Hukumusume fairy tale collection > Foreign language >Classical stories of the world

イラスト　Hio

The Apple Branch and Dandelion

Translation　Laurence Hunter

おりがみをつくろう ( おりがみくらぶ より) りんご

Japanese　←→　Japanese ＆ English　←→　English

　One spring day, when all the fields, trees and pastures were a carpet of flowers in bloom

　An apple tree said boastingly to itself.

"Yes, look, look. See how beautiful I have become."

　Even though the tree had only one single branch, it was covered with pretty rose colored buds.

"Why, how beautiful! What a beautiful apple branch that is."

　Said a lady that was passing by in her horse drawn carriage.

"I have never seen such wonderful flowers in all my life. "

　The lady gently broke off the branch and brought it back to her mansion.

　The apple branch was in awe when it first entered the lady’s mansion.

"What a fantastic house this is"

　When the lady entered into the grandest room of the house she spoke to the apple branch.

"From today on, this will be your home."

　The lady then put the branch into a beautiful white vase which looked like it had been made of white snow.

　The apple branch was delighted and couldn’t contain his joy.

"Ha, ha . This is my new house and this vase is my room."

　The apple branch then looked out from the window with white curtains.

"Oh! So many flowers are in bloom.”

　Violets, field poppies, tulips and on the other side of the garden towards the pastures there were hundreds of dandelions in bloom.

"But none are as fine as me. I am the most beautiful."

　When the apple branch thought this over he became even more delighted with himself.

　He felt that he had become a great and distinguished fellow indeed.

"I am a important flower decorating with grace.

　But how about the dandelion who never receives a single glance?

　How sad it is."

　The Sun in the sky who had heard the apple branches words, then spoke out.

"Mr. apple branch, that is not exactly true . The dandelion is also wonderful you know."

"Well, the dandelion is not dirty, but compared to me, what is he!"

"Well, take a look.”

　Before long, a group of young children came into the pastures.

"Wow, dandelions."

　And with the dandelions, happily they made collars and bracelets out of them.

　When they found dandelions with their floss on them.

"Wow, I found a lovely one. Ready? Look now, here I go… fooooo….."

　Blew the breath of the child.

　Although, the apple branch who felt a little jealous of the dandelions and children playing together,

　replied to the sun in this way.

"Well, the dandelion is suited to playing with children you know.

　But me? Adults prefer me."

　At that moment the lady of the house and her friend entered the room.

"Slowly -- slowly . Be careful with it,"

　The lady of the house was carrying something very carefully in her hands.

　Cautiously the lady put it in the vase next to the apple branch.

　Why, it was a bunch of dandelions with their floss.

"How wonderful and beautiful these flowers with their floss are !

　They are so different from the apple branch's flowers, but both are equally beautiful"

　The sun smiled at the lady’s words and then spoke out to the branch.

"There you go Mr. apple branch, now do you understand?"

"oh!.....Yes"

　The apple branch nodded in agreement a little shamefully.

The end

One point of advice: Humblness is a virtue.

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