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

イラスト　myi　　　ブログ　sorairoiro

The Sad Devil

(Old stories of Sweden)

Translation　Laurence Hunter

Japanese　←→　Japanese ＆ English　←→　English

　Once upon a time, a farmer was taking his sole cow out to the pasture.

　While the farmer watched his cow grazing on the pasture, he raised his hands and prayed to god.

"Dear God.

　Thank you for always protecting us.

　Please let this cow eat plenty of grass this year too."

　This was overheard by a devil peeping through the bush.

"Well,

　it seems that humans and such thank god for everything good that happens,

　but when something bad happens ,they always decide to blame us devils.

　It is such a shame as I really am such a nice devil.

　Damn it, I will show them! "


　After three days had passed,

　the farmer`s cow had gotten stuck in a swamp and couldn’t get out at all.

　As soon as the farmer saw this predicament, he became very angry.

"What is this!

　Once again, that devil is playing tricks and up to no good! "

　The devil mumbled to himself behind the bush.

"Told you so. Just as I imagined, blaming me for all."

　The farmer then went off to find someone to help him pull out the cow.

"Right, now its my chance to do a good turn!"

　As soon as the devil had come out of the bush, he went over and helped the stuck cow out of the mud.

"Woo hoo, this time I wonder if I will also be thanked for my good deed."

　Said the devil with a beaming smile.

　Before long ,the farmer came back.

　And when he saw that the cow had come out of the swamp he became overjoyed.

"Oh, dear god. Thank you for pulling out my cow."

The end

One piece of advice: Evil is in the eye of the beholder

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