Three Merchants Japanese
Merchant Long, long ago a tea-seller was walking in a town to sell tea.
"NEW tea. NEW tea. Don't you want NEW tea?"
An antique-seller was walking after the tea seller in order to sell antiques.
"OLD things. OLD things. Don't you want OLD things?"
People in the town were so confused to hear it that they would not buy tea.
The tea-seller said to the antique-seller.
"Hey, You. I am selling "NEW tea" now, but you are saying "OLD,OLD". Customers will never come to buy tea. Stop saying "OLD. OLD."
The antique-seller said to the tea-seller.
"It's nonsense. I am only selling OLD things. I am never disturbing you. It's none of my business whether they buy your tea or not."
Each of them never gave up his opinion and at last they began to grapple with each other in front of many people.
merchant An old iron-seller was watching them and stopped their fight.
"What's wrong with you? Tell me the reason."
They told him the whole story.
bicycle "Oh, I see. You don't have to quarrel with each other. I have a good idea. Why don't you walk with me together?" said the old iron-seller to them.

The tea-seller walked ahead of them, saying,
"NEW tea. NEW tea. Don't you want NEW tea?"
The antique-seller walked after the tea-seller.
"OLD things. OLD things. Don't you want OLD things?"
The old iron-seller walked after them.
"Not OLD. Not OLD. Don't you want old iron?"
Many people came to buy NEW tea, OLD things and old irons one after another.
The three merchants were on good terms with one another, walking together.(corrected:2002.8.16)

Story 5 Page