英语民间故事Tiny Finger_故事

英语民间故事Tiny Finger

Many, many years ago there lived an honest man and his wife in a small village in the southern part of Japan. This couple lived in happiness together, and even when they were tired from the day's work, they cheered each other with the news of the day. Kenta, for that was the man's name, would tell his wife of the things which had happened in the village that day, and Mori, the wife of Kenta, would tell her husband the news her neighbors had related to her.

Although they were poor, Kenta and Mori were cheerful together. Their happiness was not complete, however, for they had no son to carry on the family name. Each morning the old couple would pray that the Sun Goddess would bless them with a son of their own. Kenta and Mori wished for a son so badly that one day while praying they said, "We will be happy even though our child were but as small as our little fingers. If you give us a child we will do anything in return for your kindness."

Many months passed, but still no child was born. At last, when they had almost given up hope, Mori surprised her husband by telling him that soon they would have a child. Oh, their delight was beyond description! Immediately Kenta hurried to the village shrine and thanked the Sun Goddess for the blessing bestowed upon their marriage.

But when the day of the baby's birth arrived, everyone was astonished and puzzled to see that the child was no larger than the little finger of a human hand.