The Story of the Aged Mother

CHARACTERS:

      *Shinano

                 -poor farmer

                 -a loving son

                 -a patient son

     *Aged Mother

                -a wise woman

                -a loving mother

    *Daimio

                -a cruel man

                -a dictator

           A long time ago, at the foot of mountain there   lived a poor farmer with his aged and widowed mother. The son really loves her mother, he is a son who’s willing to do everything for his mother .Because his mother is too old his   the one who earn for a living and take care of his mother. One time, there was an proclamation to the   entire province that is strictly order this is to put immediately death all aged people  and Shinano’s mother belongs to this people. But he did not let it to happen he took his mother to the mountain of Obatsuyana  the mountain of the Abandoning the Aged  and when they reach the top of the mountain the son say farewell to his mother but he doubt to leave his mother so he decided to take his mother as he go back. And when they are down they stay in a hut the son hide his mother to a walled closet for food there he supply his mother everything. As the time passed by and feel safe when again   the despot sent forth heralds bearing an unreasonable order, seemingly as a boast   of his power .His demand was that his subjects should present him   with a rope of ashes.

       The entire province trembled  with dread. The order  must be obeyed; yet who in all  Shinano  could make a rope of ashes?

      One night, in great distress.  Shinano told the news to his mother and the aged think. And on the second day she told what her son should do. He make a rope of twisted straw  and stretch it upon a row of flat stones and burn it there on a windless night. He called up people to do what she said ,and when the blaze had died, behold, upon the stones, with every twist and fiber showing perfectly lay a rope of whitened ashes.

       Daimio pleased at the wit of the youth and praised him greatly, but he demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom.