Machi-Bugyo felt sorry for Bun-yemon’s wife.
He ordered the clerk of the pawn-broker to come before him. Bun-yemon was also brought before him.
Chobei heard that Bun-yemon had been arrested and he also appeared in court to help Bun-yemon.
Chobei explained in court about how he had given twenty-five gold rio to Bun-yemon.
After this Machi-Bugyo released Bun-yemon. The pawn-broker was sentenced to be put to death for giving false witness against an innocent man.
However, that was not all that Machi-Bugyo did. “Chobei, you have done a great debt of gratitude and your daughter has to be commended for being so obedient.” For this, Machi-Bugyo rewarded Chobei with a hundred yen.
After this, Iroku was returned to her parents.
Chohachi, Chobei’s friend, was rewarded for his kindness.
Soon, all this information reached Chobei’s old lord, from whom he had been removed from work.
Chobei was even restored to his work.
Chobei was called Shindo again.
Though Shindo was no longer called as the Waste Paper Man, there were still rumours about him, by the women of the streets that he roamed to and he was called as the man with the ‘coat of rags, heart of brocade’.
Adapted from Japanese Folktales
No comments:
Post a Comment