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

Seasoning for pudding

(Old stories of American)

Translation　ちいさな翻訳屋さん

おりがみをつくろう ( おりがみくらぶ より) ぷりん

Japanese　←→　Japanese ＆ English　←→　English

　Once upon a time, there lived Aunt Simpson who was good at making puddings in a country town in America.



　One day, she planned to have a party

　and treat her delicious pudding to the guest.

　After making fire, Aunt Simpson put the pudding on the stove.

“All I have to is just wait until it’s done.

　Oh, yes! Meanwhile, let’s clean the house because a lot of guests will be here.”

　Aunt Simpson became very busy washing the windows and sweeping the floor.

　After a while, Aunt Simpson remembered one thing.

“Oh gosh. I forgot to put salt in the pudding, the important ingredient!”

　The secret of Aunt Simpson’s delicious pudding is she put salt as a hidden flavor.

　You might wonder why she put salt in sweet pudding,

　but you can’t make a good pudding without it.

　When Aunt Simpson was about to put salt in the pudding, she noticed her hands were dirty.

“Oh dear, my hands got dirty from cleaning.

　I know! I’ll ask my oldest daughter Sue.”

　Aunt Simpson had three daughters.

　The oldest is named Sue,

　the second one is named Seiry,

　and the youngest is named Lir.

　Aunt Simpson went to ask Sue who in her room.

“Can you put salt in the pudding, Sue? My hands are so dirty.”

“Mom, I can’t. I’m sawing a dress to wear to the party.”

“I see. Then how about you, Seiry? Can you please put salt in the pudding?”

“No. Ask Lir. I’m waxing my shoes now to wear to the party.”

“Ok. Then Lir, can you put salt in the pudding?”

“I can’t do that, either. I’m looking for my favorite ribbon.

　I’ve decided to wear that ribbon to the party.”

　Aunt Simpson felt disappointed because none of her daughter helped her.

“Whew. I have to do it myself then.”

　Aunt Simpson washed her hands and put salt in the pudding.



　When Aunt Simpson got back to cleaning after putting salt in the pudding,

　Lir, who found her favorite ribbon, came to the kitchen and put a pinch of salt in the pudding.

　After Lir went out of the kitchen, Seiry finished waxing her shoes and came to the kitchen

　and put a pinch of salt in the pudding.

　After finishing sawing her dress, Sue came to the kitchen and put a pinch of salt in the pudding.

　Thus, Aunt Simpson’s pudding turned very salty.



　That night, Aunt Simpson cut the pudding into pieces and distributed them to the guests.

“Here you go. I’ll give it to Father first.”

“Thank you.

　Thanks to God, we are able to eat this delicious pudding.”

　Father opened his mouth and had a big bite of the pudding.

　Then,

“Whoa!!”

　Father quickly grabbed a glass of water.

　Not understanding what really happened, everybody there looked at a loss.

“What on earth happened?”

　As soon as Aunt Simpson tasted the pudding, she found out the cause.

“It’s salty! Who put salt in this pudding?”

“I did”

said Sue.

“Really? I put some too.”

said Seiry.

“So did I!”

then said Lir as well.

“Oh, my. But now you understand how important it is to put a proper amount of salt, don’t you?”

“Yes!”

　None of the girls were against what Aunt Simpson said.

The end

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