The Old Woman of Rice Ball Mountain

🍊No. 49 Three Topics (Japanese Folktales)
🎈Topic 1: "The Tanuki of Rice Ball Mountain"
🐾Topic 2: "The White Snake of the Deep Mountains"
⏳Topic 3: "The Mountain Mouse's Lantern Shop"

Topic 4: Please write about a world imagined from the illustration.

Title
The Old Woman of Rice Ball Mountain

[Preface]

Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by mountains, there lived a very kind old woman.

She was the kind of old woman who would go anywhere if she heard of someone in trouble or an animal that was hungry.

This is a story about that old woman and the White Snake.

[Main Text]

Once upon a time, in a certain village, there lived an old woman who was known for being very kind.

It is said that if she heard of a hungry tanuki, she would travel all the way to Rice Ball Mountain to feed it rice balls.

The villagers called her "The Old Woman of Rice Ball Mountain."

One day.

A rumor spread that the White Snake living deep in the mountains had fallen ill.

It was said that the white snake was a deity, and everyone headed to the mountains hoping to see it, but no one had ever seen it.

However, the old woman was different.

"If it is suffering from an illness, I must take it some medicine."

Saying this, the old woman brewed some medicinal herbs and headed deep into the mountains where the White Snake lived.

It was just as she was making her way along the deep mountain path and crossing the rocky area.

With a slither, a white snake appeared before the old woman.

However, the old woman was not surprised.

"Now, drink this. It should surely make your body feel better."

The white snake quietly drank up the old woman's medicine.

After a while, the white snake slowly raised its head.

"I wish to thank you."

Then, the old woman smiled and said,

"I don't need any thanks. If you've recovered, that is enough for me."

The white snake said nothing, but gently placed something into the basket the old woman was carrying on her back.

From that time on, the old woman strangely began to feel as energetic as a young person.

She did not get tired even when walking along mountain paths.

Even when she woke up in the morning, nothing hurt.

The villagers were puzzled, but the old woman herself did not know the reason either.

Even so, the old woman continued as she always had, going wherever she heard someone was in trouble.

One night, it happened.

The old woman, having run out of fuel for her lamp, went to shop at the "Mountain Mouse's Lamp Shop."

A mountain mouse lived in the small lamp shop.

"Grandma, you are always so energetic. Where does that energy come from?"

Then, the old woman answered with a smile.

"I don't know myself. Ever since some time ago, I haven't had any aches when I wake up in the morning. I even feel like I'm getting younger day by day."

The mountain mouse nodded in agreement.

"That is thanks to your virtue, Grandma."

"Virtue?"

"Good fortune comes back to you in proportion to the kindness you show others."

The old woman smiled bashfully.

"How grateful I am. I am just happy when people in trouble are no longer in trouble."

That night, too, the small light from the lamp shop was gently illuminating the village.

And it is said that the old woman continued to visit anyone in need from then on.

[Afterword]

Being kind to others does not always bring immediate rewards.

However, that kindness may circle back and warm your own heart and life.

Perhaps the white snake deep in the mountains is still watching over the old woman of Omusubi Mountain somewhere.