the story throughout the village. The next morning when Masao started working he heard the muttering and followed the direction there he saw the whole village standing in front of the waterfall with their pitchers. Then one villager knelt and held his mouth under a waterfall to drink. He drank and exclaimed that it was water, not sake. All the villagers shouted with anger and disappointment. Masao was watching everything from the hiding place he came out and tasted it was the same fine sake. To the hardworking, loving son the magic waterfall gave delicious sake. To everyone else, it gave only cold water.

MORAL: GOD HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES.