The Mallet of Gold- an Old Story from Echigo

Long, long ago, in the province of Echigo (which, gentle reader, is an old name for Niigata), there lived in a village in the hills an elderly couple. (It will come as no surprise to visitors to these pages that the two were poor, childless, but happy.) Though poor, the couple knew not want but were able to share their meager fare and humble abode with an adopted dog and cat. Such was their household. One day jiji (old man, grandpa) was down by the river on some business or other when he heard a commotion. Going to investigate, he found that the tumult was caused by group of youths who had tied a length of twine to the tail of a turtle and were dragging it about, rapping smartly on its shell the while. "Hey, you, enough of that", remonstrated our hero. To no avail. Whereupon he bethought himself of the mochi and sweets his wife had packed for his lunch. "Hey, I'll give you some rice cakes and other dainties if you give me the turtle", to which the louts readily assented. The exchange completed, jiji carried the traumatized creature to a deserted stretch of river where, before releasing the turtle, he advised it to avoid teenage boys in future. To which the turtle made this reply to its astonished saviour: "I cannot thank you enough for saving me from those hateful delinquents. To repay your kindness, I shall place a wondrous treasure of a mallet beside your pillow on the morrow. No ordinary object, but atop this mallet will magically appear a small gold coin each and every morning." And with that mysterious and startling promise, the turtle waddled into the river and vanished from view. "If it hadn't been for you, what might have befallen that poor turtle?" mused the old woman when the day's excitement had been related. And the two discussed the wondrous mallet, not doubting the creature's word but wondering at its mystery. The couple betook themselves to bed at the appointed hour and slept a dreamless sleep until, in the dead of night, a phantom turtle disturbed their slumbers. "I most humbly thank you for coming to my assistance today. To replay your kindless, I shall have a mallet placed beside your pallet. Upon this mallet a bar of gold will appear every day at the time of your morning repast. Live happy and prosper." With that the image of the turtle dissolved, and the couple awakened. Rubbing their eyes and muttering astonishment, the two searched the room, half doubtinng they would find the mysterious mallet, when lo, there it was at the foot of their straw mattress, just as their benefactor had said. - to be continued on the morrow