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January 4, 2024

Hikoichi and the Young Lord Japanese Traditional Story for Upper Beginners

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彦(ひこ)一(いち)さんと若(わか)殿(との)


むかし、むかし、あるところに彦(ひこ)一(いち)さんというとても賢(かしこ)い若者(わかもの)が住(す)んでいました。

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たいへん賢(かしこ)くてどんな難(むずか)しい問題(もんだい)でも解(と)いてしまうので、

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すっかり有名(ゆうめい)になり、とうとうそのうわさがお殿様(とのさま)の耳(みみ)にも入(はい)りました。

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お殿様(とのさま)は、「彦(ひこ)一(いち)がほんとうにそんなに賢(かしこ)いのかどうか、試(ため)してみよう。」

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と彦(ひこ)一(いち)さんをお城(しろ)に呼(よ)ぶことにしました。

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彦(ひこ)一(いち)さんがお城(しろ)に行(い)ってかしこまって待(ま)っていると、お殿様(とのさま)がやってきました。

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「おお、お前(まえ)が評判(ひょうばん)の彦(ひこ)一(いち)か、どれ、面(おもて)をあげなさい。うーむ、確(たし)かに  賢(かしこ)そうな面(つら)をしておるの。」

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お殿様(とのさま)はうれしそうに言(い)いました。「そんなに賢(かしこ)いのなら、若(わか)殿(との)の遊(あそ)び相手(あいて)をしてほしいものじゃ。

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若(わか)、入(はい)っておいで。」

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お殿様(とのさま)が呼(よ)ぶと、一人(ひとり)、二人(ふたり)、三人(さんにん)、四人(よにん)、五人(ごにん)・・・。なんと五人(ごにん)もの子供(こども)が入(はい)ってくるではありませんか。

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どの子(こ)も同(おな)じような年頃(としごろ)で、同(おな)じような顔(かお)つきです。

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しかも、同(おな)じ着物(きもの)を着(き)ています。

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毎日(まいにち)、お城(しろ)でお殿様(とのさま)に仕(つか)えている家来(けらい)でも見分(みわ)けがつきません。

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「どうじゃ、彦一(ひこいち)、どの子(こ)が本物(ほんもの)の若(わか)かわかるか？わからなければ、わからないといえばよいのだ。」

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お殿様(とのさま)はにやりと笑(わら)って彦(ひこ)一(いち)の顔(かお)を 見(み)ました。

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彦(ひこ)一(いち)さんはしばらく考(かんが)えていましたが、こう答(こた)えました。

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「私(わたし)には本物(ほんもの)の若(わか)殿(との)様(さま)がわかります。若様(わかさま)は手習(てなら)いのあとと見(み)えて、手(て)に墨(すみ)がついております。」

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すると、この言葉(ことば)につられて本物(ほんもの)の若様(わかさま)は自分(じぶん)の手(て)のひらを見(み)ました。

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あとの子供(こども)はそれをのぞき込(こ)みました。

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ところが、どこにも墨(すみ)などついていません。

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彦(ひこ)一(いち)さんはすかさずこう言(い)いました。「今(いま)、自分(じぶん)の手(て)のひらを見(み)た子(こ)が本物(ほんもの)の若(わか)様(さま)です。」

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お殿様(とのさま)はすっかり彦(ひこ)一(いち)さんの知恵(ちえ)に感心(かんしん)して、たくさんの褒美(ほうび)を与(あた)えた　　ということです。

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おしまい。

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