In a little village surrounded by golden rice paddies, there lived a kind old man and his grumpy wife. The old man loved nature and spent his days tending his tiny garden. His wife, however, was always cross and complained about everything.
Every morning, a cheerful little sparrow with bright eyes would fly into the garden and sing for the old man. He named her Suzume and fed her rice from his own bowl. She would perch on his finger and chirp her happy songs, and the old man's heart was full of joy.
One day, while the old man was away, his wife discovered that the sparrow had eaten the starch she was saving for her laundry. She was furious! In her anger, she grabbed the poor little bird and snipped its tongue with her scissors. The sparrow cried out and flew away into the forest.
When the old man came home and heard what had happened, his eyes filled with tears. "How could you be so cruel to little Suzume?" he cried. Without another word, he put on his straw hat and set off into the mountains to find his beloved sparrow.
He walked through bamboo groves and across mossy streams, calling, "Suzume! Suzume! Where are you?" At last, deep in the forest, he found a beautiful little house surrounded by flowers. And there was Suzume, healthy and happy, surrounded by many other sparrows.
"Welcome, dear friend!" chirped Suzume. The sparrows prepared a wonderful feast for the old man, with rice cakes and sweet tea and tiny dishes of delicious food. They danced and sang for him, and he clapped his hands with delight. It was the happiest meal he had ever had.
When it was time to leave, the sparrows brought out two wicker boxes — one large and one small. "Please choose one as a gift," said Suzume with a bow. The old man, being humble, chose the small box. "I am old and weak," he laughed, "this one is just right for me."
At home, the old man opened the small box and gasped with wonder. Inside were gold coins, beautiful silk cloths, jewels, and precious treasures. He and his wife would never be poor again! The old man smiled and thought of his dear little Suzume.
When the greedy wife saw the treasure, her eyes grew wide as saucers. "There must be even more in the big box!" she cried. She marched into the forest, found the sparrow's house, and demanded the large box. The sparrows silently handed it over, and she rushed home without even saying thank you.
The greedy wife flung open the lid of the large box, expecting mountains of gold. Instead, out jumped scary goblin creatures, slithering snakes, and buzzing wasps! She screamed and ran around the house while the old man chased the creatures away. From that day on, the wife learned to be kinder, and the old man continued to feed the sparrows in his garden, content and grateful for his blessings.
