Mr Lucky Straw

Once upon a time, long ago, there was a good-hearted young man named Shobei who lived in a village in Japan.

One day on his way home from working in the fields, Shobei fell down the steps that led to his village and tumbled over and over on the ground. When he finally stopped tumbling, Shobei discovered that he had caught a piece of straw in his hand.

"Well, well," he said, "a piece of straw is a worthless thing, but it seems I was meant to pick this one up, so I won't throw it away."

As Shobei went walking along, holding the straw in his hand, a dragonfly came flying in circles around his head. "What a pest!" he said. "I'll show this dragonfly not to bother me!" And he caught the dragonfly and tied the straw around its tail.

Shobei went on walking, holding on to the dragonfly, and presently met a woman walking with her son. When the little boy saw the dragonfly, he wanted it very badly. "Mother, I want that dragonfly," he said. "Please, please, please!"

"Here you are, little boy, you can have my dragonfly!" said Shobei, handing the boy the straw. To thank Shobei, the little boy's mother gave him three oranges. Shobei thanked her and went on his way.

Before long, Shobei met a peddler resting by the road. The peddler was so thirsty that he was about to faint. There were no streams nearby and Shobei felt very sorry for the peddler, so he gave him the three oranges so that he could drink the juice.

The peddler was very grateful, and in exchange he gave Shobei three pieces of cloth that he was carrying to market. Shobei thanked him and went on his way.

As Shobei was walking along, he came across a fine carriage with many attendants. The carriage belonged to a princess who was on her way to town. The princess just happened to look out of the carriage and saw the beautiful pieces of cloth that Shobei was carrying. She said, "Oh, what pretty pieces of cloth you have there. Please let me have them." Shobei gave the princess the three pieces of cloth, and to thank him, she gave him a large bag of coins.

Shobei took the coins and bought many fields with them. Then he divided the fields among the people of his village. Thus everyone had his or her own piece of land, and they all worked hard on them. The village became very prosperous and many new houses were built. Everyone was amazed when they remembered that all this wealth came from the piece of straw that Shobei had picked up.

Shobei became the most important man in the village and everyone respected him greatly. And for as long as he lived, they all addressed him as "Mr Lucky Straw."