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THESTORYOFTHEAGEDMOTHERAJapaneseFolktaleLong,longagotherelivedatthefootofthemountainapoorfarmerandhisaged,widowedmother.Theyownedabitoflandwhichsuppliedthemwithfood,andtheirhumblewerepeacefulandhappy.Shinanowasgovernedbyadespoticleaderwhothoughawarrior,hadagreatandcowardlyshrinkingfromanythingsuggestiveoffailinghealthandstrength.Thiscausedhimtosendoutacruelproclamation.Theentireprovincewasgivenstrictorderstoimmediatelyputtodeathallagedpeople.Thosewerebarbarousdays,andthecustomofabandoningoldpeopletodiewasnotcommon.Thepoorfarmerlovedhisagedmotherwithtenderreverence,andtheorderfilledhisheartwithsorrow.Butnooneeverthoughtasecondtimeaboutobeyingthemandateofthegovernor,sowithmanydeephopelesssighs,theyouthpreparedforwhatatthattimewasconsideredthekindestmodeofdeath.Justatsundown,whenhisdayÂ’sworkwasended,hetookaquantityofunwhitenedricewhichisprincipalfoodforpoor,cookedanddriedit,andtyingitinasquarecloth,swungandbundlearoundhisneckalongwithagourdfilledwithcool,sweetwater.Thenheliftedhishelplessoldmothertohisbackandstatedonhispainfuljourneyupthemountain.Theroadwaslongandsteep;thenarrowedroadwascrossedandrecrossedbymanypathsmadebythehuntersandwoodcutters.Insomeplace,theymingledinaconfusedpuzzled,buthegavenoheed.Onepathoranother,itmatterednot.Onhewent,climbingblindlyupwardÂ–everupwardtowardsthehighbaresummitofwhatisknowasObatsuyama,themountainoftheÂ“abandoningofagedÂ”.Theeyesoftheoldmotherwerenotsodimbutthattheynotedtherecklesshasteningfromonepathtoanother,andherlovingheartgrewanxious.HersondidnotknowthemountainÂ’smanypathsandhisreturnmightbeoneofdanger,soshestretchedforthherhandandsnappingthetwigsfrombrushesastheypassed,shequietlydroppedahandfuleveryfewstepsofthewaysothattheyclimbed,thenarrowpathbehindthemwasdottedatfrequentlyintervalswithtinypilesoftwigs.Atlastthesummitwasreached.Wearyandheartsick,theyouthgentlyreleasedhisburdenandsilentlypreparedaplaceofcomfortashislastdutytothelovedone.Gatheringfallenpineneedle,hemadeasoftcushionandtenderlyliftinghisoldmothertherein,hewrappedherpaddedcoatmorecloselyaboutthestoopingshouldersandwithtearfuleyesandanachingheartsaidfarewell.ThetremblingmotherÂ’svoicewasfullofunselfishloveasshegaveherlastinjunction.Â“Letnotthineeyesbeblinded,myson.Â”Shesaid.Â“Themountainroadisfullofngers.LOOKcarefullyandfollowthepathwhichholdsthepilesoftwigs.TheywillguideyoutothefamiliarwayfartherdownÂ”.ThesonÂ’ssurprisedeyeslookedbackoverthepath,thenatthepoorold,shriveledhandsallscratchedandsoiledbytheirworkoflove.Hisheartsmotehimandbowingtothegrounds,hecriedaloud:Â“oh,Honorablemother,thykindnessthrustsmyheart!Iwillnotleavethee.Togetherwewillfollowthepathoftwigs,andtogetherwewilldie!Â”Oncemoreheshoulderedhisburden(howlightitseemedno)andhasteneddownthepath,throughtheshadowsandthemoonlight,tothelittlehutinthevalley.Beneaththekitchenfloorwasawalledclosetforfood,whichwascoveredandhiddenfromview.Therethesonhismother,supplyingherwitheverythingneedfulandcontinuallywatchingandfearing.Timepassed,andhewasbeginningtofeelsafewhenagainthegovernorsentforthheraldsbearinganunreasonableorder,seeminglyasaboastofhispower.Hisdemandwasthathissubjectshouldpresenthimwitharopeofashes.Theentireprovincetrembledwithdread.TheordermustbeobeyedyetwhoinallShinanocouldmakearopeofashes?Onenight,ingreatdistress,thesonwhisperedthenewstohishiddenmother.Â“Wai