The Tongue-Cut Sparrow and the Heavy Basket
Long ago there lived a kind old man called Nasakeji. Nasakeji loved and cared for a sparrow named Bidori.
His neighbor, Ara, was a mean old woman who hated the sparrow. One day, while Nasakeji was away, Bidori pecked at some of Ara’s rice paste. In anger, she cut out the bird’s tongue, and the bird flew away terrified and hurting. Nasakeji searched far and wide for his beloved Bidori, and one day, he discovered the bird living in a forest with his family. Bidori was delighted to see his friend and invited him for a humble meal. When it was time for Nasakeji to leave, Bidori offered him one of two baskets as a gift. He weighed the two and chose the smaller, lighter basket, and made his way home. At home he opened the basket and was surprised to find it full of gold and jewels. His greedy neighbor Ara raced to the forest and ordered the sparrow to give her the same choice of baskets. Bidori calmly gave her the same choice, and of course, Ara chose the heavy basket. When she opened it, she was horrified to discover it was full of creepy ghouls and monsters.
The Heavy Basket by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892)
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