The Hurricane and the Barrels

At the edge of the town lived a cooper. He had no work, and therefore no money either. And the winter turned out to be harsh. Every day, a strong wind blew. The cooper's small house creaked and swayed. Even the thickest trees in the garden bent to the ground.

One morning, the cooper looked out the window and said to his wife:
- Look at this hurricane! Finally, we'll become rich.
- How on earth will we get rich from a hurricane? I don't understand! - replied his wife.
- Oh, you women are so foolish! You never listen to your husbands, and that's why you miss out on happiness.

- What kind of happiness is a hurricane? The cooper cleared his throat and said:
- You see, it's like this. When a strong wind blows, it stirs up dust. The dust gets into people's eyes. Their eyes turn red and start to water. That's where our happiness lies.

- So what if people's eyes water? How is that our happiness?
- How dense you are! People will suffer from eye problems. Many will go blind. That means there will be blind people. And what can blind people do? All they can do is wander the roads, play, sing, and beg for alms. And what will they play on? Obviously, on shamisens. That's where our happiness lies.

- So what if they play shamisens? How is that our happiness?
- You're so clueless! Shamisens are covered with cat skin. If shamisens are needed, cats will be needed too. All the cats will be killed. That's where our happiness lies.

- So what if the cats are killed? How is that our happiness?
- Well, if there are no cats, mice will overrun all the storerooms. The mice will gnaw through all the barrels and casks. That means people will need new barrels and hoops. I'll have plenty of work. That's how we'll become rich.

More fairy tales

• The Sparrow with the Clipped Tongue
• The Fox Barber from the Mountain Pass
• Yamori
• The Magic Word 'Kusuke'
• The Badger and the Snail