Alack for the good old man and the good old woman when they heard the dog was gone! It was they that wept the bitter tears. They pulled flowers and strewed them on the poor dog’s grave. They burned incense and they spread out good things to eat, and the vapour that rose from them comforted the poor dog’s spirit.
Then the good old man cut down the pine tree, and made a mortar of its wood. He put rice in the mortar and pounded the rice with a pestle.
“Wonder of wonders,” cried the old woman, who was looking on, “wonder of wonders, good man, our rice is all turned into broad gold pieces!”
So it was sure enough.
Presently, in comes the bad old man to ask for the loan of the mortar.
“For I’m needing a mortar something very special,” says he.
“Take it,” says the good old man; “I’m sure you’re welcome.”
So the bad old man took away the mortar under his arm, and when he had got it home he filled it with rice in a twinkling. And he pounded away at it for dear life’s sake.
“Do you see any gold coming?” he says to his wife, who was looking on.
“Never a bit,” she says, “but the rice looks queer.”