The Faithful Dog and the Neighbour - Part One

There was an old couple who lived in a village. The couple did not have any children of their own. They, however, had a dog and the couple loved the dog very much. 

The dog was also very grateful for the kindness bestowed on him and he never left the couple alone.  

Once when the old man was working in his garden the dog was as usual nearby. 

At that time the sun was very hot and the old man put down his spade and rested for a few seconds when the dog scratched a spot a little way off.

Then the dog incessantly started barking until he had the attention of the old man and the old woman who was inside the house. 

The old man was suddenly curious and wondered whether the dog had found something important. He started digging at the place where the dog had been scratching. Very soon, the old man's spade stuck something. He pulled out a large box and he found it full of shining gold pieces. The box was so heavy that the old woman had to help the old man to carry it home. They became rich and they gave the dog all the best that they could manage full strength.  

The story of the dog and the treasure soon became well-known in the village and the neighbour of the old couple was envious.

He also wanted the dog to be helpful to him. 

So the neighbour went to the old couple and asked the couple to lend him their pet for a little while. 

The old couple resisted at first. They loved the dog like their own son and did not want to part with it. 

However, the neighbour never let go and kept coming to the old couple with the same request every day. 

Finally unable to tolerate the nagging of the neighbour, the old man lent his dog to the neighbor for two nights.

Then the man got hold of the dog. He turned the dog into the garden. However, the dog did nothing but race around the garden. With great difficulty the man waited patiently. 

The next morning the man opened the house door and the dog went into the garden and ran up to the foot of the tree and the dog began to scratch the tree wildly.

When the neighbor dug up the ground, he, however, found a parcel of old bones, which smelt so badly that the neighbor could not even stay there anymore. 

The neighbour was angry and he picked up his pickaxe and killed the dog then and there.

Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales