Once more the lord commended the young farmer and rewarded him with many pieces of gold.But the lord’s troubles were not over even then, for a few days later Lord Higa sent still anotherdemand. This time they will undoubtedly fail and then Lord Higa will conquer their village.
*Bring me adrum that sounds without being beaten.
This time the wise men held their heads in their hands and moaned,
*It is hopeless it is hopeless
When the lord heard the answer, he was greatly impressed.
This time Lord Higa will conquer them all.”
“Why, this is the easiest of them all. Make a drum withsides of paper and put a bumblebee inside. As it tries to escape, it will buzz and beat itself against thepaper and you will have a drum that sounds without being beaten.”
*smiled and answered,
he quickly told his mother about the impossibledrum.
*breathlessly
She is far wiser than any of the wise menof the village, and he hurried to tell the young lord how to meet Lord Higa’s third demand.
*The young farmer was amazed at his mother’s wisdom.
Surely a young man like you cannotbe wiser than all my wise men.Tell me honestly, who has helped you solve all these difficultproblems?
My lord,for the past two years Ihave brokenthe law of the land. I have kept my aged mother hidden beneath the floor of my house, and it is she whosolved each of your problems and saved the village from Lord Higa.
I have been very wrong,And I must ask the forgivenessof your mother and of allmy people. Never again will I demand that the old people of our village be sent to the mountains to die.Rather, they will be treated with the respect and honor they deserve and share with us the wisdom of their years
He trembled as he spoke, for he feared the lord’s displeasure and rage. Surely now the soldierswould be summoned to throw him into the dark dungeon. But when he glanced fearfully at the lord, hesaw that the young ruler was not angry at all. Instead, he was silent and thoughtful, for at last he realizedhow much wisdom and knowledge old people possess.