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Practice each question, then open the answer or worked solution.
What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold?
Answer: To lead the farmer to the hidden gold, the dog came running to the farmer and kept its paws against his legs. It continuously kept directing the old man towards a place behind him. The old man at first thought that the dog was just playing, but when it kept running and whining, the old man followed it to the place.
(i) How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first?
(ii) How did it help him next?
Answer: (i) The spirit of the dog appeared in the farmer’s dream and instructed him to cut off the pine tree. It also said that the old farmer should make a mortar and hand mill with that. When the farmer followed the instructions of the spirit of the dog, he received heaps of gold. That is how the spirit of the dog helped him first.
(ii) The second time the spirit of the dog appeared in the farmer’s dream, it told the old man to collect the ashes of the mortar and the mill from the wicked neighbours and sprinkle it on the dead trees. It said that if the farmer did so, the trees would blossom again. When the farmer followed his instructions and sprinkled the ashes on the cherry tree in front of the daimio, it blossomed, and the old man was rewarded with high-valued gifts.
Why did the daimio reward the farmer but punish his neighbour for the same act?
Answer: The daimio rewarded the farmer but punished his neighbor for the same act. This is because when the old farmer sprinkled the ash on the withered cherry tree in front of the daimio, it blossomed. The farmer’s act of welcoming him pleased the daimio.
But, when the neighbour sprinkled the ashes on the tree in front of the daimio, nothing blossomed. Instead, the same ash fell on the daimio and its fine particles entered his and his wife’s eyes. This spoiled the dignity of the procession and irritated the daimio. That is why the neighbour was punished severely.