A LONG long time ago there lived an old man and an old
woman. One day the old man went to the mountains to cut grass; and the old
woman went to the river to wash clothes. While she was washing a great thing
came tumbling and splashing down the stream. When the old woman saw it she was
very glad, and pulled it to her with a piece of bamboo that lay near by. When
she took it up and looked at it she saw that it was a very large peach. She
then quickly finished her washing and returned home intending to give the peach
to her old man to eat.
When she cut the peach in two, out came a child from
the large kernel. Seeing this the old couple rejoiced, and named the child
Momotaro, or Little Peachling, because he came out of a peach. As both the old
people took good care of him, he grew and became strong and enterprising. So
the old couple had their expectations raised, and bestowed still more care on
his education.
Momotaro finding that he excelled everybody in
strength, determined to cross over to the island of the devils, take their
riches, and come back. He at once consulted with the old man and the old woman
about the matter, and got them to make him some dumplings. These he put in his
pouch. Besides this he made every kind of preparation for his journey to the island
of the devils and set out.
Then first a dog came to the side of the way and said,
"Momotaro! What have you there hanging at your belt ?" He replied,
"I have some of the very best Japanese millet dumplings." "Give
me one and I will go with you," said the dog. So Momotaro took a dumpling
out of his pouch and gave it to the dog. Then a monkey came and got one the
same way. A pheasant also came flying and said, "Give me a dumpling too,
and I will go along with you." So all three went along with him. In no time
they arrived at the island of the devils, and at once broke through the front
gate; Momotaro first; then his three followers. Here they met a great multitude
of the devils' retainers who showed fight, but they pressed still inwards, and
at last encountered the chief of the devils, called Akandoji. Then came the tug
of war. Akandoji hit at Momotaro with an iron club, but Momotaro was ready for
him, and dodged him adroitly. At last they grappled each other, and without
difficulty Momotaro just crushed down Akandoji and tied him with a rope so
tightly that he could not even move. All this was done in a fair fight.
After this Akandoji the chief of the devils said he
would surrender all his riches. "Out with your riches then," said
Momotaro laughing. Having collected and ranged in order a great pile of
precious things, Momotaro took them, and set out for his home, rejoicing, as he
marched bravely back, that, with the help of his three companions, to whom he
attributed all his success, he had been able so easily to accomplish his end.
Great was the joy of
the old man and the old woman when Momotaro came back. He feasted everybody
bountifully, told many stories of his adventure, displayed his riches, and at
last became a leading man, a man of influence, very rich and honorable; a man
to be very much congratulated indeed!
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