あとかくしの雪
Hidden snow
Hidden snow
昔、ある所に貧しい村がありました
Once upon a time there was a poor village
Once upon a time there was a poor village
この村近くの山が三年程前に噴火したので、火山灰の被害により作物がとれなくなっていたのです
A mountain near this village erupted about three years ago, making it impossible to grow crops due to the volcanic ash damage.
A mountain near this village erupted about three years ago, making it impossible to grow crops due to the volcanic ash damage.
ある時、この村に、お腹ぺこぺこの旅人がやってきましたが、どの家にも食べ物を分けてあげる余裕はありませんでした
One day, a hungry traveler came to this village, but no family could afford to share food with him.
One day, a hungry traveler came to this village, but no family could afford to share food with him.
とうとう旅人は、村はずれで倒れてしまいました
Finally, the traveler collapsed on the outskirts of the village.
Finally, the traveler collapsed on the outskirts of the village.
そこへ、一人暮らしのお婆さんが通りかかり、可哀そうな旅人を家に連れて帰り、わずかばかりの雑炊をご馳走してあげました
Just then, an old woman who lived alone passed by and took the poor traveler home and fed him a small meal of porridge.
Just then, an old woman who lived alone passed by and took the poor traveler home and fed him a small meal of porridge.
しかし、たった一口の雑炊ではとても足りず、もう少しだけ何か食べさせてあげたいと、お婆さんは考えました
However, the old woman thought that just one bite of rice porridge was not enough and wanted to feed her something a little more.
However, the old woman thought that just one bite of rice porridge was not enough and wanted to feed her something a little more.
そこで、お婆さんは庄屋の畑から大根を引き抜いてきて、大根汁を作って食べさせてあげました
So, the old woman pulled radish from the village headman’s field and made radish soup for him to eat.
So, the old woman pulled radish from the village headman’s field and made radish soup for him to eat.
翌朝、お婆さんはまだ夜も明けぬうちに旅人を起こし、早々に旅立たせました
The next morning, the old woman woke up the traveler before dawn and sent him on his way as soon as possible.
The next morning, the old woman woke up the traveler before dawn and sent him on his way as soon as possible.
その頃、早起きの庄屋が、荒らされた自分の畑と火山灰のおかげではっきり残っている足跡を見つけました
Around that time, an early riser named Shoya found his destroyed fields and footprints that were clearly visible thanks to the volcanic ash.
Around that time, an early riser named Shoya found his destroyed fields and footprints that were clearly visible thanks to the volcanic ash.
足跡はそう簡単に消えはしないので、庄屋は一旦家に戻って、夜が明けたころに代官所へ向かう事にしました
The footprints would not disappear easily, so the headman decided to return home and head to the magistrate’s office around dawn.
The footprints would not disappear easily, so the headman decided to return home and head to the magistrate’s office around dawn.
やがて日が昇り、庄屋が支度をして家を出ると、なんと雪が降っていました
Eventually the sun rose, and when the village headman got ready and left the house, it was snowing.
Eventually the sun rose, and when the village headman got ready and left the house, it was snowing.
まだ雪が降るのにはひと月も早いのに、そして空は晴れていたはずなのに、不思議な事でした
It was strange even though it was still a month early for snow to fall and the sky was supposed to be clear.
It was strange even though it was still a month early for snow to fall and the sky was supposed to be clear.
足跡はもう見えなくなっていました
The footprints were no longer visible.
The footprints were no longer visible.